Frequently asked questions
Who registers trademarks in Panama?
DIGERPI, the Industrial Property Registry of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI).
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), trademark registration guide (2023)
How much are the official fees?
B/. 140.50 for the first class of goods or services and B/. 112.00 for each additional class. Renewal is B/. 134.00 per class.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), trademark registration guide (2023)
Can I use the Madrid Protocol to protect my mark in Panama?
No. Panama does not appear on WIPO’s list of Madrid members, so you must file directly with DIGERPI.
Source: WIPO, list of Madrid Union members
How long is the opposition period?
Two months from publication in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), trademark registration guide (2023)
Where are oppositions decided?
Before the commercial courts, where the arguments for and against registration are presented.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), trademark registration guide (2023)
How long does a registration last?
Ten years from the date the application was filed. It can be renewed indefinitely for further ten-year terms, from one year before expiry until six months after it.
Source: Law 35 of 1996, articles 109 and 110
Which classes do I need?
Panama uses the international Nice Classification. Each class covers a group of goods or services; you pay per class. We recommend the classes your business actually uses.
Can a foreign company register a mark in Panama?
Yes. Foreign owners file through a Panamanian representative, who handles the application and the notices from DIGERPI.
Do I have to travel to Panama to register my trademark?
No. You sign a power of attorney in your country and send us the original by courier; a scan does not replace it. A Panamanian lawyer files and follows the application for you.
Source: Law 35 of 1996, as amended by Law 61 of 2012, article 103
Do I need to be using the mark in Panama already?
No. You can apply with a sworn statement of use or of intention to use the mark.
Source: Law 35 of 1996, as amended by Law 61 of 2012, article 45(7)
Can I check whether my mark is free before filing?
Yes. DIGERPI runs a prior search for B/. 6.00 per class. It is a useful first check, but it does not guarantee that the application will succeed.
Source: Industrial Property Registry (DIGERPI), trademark requirements sheet
What happens to the fees if my application is refused?
Fees are paid in advance and nothing moves without payment. If the registration is refused, half of the fees you paid is returned.
Source: Law 35 of 1996, as amended by Law 61 of 2012, articles 209 and 210
What if DIGERPI asks for a correction?
You have three months to answer. If you do not, the application is treated as abandoned, so we track every notice for you.
Source: Law 35 of 1996, as amended by Law 61 of 2012, article 104
What laws apply?
Law 35 of 1996 on industrial property, as amended by Law 61 of 2012.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), trademark registration guide (2023)
Spanish–English glossary
- DIGERPI
- Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial: Panama’s trademark office, part of MICI.
- MICI
- Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias: Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries.
- Clase (Niza)
- Nice class: the international category of goods or services a mark covers.
- Boletín Oficial de Propiedad Industrial
- The official bulletin where applications are published for oppositions.
- Oposición
- Opposition: a third party’s challenge to your application during the two-month period.
- Señal de propaganda
- Advertising slogan, registered with its own fee.
Ready to protect your brand in Panama?
Send us your mark and the goods or services you sell. We reply with the classes you need and a fixed written quote.