Trademark application status in India can be checked on the IP India portal using your application number. Each status reflects a specific stage in prosecution and may trigger time-bound actions.
A trademark application does not move passively through the Registry. Every status update corresponds to a procedural step under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, often with strict response timelines. Missing a required action at the wrong stage can lead to abandonment, even if the mark is otherwise registrable.
This guide focuses on two things that matter in practice:
• what each trademark status means in real prosecution terms
• what action is required, and within what deadline
The step-by-step process to check status on the portal is covered separately below. This article is intended to help you interpret status changes correctly and act before critical deadlines lapse.
The explanations apply to domestic Indian trademark applications filed before the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. If you are looking for the filing process itself, see the trademark registration process guide.
How to Check Trademark Status in India
The IP India trademark portal is the only authoritative source for application status. It is publicly accessible and does not require an account. As of 2026, detailed record access uses OTP-based authentication.
Step 1: Visit the official Trademark eRegister portal at E-Register & Application Status.
Step 2: Enter any valid email address or mobile number to receive a one-time password (OTP). This OTP is session-specific and does not need to match the address on file with the Registry.
Step 3: Enter the OTP to authenticate the session.
Step 4: Enter your trademark application number. The TM status displayed on the portal reflects the current stage of your application.
Step 5: If the status is Registered, a ‘View Registration Certificate’ link appears at the top of the record. The downloaded certificate is marked NOT FOR LEGAL USE. The OTP process for certificate access follows the same open authentication: any valid email or mobile number may be used, not only the registered proprietor’s contact details.
Practical Note
The Trade Marks Registry issues official communications, including examination reports and hearing notices, to the email address recorded as the service address with the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
However, applicants should not rely solely on email notifications. Delays, missed communications, or technical issues can occur. Regularly checking the application status on the portal ensures that deadlines triggered by status changes are not overlooked.
Where a trademark attorney or agent is appointed, they typically monitor and advise on these updates. Even so, periodic independent verification by the applicant is advisable.
IP India Trademark Status: Meaning of All 14 Active Stages
The table below covers all 14 status labels that directly affect brand owners filing domestic trademark applications in India. Status labels are in lifecycle sequence. Read the TM status label alongside the Action Required column first: red text signals a hard deadline where inaction ends the application; amber signals an immediate legal risk to an existing registration.
| Status on Portal | What It Means | Action Required | Indicative Duration (2026) |
| New Application | Filing received; application number assigned. Priority date recorded from this date. | None. Verify name, class, and goods/services description on the portal. | Immediate on e-filing |
| Formalities Chk Fail | Registry found a deficiency: missing Power of Attorney, incorrect classification, absent translation, or other document gap. | File response via Form TM-M before the prescribed period expires. Application typically lapses if ignored; revival is discretionary. | Respond within prescribed period |
| Formalities Chk Pass | All documents in order. Application cleared for the examination queue. | None. Application proceeds to queue. | Automatic on clearance |
| Marked for Exam | Application assigned to the examination queue. An Examiner will take it up in order of seniority. | None. Wait. Current queue: 12-14 months (indicative, 2026; varies by class and Registry workload). | 12-14 months in queue (indicative) |
| Objected | Examiner raised objections under Section 9 (absolute grounds) or Section 11 (relative/conflict grounds) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Not the same as Refused. | File a reply within one month of receiving the examination report. If no response is received within that period, the Registrar may treat the application as abandoned. The Registry may issue a further notice under Section 132 allowing an additional month. | Reply within one month of receiving the report; Section 132 notice may allow a further month |
| Accepted and Advertised | Mark published in the Trade Marks Journal. The 4-month opposition window begins from the date of publication. Variant: ‘Advertised bef acc’ on the portal indicates publication before formal acceptance; the opposition window applies equally. | Monitor weekly during the 4-month window. Note the journal issue date. If a third party files opposition, status moves to Opposed. | 4-month opposition window from journal publication date |
| Opposed | A third party has filed a Notice of Opposition (Form TM-O). Variant: ‘Opposed*’ denotes the same status under an earlier filing reference. | File Counter-Statement within two months of receiving the opposition notice. Mandatory under Section 21(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and Rule 44 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. If no counter-statement is filed within this period, the Registrar shall deem the application to have been abandoned. | Counter-statement within two months of notice |
