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The trademark registration timeline Vietnam businesses should plan for depends on the application’s filing date, examination stages, and any issues that arise during processing. For trademark applications published from April 1, 2026, the revised legal framework provides for publication within one month after an application is deemed valid and substantive examination within five months from publication.
Formal examination is generally conducted within one month from filing. These statutory milestones suggest approximately seven months for the principal stages through substantive examination, but they do not guarantee that every applicant will receive a registration certificate within seven months. Backlogs, examination objections, administrative delays, and other case-specific circumstances can extend the actual timeline.
What Is the Trademark Registration Timeline in Vietnam?
Vietnam’s trademark registration timeline changed significantly when Law No. 131/2025/QH15 amending the Law on Intellectual Property took effect on April 1, 2026. The revised provisions shortened certain processing periods for trademark applications published from that date.
Under Articles 109, 110, and 119 of the Law on Intellectual Property, the principal statutory milestones are as follows.
| Stage | Applicable statutory period | What applicants should expect |
| Formal examination | Generally within 1 month from the filing date | The IPVN checks whether the application satisfies the formal requirements. |
| Publication | Within 1 month after the application is deemed valid | The accepted application is made public in accordance with the applicable procedure. |
| Substantive examination | Within 5 months from publication for applications covered by the revised rules | The IPVN assesses whether the trademark satisfies the legal requirements for protection. |
| Third-party opposition | Within 3 months from publication | Third parties may oppose the application under the applicable procedure. This period runs alongside examination and is not an additional stage to be added to the total. |
| Registration decision and certificate | Following examination and completion of the applicable grant formalities | Additional time may be required for the relevant notices, payments, and administrative processing. |
The revised publication, opposition, and substantive examination periods apply to trademark applications published from April 1, 2026. The authoritative explanation is available in the IPVN’s guidance on the 2025 amendments to the Law on Intellectual Property.
The legal framework includes Law No. 131/2025/QH15 and Decree No. 65/2023/NĐ-CP, as amended, including by Decree No. 100/2026/NĐ-CP. Applicants should refer to the provisions applicable to their particular filing rather than relying exclusively on older trademark registration guides.
How Long Does Each Stage of Trademark Processing Take?
1. Formal examination: approximately 1 month
After receiving the application, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPVN) conducts formal examination under Article 109 of the Law on Intellectual Property.
The authority reviews the prescribed documents and checks whether the application meets the formal filing requirements. If deficiencies are identified, the applicant may need to correct the application or provide additional documents in accordance with the official notice.
Errors in applicant details, an incomplete application, or problems with the supporting documents can delay the process. Foreign applicants should pay particular attention to the required representation documents and the completeness of the filing package.
2. Publication: approximately 1 month after the application is deemed valid
Under Article 110 of the Law on Intellectual Property, as amended, a valid trademark application is published within one month after it is deemed valid.
Publication makes the application information publicly available and allows third parties to identify the proposed mark and the goods or services for which protection is sought.
The publication date is important because it starts the applicable period for third-party opposition and the substantive examination timeline. Applicants should therefore distinguish the filing date from the date on which the application is deemed valid and the date of publication.
3. Substantive examination: within 5 months from publication
Article 119(2)(b) of the Law on Intellectual Property provides for substantive examination of relevant trademark applications within five months from publication under the revised rules.
During this stage, the IPVN assesses whether the proposed mark meets the legal requirements for protection. The assessment may address distinctiveness, prohibited signs, and conflicts with earlier rights.
If an examination objection or other issue arises, additional correspondence and responses may affect the actual time required to resolve the application. Applicants should monitor official notices carefully and respond within the applicable deadlines.
Businesses seeking a more detailed overview of the process of registering trademark in Vietnam should distinguish these statutory processing periods from the total time required to obtain a certificate.
4. Third-party opposition: within 3 months from publication
Under Article 112a of the Law on Intellectual Property, as amended, the applicable opposition period for trademark applications published from April 1, 2026, is three months from publication.
Opposition is a parallel process rather than a separate mandatory stage for every application. A third party may raise an objection under the applicable procedure, potentially requiring further assessment of the relevant rights and arguments.
Where an opposition or related dispute arises, the practical time needed to resolve the issues may extend beyond the ordinary processing sequence. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that every application will proceed without interruption.
Why Can Actual Trademark Registration Take Longer Than the Statutory Timeline?
The statutory periods provide important reference points, but businesses should not treat them as an unconditional guarantee of the date on which a certificate will be issued.
The actual trademark processing time Vietnam applicants experience can be affected by several factors.
Pending application backlogs. The number of applications awaiting examination may affect operational capacity and how quickly matters move through the system. Heavy workloads and an increase in filing volumes can create delays even where the legislation specifies a processing period.
