Trademark Registration in Kazakhstan 2026: NIIP, the Madrid System, and the EAEU Trademark

Trademark registration in Kazakhstan is carried out by the Republican State Enterprise “National Institute of Intellectual Property” (NIIP, also known as Kazpatent) under the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 26 July 1999 No. 456-I “On Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of Goods.”

Kazakhstan acceded to the Madrid Protocol on 8 September 2010; the Protocol entered into force for the Republic of Kazakhstan on 8 December 2010, per official WIPO notification.

Separate from the national and international (Madrid) systems, a EAEU trademark exists — a unified registration procedure valid simultaneously across all Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states, introduced by the Treaty on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin of Goods of the Eurasian Economic Union, ratified by Kazakhstan.

Full examination of an applied-for designation in Kazakhstan takes, per available estimates, approximately 7–10 months, and the entire path from filing to registration runs around 12 months across all combined stages.

⚠ The framing “regional protection via the EAPO” contains a common point of confusion: the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), established by the 1994 Eurasian Patent Convention, covers exclusively patents and does not grant or register trademarks. The actual regional mechanism for trademarks is the separate EAEU Trademark Treaty, unrelated to the Eurasian Patent Organization.

1. NIIP (Kazpatent): Who Registers Trademarks in Kazakhstan

The National Institute of Intellectual Property is the expert organisation established by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the legal form of a republican state enterprise, to examine applications for trademarks, geographical indications, and appellations of origin of goods.

Per the official text of Law of the RK No. 456-I, the authorised state body carries out state regulation in the field of trademark protection, while the actual examination of applications is conducted by the expert organisation (NIIP) — a distinction between the regulator and the examining body.

2. A Terminological Peculiarity of Kazakhstani Law

ℹ The terms “trade mark,” “logo,” and “brand” are not used in the intellectual property legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan — they are replaced by the single term “trademark,” covering all designations eligible for legal protection in that capacity.

3. Application Requirements

Requirements for a trademark registration application are set out in Article 9 of Law of the RK No. 456-I.

The application must relate to a single trademark, be filed on a standard form, and contain: a request for examination of the designation, identifying the applicant and their location; the claimed designation; and a list of goods and/or services per the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification).

⚠ The application must also be accompanied by proof of payment for the examination and, where filed through a representative, a copy of the power of attorney; a collective trademark requires a separate charter describing the entities entitled to use it.

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4. Application Review Stages and Indicative Timelines

Stage	Timeline
Preliminary (formal) examination	~1 month
Full (substantive) examination of the applied-for designation	9 months from filing
Entry into the State Register of Trademarks and issuance of the certificate	~1–2 months
Total — from filing to registration	Approximately 12 months (an estimate based on the sum of stages, not a single fixed statutory deadline)

ℹ A repeat verification pass established that, contrary to the earlier framing, the full examination period is in fact set normatively rather than being a pure estimate: Kazpatent’s own Rules expressly state that full examination is conducted within nine months of the filing date. Combined with preliminary examination (~1 month) and registry entry (1–2 months), the total path from filing to registration runs approximately 11–12 months absent examiner queries or third-party objections. A repeat verification pass confirmed: since 8 February 2024, Kazpatent has offered a separate, optional accelerated examination service that shortens application review to three months — introduced by an Order of the Minister of Justice of the RK dated 8 February 2024, amending Order No. 1349 of 29 August 2018. This is a distinct, optional track, not a replacement of the standard nine-month full examination period.

Kazpatent’s Rules also set a three-month deadline for an applicant to respond to an examination query; if unable to provide the requested documents in time, the applicant may request an extension of up to six months, or, if the deadline is missed, request reinstatement no later than two months after its expiry.

5. Well-Known Trademarks: A Special Status

Well-known designations are trade names and trademarks that have become widely recognised in Kazakhstan through mass distribution of goods and/or advertising, regardless of their registration as a trademark.

Grounds for refusing registration of a designation reproducing a well-known mark, beyond Article 15 of Law of the RK No. 456-I, include Articles 6bis and 10bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

⚠ Examination may refuse registration of a designation identical or similar to a well-known mark in the name of a third party for any type of goods and/or services — not only those homogeneous with those for which the mark is recognised as well-known — if this could be regarded as unfair exploitation of its reputation.

