--- titulo: "How to Register a Trademark in Panama: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide" titulo_seo: "Register a Trademark in Panama: Fees and Steps" meta: "DIGERPI charges B/.140.50 for the first class and grants ten years of protection in six to ten months. Panama is not in the Madrid Protocol: file locally." autor: "Diego Ospina Serna" fecha: 2026-07-04 actualizado: 2026-07-04 materia: "Intellectual Property" idioma: "en" par: "registro-de-marca-en-panama-guia-paso-a-paso-2026" resumen: "How to register a trademark in Panama in 2026: clearance search, Nice classes, the DIGERPI process step by step, official fees, timelines, opposition and renewal — including the quirks few sites explain: Panama is not in the Madrid Protocol and opposition is judicial." tags: ["Trademarks", "Intellectual Property", "DIGERPI", "Trademark Registration"] orden: 20260704 pasos: - name: "Run a clearance search" text: "Check the register before investing in the name, to see whether a confusingly similar mark already exists." - name: "Choose the correct Nice class" text: "Classify the goods or services the mark will cover. Each additional class carries its own fee." - name: "File the application with DIGERPI" text: "You file directly in Panama: the country is not in the Madrid Protocol, so an international registration does not reach it." - name: "Examination, publication and opposition" text: "DIGERPI examines and publishes the mark. In Panama an opposition is decided by a court, not by the registry." - name: "Registration and term" text: "With no opposition the mark is granted for ten years, renewable indefinitely for equal periods. The whole process usually takes six to ten months." faq: - q: "How do I register a trademark in Panama?" a: "You file the application before the General Directorate of the Industrial Property Registry (DIGERPI) at the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, after a prior availability search. The office examines it, publishes it, and if there is no valid opposition, grants the registration." - q: "How long does trademark registration take in Panama?" a: "When there is no opposition, the process typically takes several months from filing to registration, depending on DIGERPI's workload and the correctness of the application." - q: "How long is a trademark valid in Panama?" a: "A registered trademark is valid for ten (10) years from the registration date and can be renewed indefinitely for successive ten-year periods." --- Registering your trademark is the cheapest way to protect your business's most valuable asset: its name and reputation. In Panama, **the trademark belongs to whoever registers it first**, not to whoever uses it. This guide walks through the full DIGERPI process in 2026, with the real fees and the Panama-specific quirks most pages leave out. > **Note:** general information current as of the update date. Fees and timelines can change; confirm your case with a lawyer before filing. ## Step 1 · Clearance search (before you invest) Before paying the official fee, confirm your mark is free. DIGERPI's public search shows exact matches, but a mark can be refused for **phonetic or visual similarity** to an existing one. A professional search assesses that risk and prevents a wasted investment. → Start here: [check your trademark availability](/en/marcas/buscar/). ## Step 2 · Choose the correct Nice class Panama uses the **Nice Classification**: 45 classes grouping goods (1-34) and services (35-45). Your mark is protected **only in the classes you register**. Choosing the wrong class leaves your mark unprotected in your actual activity; registering in several classes broadens protection (and fees). ## Step 3 · File the application with DIGERPI The application is filed before the General Directorate of the Industrial Property Registry (DIGERPI) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. You will need: a power of attorney for the lawyer, the description of goods/services, and — for figurative or composite marks — the mark image. **If you reside outside Panama, the law requires a Panamanian lawyer to represent you.** ## Step 4 · Examination, publication and opposition DIGERPI conducts a **formal and substantive examination**. If it passes, the mark is **published in the BORPI** (official bulletin), opening a **two-month** window for third parties to oppose. A key Panama quirk: **opposition is handled through the courts** (judicial), not administratively, and can take about a year. Anticipating possible oppositions in the initial search is therefore decisive. ## Step 5 · Registration and term With no opposition, DIGERPI grants the registration. The mark is protected for **ten years**, renewable indefinitely for equal periods. The whole process typically takes **six to ten months**. ## Official fees (DIGERPI, 2026) | Item | Official fee | |---|---| | Registration, first class (10 years) | **B/. 140.50** | | Each additional class | **B/. 112.00** | | Renewal (per class) | **B/. 134.00** | Legal fees are added to the official fees. Estimate your case: [trademark cost estimator](/en/marcas/cotizadora/). ## Three Panama quirks you must know 1. **Panama is NOT in the Madrid Protocol.** You cannot protect your mark in Panama through an international registration; you must file **directly** with DIGERPI. Many foreigners discover this too late. 2. **Opposition is judicial.** Unlike other countries, anyone opposing your mark goes to court, which lengthens and raises the cost of the conflict — another reason to clear the ground with a good prior search. 3. **Cancellation for non-use.** A registered but unused mark can be cancelled after **five years** at a third party's request. Registering is not enough: you must use the mark. ## After registration: don't stop there Registration is the beginning, not the end. To truly protect your mark you should: **watch it** (to catch confusingly similar third-party filings early), **renew it** at ten years without letting the term lapse, and manage **licenses or assignments** as your business grows. That is the difference between holding a certificate and holding a protected brand.