Trademark registration in Afghanistan

Trademarks in Afghanistan are registered with the Afghanistan Central Business Registry and Intellectual Property (ACBR-IP), part of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Kabul. Protection comes from registration under the Law on Trademark Registration (2009), and new applications are published in the Official Gazette (جریده رسمی) for opposition.

Before filing: search

There is no public online register in Afghanistan. Start with a search of the published gazette notices, then ask for an official search at ACBR-IP if the mark matters. Remember that a clear search here does not prove a mark is free: older registrations and marks not yet published are not covered. See how to search trademarks in Afghanistan.

What you need to file

• Applicant name, address and nationality (company or individual).
• A clear image of the mark, and the mark in Dari or Pashto script where it is used that way.
• The goods or services, classified under the Nice Classification.
• A power of attorney for the local agent. Foreign applicants should expect to legalise it.

Examination and publication

ACBR-IP examines the application on absolute grounds (for example religious symbols and marks against public order) and against earlier marks. Accepted applications are published in the trademark section of the Official Gazette, “اعلانات ثبت اسناد و علایم تجارتی”. Each published notice is indexed on afghanip.com with an English translation; see the gazette issues.

Opposition

Any interested party may oppose a published application within a short period after publication, usually stated as 21 working days (some practitioners count one month). See opposing a trademark in Afghanistan.

Registration, term and renewal

If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark proceeds to registration. A registration lasts 10 years from filing and can be renewed for further 10-year periods; renewal is filed in the months before expiry. A registered mark that has not been used for three years can be challenged for non-use.

International filings

Afghanistan is a member of the Paris Convention and of the Madrid Protocol (since 2018), so a mark can be filed directly with ACBR-IP or designated in an international registration through WIPO.

Frequently asked questions

How long does trademark registration take in Afghanistan?

Publication in the Official Gazette usually follows a few months after filing. Registration follows once the opposition period has passed without opposition.

Can I search Afghan trademarks online?

There is no official online register. afghanip.com indexes the trademark notices published in the Official Gazette, in English and Dari, and is free to search.

How long is an Afghan trademark registration valid?

Ten years, renewable for further periods of ten years.

General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-30.