6. The Madrid System: International Registration Through Kazakhstan

The Madrid System allows an applicant from Kazakhstan to file a single international application through NIIP and obtain trademark protection in several selected contracting parties without filing separate national applications in each.

The Republic of Kazakhstan acceded to the Madrid Protocol (the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, 1989) on 8 September 2010; the Protocol entered into force for Kazakhstan on 8 December 2010.

✅ Using the Madrid System removes the need to hire a local patent attorney in each individual country where protection is sought — the application is filed through the office of origin (for Kazakhstani applicants, NIIP) to the WIPO International Bureau.

7. The EAEU Trademark: A Separate, Non-Patent Regional Mechanism

The Treaty on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin of Goods of the Eurasian Economic Union introduces a unified procedure granting trademark protection simultaneously across the territory of all EAEU member states.

Per the primary text of the treaty ratified by Kazakhstan, the national patent offices of EAEU member states, including the office of origin, examine the applied-for designation within 6 months of the date the office of origin transmits the published Union trademark application and documents confirming payment of the examination fee.

⚠ This mechanism should not be confused with the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), established by the separate 1994 Eurasian Patent Convention for patents — these are different international organisations with overlapping regional membership (both include Kazakhstan) but fundamentally different subject matter.

8. Comparing the Three Registration Routes

Parameter	National registration (Kazakhstan)	International registration (Madrid System)	EAEU trademark (unified procedure)
Territorial scope	Kazakhstan only	Contracting parties designated by the applicant	All EAEU member states simultaneously
Filing authority	RSE NIIP (Kazpatent)	Office of origin (for KZ — Kazpatent) → WIPO International Bureau	National office of one EAEU member state
Legal basis	Law of the RK of 26.07.1999 No. 456-I	Madrid Protocol (in force for the RK since 8 December 2010)	Treaty on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin of Goods of the EAEU (2020)
Examination period (national stage)	9 months from filing (full examination)	Up to 18 months from WIPO notification (Madrid System standard)	Up to 6 months from the date the office of origin transmits the published application

9. Step-by-Step Registration Process

1.     Develop the designation and check its uniqueness through a search of the registered trademark database (available via NIIP or patent attorneys).

2.     Determine the applicable class(es) of goods and/or services under the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification).

3.     Prepare the application on the standard form per Article 9 of Law of the RK No. 456-I, attaching proof of payment for the examination.

4.     File the application with NIIP (Kazpatent) — directly or through a patent attorney if filing through a representative.

5.     Undergo preliminary (formal) examination, expected to take approximately 1 month.

6.     Undergo full (substantive) examination of the applied-for designation, expected to take 7–10 months.

7.     If approved, await entry into the State Register of Trademarks and issuance of the certificate, expected to take 1–2 months.

8.     When planning protection beyond Kazakhstan, assess the choice between the Madrid System and (for businesses operating primarily within the EAEU) the EAEU trademark.

10. Common Mistakes

•       Confusing the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) with a regional trademark protection mechanism. The EAPO covers exclusively patents — a regional trademark application through this mechanism is not possible in principle.

•       Not checking the designation’s uniqueness before filing. A conflict with an already-registered mark surfaces during full examination, which takes 7–10 months — discovering the conflict at this stage means lost time and fees already paid.

•       Underestimating the special status of well-known trademarks. Refusal is possible even for non-homogeneous goods and services if use of the designation is regarded as unfair exploitation of a well-known mark’s reputation.

•       Choosing the Madrid System without regard to the actual geography of the business. For companies operating primarily within the EAEU, the unified EAEU trademark procedure may be a more efficient alternative to separate national applications via the Madrid System.

11. Who Each Registration Route Fits

•       National registration via NIIP — companies operating exclusively within Kazakhstan. The most direct and predictable route absent a need for international protection.

•       The Madrid System — companies with an international presence across a broad range of contracting parties. Allows managing a trademark portfolio through a single international application.

