How long does trademark registration take in India, and can a foreign company apply directly?

Filing itself takes days once the application, power of attorney, and required specimens are ready, and India's trademark registry issues an official filing receipt and application number almost immediately, which is enough to start using the TM symbol and establish priority. The examination stage, where the registry checks for conflicts with existing marks and reviews the application on absolute and relative grounds, typically takes 8 to 12 months to reach a first examination report.

If the mark clears examination without objections, it's published in the Trademark Journal for a 4-month opposition window during which third parties can challenge it; if no opposition is filed, registration is typically granted within a few months after that window closes, bringing the realistic total timeline to 18-24 months for an uncontested application. An opposed application, or one that draws an examination objection requiring a response and hearing, can extend well beyond this — foreign companies planning an India launch should file the trademark application well ahead of the actual market entry date rather than treating it as a same-quarter formality.