| Registered | Mark entered in the Register of Trade Marks. Certificate issued electronically. Registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application, renewable for successive 10-year periods. | Download certificate from the portal using OTP authentication (any valid email or mobile number). Begin using the (R) symbol. Set a renewal reminder for Year 9. | Valid 10 years from filing date |
| Rectification Filed | A petition under Section 57, Trade Marks Act, 1999 has been filed to expunge or amend the registered mark. May be filed by a third party or the Registry. The mark remains registered but is subject to challenge. | Seek legal advice immediately. The registered proprietor must respond within the period directed by the Registrar. Failure to defend can result in removal of the mark from the Register. | Respond within the period directed by the Registrar |
| Removed | Mark struck from the Register. Most common cause: failure to renew within the prescribed period under Section 25, Trade Marks Act, 1999. Can also result from a successful rectification or cancellation proceeding. | Within 6 months of expiry: file Form TM-R with surcharge under Section 25(3). Between 6 months and 1 year after expiry: the Registrar may restore the mark on Form TM-R under Section 25(4), having regard to the interests of other affected persons. After 1 year: the mark is removed and a fresh application is required. | 0-6 months: surcharge renewal; 6-12 months: restoration (Registrar discretion); after 1 year: fresh application |
| Refused | The Registrar has refused the application following examination, a show cause hearing, or both. | Appeal to the jurisdictional High Court within the prescribed period. Alternatively, file a fresh application if the grounds of refusal can be addressed. | Appeal within prescribed period from refusal order |
| Abandoned | Application lapsed due to a missed deadline: most commonly, failure to reply to the examination report within the extended period, or failure to appear at a show cause hearing. ‘Deemed to be Abandoned’ appears specifically when a counter-statement is not filed in time during opposition proceedings. | The application is closed. File a fresh application. Consult a trademark attorney on whether any extraordinary relief may be sought from the Registrar in specific circumstances. | Application closed; fresh filing required |
| Withdrawn | Applicant voluntarily withdrew the application before registration. | None. A fresh application may be filed if required. | N/A (voluntary closure) |
| Cancelled | A registered mark has been cancelled pursuant to a court order or successful cancellation proceeding. Distinct from Removed, which is primarily non-renewal. | Registration is void from the date specified in the order. Seek legal advice on appeal rights and grounds. | Per court order |
Statuses That Require Immediate Action: Detailed Guidance
The following statuses carry hard deadlines or non-obvious risks. Each is covered in depth below, including the specific statutory basis, what happens if the deadline is missed, and what a brand owner should do first.
Formalities Chk Fail: What It Means and What to Do
At this stage the Registry has identified a deficiency during the initial procedural check. Common triggers include a missing or incorrectly executed Power of Attorney, goods and services described outside the NICE Classification, absence of a Hindi or English translation where a document in another language was filed, or errors in the application form itself.
The specific deficiency is recorded against the application on the portal. The response must be filed via Form TM-M with the applicable fee before the prescribed period expires. Revival after lapse is at the Registrar’s discretion and is not guaranteed; the cleaner path is to respond promptly and correctly the first time.
Trademark Status Objected: Meaning, Deadline and How to Respond
Objected is the most misread status in the trademark portal. A significant number of applicants confuse it with Refused and stop pursuing their application. This is a serious and avoidable error. Objected means the Examiner has raised concerns that the applicant is required to address. It does not mean the application has been denied.
Objections under Section 9 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 relate to absolute grounds: the mark is descriptive, lacks distinctiveness, or is ineligible for registration regardless of existing marks. Objections under Section 11 relate to relative grounds: the mark is similar to an existing registered mark in the same or related class, creating a likelihood of confusion.
Under Rule 33(4) of the Amended Trade Marks Rules, 2017, the applicant has one month from the date of receipt of the examination report to file a reply. If no response is received within that period, the Registrar may treat the application as abandoned. The Registry may issue a further notice under Section 132 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 allowing the applicant a further month to respond. If the reply is filed but unsatisfactory, the Registrar schedules a show cause hearing. At the hearing, attendance is mandatory. Where an applicant does not appear and has not filed a reply, the application may be refused or treated as abandoned under Rule 33(7) of the Amended Trade Marks Rules, 2017.
