- Registration lasts ten years and can be renewed for further ten-year periods.
- A mark not used within five years of registration can be removed for non-use.
- Renewal fees were revised from 2025, so check the current amounts.
- Keep the register up to date if your name, address or ownership changes.
Renewal every ten years
A Singapore trade mark registration lasts for ten years and can be renewed for successive ten-year periods, as many times as you like. An international registration under the Madrid system is likewise kept in force by renewing every ten years.
Renewal is a formality, but a missed renewal can be serious. Diarise the expiry date and allow time to renew before it passes. IPOS revised its renewal fees as part of fee changes from 1 September 2025, so check the current amount when the time comes.
Use it or risk losing it
Renewal alone does not keep a mark safe. A registered trade mark must be used. If it has not been used within five years of registration, it can be removed from the register for non-use.
A challenge of this kind usually comes from another business, often one that wants to use or register a similar mark. If it happens, you will want to be able to show how the mark has been used, so good records matter.
Practical habits
A few habits make a registration easier to defend:
- Use the mark consistently, in the same form, across signage, packaging, websites and social media.
- Keep dated evidence, such as invoices, packaging, advertising and website captures, showing the mark in use in Singapore.
- Review your registrations periodically against what the business actually sells, and get advice if your brand or product range has changed.
Keep the register accurate
If the business changes its name or address, or the mark is sold or assigned, the change should be recorded with IPOS. An accurate register makes renewals, enforcement and any later sale simpler.
Why this matters for others' marks too
Non-use works both ways. If an old, unused registration is blocking your own application, it may be possible to apply to remove it. Even a lapsed mark can still count as an earlier mark for a period after expiry, while it remains eligible for renewal or restoration.
A lawyer can review your portfolio, check whether your use is likely to be enough, and advise on renewals or on challenging an unused mark.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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