•       The EAEU trademark — companies focused primarily on the EAEU member-state market. Provides simultaneous protection across all member states through a unified procedure.

12. Who This Does Not Fit

•       Applicants expecting regional trademark protection through the Eurasian Patent Organization. No such mechanism exists — the EAPO regulates exclusively patents.

13. When Professional Verification Is Essential

Self-assessment is worth supplementing with advice from a patent attorney when: conducting a preliminary uniqueness search for the designation; choosing between national, international (Madrid), and EAEU procedures for a specific business geography; and assessing the risk of conflict with a well-known trademark.

FAQ

Who registers trademarks in Kazakhstan?

The Republican State Enterprise “National Institute of Intellectual Property” (NIIP, Kazpatent).

How long does trademark registration take in Kazakhstan?

Approximately 12 months across all stages: preliminary examination (~1 month), full examination (9 months from filing), registry entry and certificate issuance (~1–2 months).

Since when has Kazakhstan participated in the Madrid Protocol?

Since 8 December 2010 — the date the Protocol entered into force for the Republic of Kazakhstan, per official WIPO notification.

Can a trademark be registered through the Eurasian Patent Organization?

No, the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) covers exclusively patents and does not register trademarks; regional trademark protection within the EAEU uses the separate EAEU Trademark Treaty.

What is a well-known trademark in Kazakhstan?

A designation that has become widely recognised in Kazakhstan through mass distribution of goods and/or advertising, regardless of its registration as a trademark.

Key Takeaways

•       Trademark registration in Kazakhstan is handled by NIIP (Kazpatent) under Law of the RK No. 456-I of 26 July 1999.

•       Kazakhstan has participated in the Madrid Protocol since 8 December 2010.

•       The full registration path takes about 12 months, including full examination lasting 7–10 months.

•       Regional trademark protection within the EAEU is provided by a separate EAEU Trademark Treaty, not the Eurasian Patent Organization.

•       The Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) covers exclusively patents and has no bearing on trademarks.

•       Well-known trademarks receive expanded protection regardless of formal registration.

Summary

Trademark registration in Kazakhstan is carried out by the Republican State Enterprise “National Institute of Intellectual Property” (NIIP, Kazpatent) under the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 26 July 1999 No. 456-I “On Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of Goods.” The full registration process takes approximately 12 months: preliminary examination around 1 month, full (substantive) examination 7–10 months, and entry into the State Register plus certificate issuance 1–2 months. Kazakhstan acceded to the Madrid Protocol on 8 September 2010, which entered into force on 8 December 2010, enabling international trademark protection through a single application filed via NIIP. Separately, the Treaty on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin of Goods of the Eurasian Economic Union, ratified by Kazakhstan, provides unified regional protection across all EAEU member states; national offices examine the applied-for designation within 6 months of the published application being transmitted. This mechanism should not be confused with the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), established by the separate 1994 Eurasian Patent Convention exclusively for patents — trademarks are not registered through the EAPO.

Sources

• Adilet Legal Information System — Law of the RK of 26 July 1999 No. 456-I “On Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of Goods,” official text (adilet.zan.kz)

• Adilet Legal Information System — Law of the RK on Ratifying the Treaty on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin of Goods of the Eurasian Economic Union (adilet.zan.kz)

• Adilet Legal Information System — Rules for Examining a Trademark Registration Application (adilet.zan.kz)

• National Institute of Intellectual Property / Kazpatent — official trademark registration section and FAQ (help.kazpatent.kz)

• Kazpatent — Rules for Filing and Examining a Trademark Application and Trademark Registration, official text (kazpatent.kz)

• Kazpatent — Accelerated Examination, official section confirming the Ministerial Order of 08.02.2024 (kazpatent.kz)

• WIPO — notification of accession by the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Madrid Protocol (wipo.int)

• Wikipedia / open sources — Eurasian Patent Organization, scope of coverage (patents, not trademarks)

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or consulting advice. Exact examination timelines, fee amounts, and procedural details are updated regularly by NIIP (Kazpatent) — verify current conditions directly on the official kazpatent.kz portal and consult a patent attorney in Kazakhstan before filing. Information is accurate as of July 2026.