For guidance on structuring a written reply, see the trademark examination response guide. For what happens at a show cause hearing, see the show cause hearing guide.
Need help at this stage? Objections are resolved most effectively with professional assistance at the reply stage. Request a status review.
Accepted and Advertised: The 4-Month Opposition Window
Once the mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal, a statutory opposition window of four months begins from the date of publication under Section 21 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. This period cannot be shortened, waived, or expedited under any circumstances, including where expedited examination under Rule 34 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 was used.
Monitor the portal weekly during this window. The portal variant ‘Advertised bef acc’ (Advertised before Acceptance) indicates publication before formal acceptance, typically where the Registrar is not fully satisfied with distinctiveness but permits publication. The four-month opposition window applies equally to both labels. If a third party files a Notice of Opposition during this period, the status changes to Opposed.
Trademark Status Opposed: Meaning and Counter-Statement Deadline
When this status appears, a third party has filed a Notice of Opposition using Form TM-O. As the applicant, a Counter-Statement must be filed within two months of receiving the notice of opposition. Under Section 21(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and Rule 44 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, if the applicant does not file a counter-statement within this period, the applicant shall be deemed to have abandoned the application. The portal reflects this as Deemed to be Abandoned.
The Counter-Statement must address each ground of opposition raised. Once filed, the opposition proceeds through evidence rounds before a hearing. See the
trademark opposition guide for the full opposition procedure.
Note: Opposed* on the portal denotes the same status applied to applications filed under an earlier Registry reference system. The action required is identical.
Need help at this stage? Opposition proceedings have strict two-month deadlines that cannot be extended. Speak to a trademark attorney.
Rectification Filed: Your Registered Mark Is Under Challenge
This status appears after registration. Many brand owners stop monitoring the portal once the mark is registered; Rectification Filed is the status that catches them off guard. A petition has been filed under Section 57 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 to expunge or vary the mark’s entry in the Register. The petitioner may be a third party seeking cancellation on grounds such as non-use, bad faith, or prior rights, or the Registry itself initiating a suo motu rectification.
The mark remains registered while proceedings are pending. However, the outcome of an undefended rectification can be removal of the mark from the Register. The registered proprietor must respond within the period directed by the Registrar. Engage a trademark attorney immediately on seeing this status.
Trademark Status Refused: Meaning, Appeal and Fresh Application Options
The Registrar has refused the application following examination, a show cause hearing, or both. The application record is closed. Two routes are available.
First, the applicant may appeal to the jurisdictional High Court within the prescribed period from the date of the refusal order. This route is appropriate where the grounds of refusal are legally contestable and the mark has strategic value that justifies litigation costs.
Second, the applicant may file a fresh trademark application if the grounds of refusal can be addressed in a new application. For example, where the mark was refused under Section 9 for lack of distinctiveness, a modified mark or an application supported by evidence of acquired distinctiveness may succeed. Filing a fresh application means losing the original priority date. An attorney can advise on which route is more appropriate given the specific grounds of refusal.
For a full explanation of how to respond to a refusal, see the trademark application refused guide.
Trademark Status Abandoned: Meaning and What Happens Next
An application reaches Abandoned status when a mandatory deadline is missed. The most common cause is failure to reply to the examination report within the extended period. The second most common cause is failure to appear at a scheduled show cause hearing where no reply had been submitted. Deemed to be Abandoned is a portal variant that appears specifically when a Counter-Statement is not filed during opposition proceedings within the two-month window under Section 21(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and Rule 44 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017.
There is no express statutory provision for restoration of an abandoned pending application under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 or the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. The application is closed and the priority date is lost. A fresh application must be filed. In exceptional circumstances, a practitioner may consider whether any extraordinary relief may be sought from the Registrar under Section 131 of the Act, though such relief is not guaranteed and depends on the specific facts.