Administrative and system capacity. Temporary administrative bottlenecks, technical problems, or interruptions affecting electronic systems may influence the progress of individual applications. These practical considerations should be distinguished from the formal time limits set out in legislation.
Application-specific issues. Missing documents, requests for amendments, questions about the goods and services specification, substantive objections, and third-party opposition can require additional work. The more issues that must be resolved, the less reliable a simple calendar estimate becomes.
The applicable transitional rules. Applications published before April 1, 2026, may be subject to the previous time limits under the transitional framework. Businesses should not assume that every application filed before that date automatically qualifies for the revised examination period.
Older online guidance may still refer to a two-month publication period and nine-month substantive examination period. Those figures should not be applied indiscriminately to applications covered by the 2026 amendments.
For companies that need to coordinate a launch or investment deadline with their filing schedule, an experienced Vietnam trademark law firm can help assess the applicable legal timeline, identify procedural risks, and plan for possible delays. Professional guidance cannot guarantee faster processing by the authority, but it can help businesses prepare properly and respond efficiently to procedural issues.
Need help planning your filing schedule? ASL LAW provides intellectual property services for businesses assessing registration requirements and protection strategies. Explore Vietnam IP Services for more information.
Can a Trademark Application Be Examined Faster?
Vietnamese law provides for accelerated substantive examination in certain prescribed circumstances. Article 14a(2) of Decree No. 100/2026/NĐ-CP establishes the relevant framework for eligible trademark applications.
In qualifying cases, accelerated substantive examination is conducted within three months from publication. However, this is not a general option automatically available to every applicant. Businesses must determine whether their application meets the prescribed conditions and whether the relevant procedural requirements have been satisfied.
Applicants should also understand that accelerated substantive examination does not necessarily eliminate every other processing requirement. Formal examination, publication, applicable opposition procedures, and grant-related formalities remain relevant to the overall timeline.
Companies should therefore evaluate accelerated examination as a potentially useful option where legally available, rather than assume that paying an additional fee or requesting expedited handling will automatically shorten every stage.
How Should Businesses Plan Around the Trademark Registration Duration?
Businesses should plan their filing schedules based on the applicable statutory periods while leaving room for uncertainty in actual processing.
A practical approach is to begin clearance searches and document preparation before the intended launch date. Businesses should also ensure that the proposed mark, applicant information, and goods and services specification are carefully reviewed before filing.
If the brand is central to a product launch, distribution agreement, or investment transaction, the company should avoid treating the expected registration date as a guaranteed commercial milestone. Instead, it should consider contingency arrangements if examination takes longer than anticipated.
Trademark rights are territorial, so businesses seeking protection in several jurisdictions should plan each filing separately. The timeline for international trademark protection may differ according to the filing route and the requirements of each designated country.
For Vietnam trademark registration, the principal statutory stages provide a useful baseline, but the appropriate planning horizon depends on the actual application and the status of the examination process.
Planning a trademark application in Vietnam? Contact ASL LAW through its Vietnam trademark registration resource to explore the procedural considerations relevant to your filing and business schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does trademark registration take in Vietnam in 2026?
For trademark applications published from April 1, 2026, the principal statutory milestones include formal examination within one month from filing, publication within one month after the application is deemed valid, and substantive examination within five months from publication. These stages suggest approximately seven months through substantive examination, but actual completion and certificate issuance may take longer.
2. What is the substantive examination period for a trademark application in Vietnam?
Under Article 119(2)(b) of the amended Law on Intellectual Property, substantive examination takes place within five months from publication for trademark applications covered by the revised rules.
3. Does the three-month opposition period extend the registration timeline by another three months?
Not automatically. The opposition period runs from publication alongside substantive examination. An actual opposition may create additional issues that affect the overall processing time.
4. Can trademark registration in Vietnam be completed faster than the ordinary timeline?
Accelerated substantive examination may be available in certain prescribed cases under Decree No. 100/2026/NĐ-CP. Eligibility must be verified, and accelerated examination does not remove every other procedural requirement.
5. Why might a trademark application take longer than seven months?
Possible reasons include application backlogs, administrative or technical delays, formal deficiencies, examination objections, third-party opposition, and additional grant-related formalities. The statutory timeline is a planning reference rather than a guarantee of certificate issuance by a specific date.
ASL Law is a leading full-service and independent Vietnamese law firm made up of experienced and talented lawyers. ASL Law is ranked as the top tier Law Firm in Vietnam by Legal500, Asia Law, WTR, and Asia Business Law Journal. Based in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, the firm’s main purpose is to provide the most practical, efficient and lawful advice to its domestic and international clients. If we can be of assistance, please email to [email protected].
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