Act immediately if ‘Abandoned’ status appears unexpectedly. Confirm the date of the order from the portal, engage a trademark attorney, and file a review petition with full supporting grounds within 30 days.
Need help at this stage? Filing a fresh application means a new priority date. Act without delay to preserve your options. Get urgent trademark assistance.
Removed: Three Windows After the Expiry Date
A registered mark is removed from the Register when the proprietor fails to renew it within the prescribed period under Section 25 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application. Renewal must be filed using Form TM-R before the expiry date.
Three windows apply after the expiry date. Within six months of expiry, the proprietor may file Form TM-R with the prescribed surcharge under the proviso to Section 25(3) to renew the mark. After six months but within one year of expiry, the Registrar may restore the mark on an application in Form TM-R under Section 25(4), having regard to the interests of other affected persons; restoration at this stage is at the Registrar’s discretion and is not automatic. After one year from the date of expiry, no restoration is available and the mark is permanently removed; a fresh application must be filed, which carries a new priority date and goes through the full examination and publication cycle.
Removed can also result from a successful rectification or cancellation proceeding, in which case the removal date and grounds will be specified in the order.
How Long Does Each Stage Take: 2026 Timeline
The following timelines are indicative, based on current Registry workload and processing patterns as of early 2026. Timelines vary significantly across trademark classes and Registry filing volume. All figures are planning benchmarks, not guarantees.
| Stage | Indicative Duration (2026) | Notes |
| Filing to Formalities Check | 2-4 weeks | Faster for e-filings |
| Formalities Check to Marked for Exam | 2-6 weeks | Queue dependent |
| Marked for Exam to Objected or Accepted | 12-14 months | Current Registry backlog; varies by class and volume. Expedited examination under Rule 34 reduces this significantly |
| Objected to Show Cause Hearing (if required) | 2-4 months after reply | Only where written reply is insufficient |
| Accepted to Journal Publication | 3-6 weeks | Publication in the Trade Marks Journal |
| Publication to Registration (no opposition) | 2-4 months after 4-month window closes | 4-month opposition period is statutory and cannot be shortened |
| Total: uncontested application | 18-24 months | From filing date (indicative, early 2026) |
| Total: contested application (opposed) | 3-5 years | If the opposition is contested through to a final hearing before the Registrar |
Applicants who need to accelerate examination may file a request for expedited processing under Rule 34 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, using Form TM-M after receiving the official application number. The examination wait is reduced significantly, but the four-month opposition window remains statutory and cannot be shortened. For details on expedited examination, see the Intepat trademark registration services.
How to Estimate When Your Status Will Change: The Queue Listing
The IP India portal has a separate queue listing tool that shows your application’s position in the Registry’s processing queue. This is different from the status check: status tells you where your application is now, the queue listing tells you approximately when the next movement is likely. The queue listing is available at Trademark Application Queue List and does not require authentication.
The tool offers two queue types: General Queue List and Expedite Queue List. Within each, three queues can be checked: the Examination Queue (your position for first examination), the Hearing Queue (Show Cause) (your position for a hearing if one has been scheduled), and Consideration of Reply (MIS-R) (your position for the Registry’s consideration of a reply you have already filed). Checking your Examination Queue position once every few weeks during the Marked for Exam stage gives a realistic sense of when to expect an examination report. The queue position is approximate and shifts as new applications enter the queue and as expedited applications are processed ahead of general queue applications. It is a planning tool, not a guarantee.
The Registry sends email notifications from noreply.tmr@gov.in to the service address registered against each application, not to the applicant’s own email address. For an examination report, the Registry sends the report itself followed by up to three reminder emails (Reminder I, Reminder II, and Reminder III) if no response is filed. For opposition proceedings, a separate reminder sequence runs for the counter-statement deadline. All of these go to the agent or attorney on record. A brand owner who filed through an agent receives none of these notifications directly. The Registry currently allows only one service address per application and has no separate channel to the applicant. If you filed the application yourself using your own email as the service address, you will receive these notifications directly. If you filed through an agent, the agent receives them. Whether your agent has a system for forwarding Registry notifications and deadline alerts to clients is therefore a material factor in whether your application survives prosecution.
The portal reflects the status as updated by the Registry’s internal system. What takes time is the Registry’s own processing: once an internal action is taken, the status on the portal updates accordingly.
The TM and R Symbols: Which One Applies at Each Stage
The TM symbol may be used from the date of filing. The R symbol may only be used once the portal status shows Registered. Using the R symbol before registration is an offence under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. For the full distinction, legal implications, and common misuse scenarios, see the TM vs R symbol guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trademark Status in India
Yes, if the status shows Marked for Exam. The examination queue in India currently runs 12-14 months as of early 2026, though this varies by class. A status that appears stuck between Marked for Exam and Objected is almost always sitting in the queue, not stalled due to a problem. Check your queue position using the Registry queue listing link above. If the status has not changed from Formalities Chk Pass for more than eight weeks without any communication, check the portal carefully for a Formalities Chk Fail entry that may have been missed.
How often you check the status of a trademark application should depend on what stage it is at. While the status shows Marked for Exam, checking every two to three weeks is sufficient. Once the status changes to Objected, check daily: the 30-day reply deadline runs from the date of the examination report, and every day counts. During the four-month opposition window after Accepted and Advertised, weekly monitoring is appropriate. If Opposed appears, engage a trademark attorney immediately; the two-month Counter-Statement deadline begins from the date of the opposition notice.
No. Objected and Refused are different statuses with different meanings. Objected means the Examiner has raised concerns that must be addressed in a written reply. The application remains alive. Most Section 9 and Section 11 objections are resolved at the written reply stage without proceeding to a hearing. The key variable is the quality of the reply. Do not abandon an objected application without consulting a trademark attorney.
There is no statutory restoration mechanism for an abandoned pending application. The application is closed and the priority date cannot be recovered. A fresh application must be filed. A trademark attorney can advise on the fastest path to re-file and whether the grounds of abandonment can be addressed in the new application.
No. The TM symbol may be used from the date of filing. The registered trademark symbol may only be used after the portal status shows Registered. Using the registered symbol before registration is an offence under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
Both labels indicate the mark has been published in the Trade Marks Journal and that the four-month opposition window is running. Accepted and Advertised means the Registrar accepted the mark before ordering publication. Advertised bef acc means the mark was published before formal acceptance, typically because the Registrar required the opposition process to inform the acceptance decision. In practical terms for the brand owner, the required action is the same for both: monitor weekly, note the journal publication date, and act immediately if Opposed appears.
A third party or the Registry has initiated proceedings to challenge your registration under Section 57 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The mark remains on the Register while proceedings are active, but an undefended rectification can result in the mark being expunged. This is not a status to monitor passively. Engage a trademark attorney to review the grounds of the petition and respond within the period directed by the Registrar.
Two routes are available. First, appeal to the jurisdictional High Court within the prescribed period from the refusal order. Second, file a fresh application if the grounds of refusal can be addressed. For example, a mark refused for descriptiveness may succeed as a fresh application supported by evidence of acquired distinctiveness through use. A trademark attorney can advise on which route better fits the specific grounds of refusal and the commercial value of the mark.
The Registry sends email notifications from noreply.tmr@gov.in to the service address on record for each application. For an examination report, the Registry sends the report and follows up with up to three reminder emails (Reminder I, Reminder II, and Reminder III) if no response is received. A separate reminder sequence applies for the counter-statement deadline in opposition proceedings. All of these go to the agent or attorney who filed the application, not to the applicant directly. The Registry currently allows only one service address per application and has no independent channel to reach the applicant. If you filed the application yourself, you receive these emails. If you filed through an agent, the agent receives them and you are entirely dependent on the agent passing them on. This is a structural feature of the IP India system that every brand owner with an agent-filed application should understand.
Never Miss a Deadline
Tracking your trademark application status regularly is not optional; it is how applications survive prosecution. A status change from Marked for Exam to Objected can happen overnight, and from that moment a one-month clock starts. Checking status every two to three weeks during the examination queue, daily once Objected appears, and weekly through the four-month opposition window is the monitoring discipline that keeps a filed and paid application alive.
If your application is at a critical stage, an Intepat trademark attorney can review your status and advise on the next step. Book a Consultation.