Turkey is a full member of the Madrid Protocol, so you can designate Turkey through a WIPO international application. But direct national filing with TÜRKPATENT is often faster and cheaper — especially when Turkey is your only target. This guide explains both routes.
Route 1 — Direct Filing with TÜRKPATENT
A national trademark application filed directly with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). This is the most common and cost-effective approach when your primary goal is to protect your brand in Turkey specifically.
Advantages
| Lower cost for single country |
| No base registration required |
| Independent — not tied to home mark |
| Faster in practice |
| Our fee: $500 |
Considerations
| Turkish language correspondence |
| Local agent required for foreign applicants |
| Only covers Turkey |
Route 2 — Madrid Protocol (WIPO International Application)
An international trademark application filed through WIPO that designates Turkey along with other countries. Requires a base application or registration in your home country.
Advantages
| One application for 130+ countries |
| Centralised renewal via WIPO |
| Best for multi-country campaigns |
| Single language (English/French/Spanish) |
Considerations
| Requires base application/registration |
| WIPO + per-country fees add up |
| Tied to base mark for 5 years (central attack) |
| Higher overall cost for 1–2 countries |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Direct TÜRKPATENT | Madrid Protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Agent fee (Turkey) | $500 | Quote (includes WIPO fees) |
| Official TÜRKPATENT fees | ~$300 | ~$300 (same) |
| Base registration needed | No | Yes |
| Countries covered | Turkey only | 1–130+ countries |
| Examination timeline | ~6 months (typical) | 18–24 months |
| Language | Turkish (agent handles) | English / French / Spanish |
| Vulnerability | Independent | Central attack risk (5 yrs) |
| Best for | Turkey as primary market | Multi-country expansion |
How Does Turkey Handle Madrid Protocol Applications?
When WIPO forwards your international registration to TÜRKPATENT with a Turkey designation, TÜRKPATENT conducts a full national examination — the same examination as for a direct application. This means:
- Absolute grounds for refusal (descriptiveness, deceptiveness) still apply
- The mark is published in the Official Trademark Bulletin for a 2-month opposition period
- A foreign-language mark may need to be assessed for Turkish language associations
- TÜRKPATENT may issue a provisional refusal — you have the right to respond
We can act as your local representative in Turkey for both direct applications and Madrid Protocol designations — handling office actions and oppositions on your behalf.
What Is the "Central Attack" Risk?
Under the Madrid Protocol, your international registration depends on your base (home country) application or registration for the first 5 years. If your base mark is cancelled or reduced in scope during this period — for any reason — your international registration (and the Turkey designation) is automatically affected. This is known as a "central attack."
After 5 years, your Turkey trademark becomes independent of the base mark.
How to Claim Paris Convention Priority for Turkey
If you have filed a trademark application in another Paris Convention country (e.g., the EUIPO, USPTO, or UK IPO) within the past 6 months, you can claim that filing date as your priority date in Turkey. This is useful if you want to file in Turkey but benefit from an earlier date.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the initial designation, no local agent is needed — WIPO handles the forwarding. However, if TÜRKPATENT issues a provisional refusal or an opposition is filed, you must appoint an authorized Turkish trademark agent to respond. We can act as your local representative from the start or at any point during the process.
For Turkey as a standalone designation, direct filing is almost always cheaper. Madrid Protocol incurs a WIPO basic fee (~CHF 653 for one class) plus per-country fees, in addition to our agent fee. For a single country, direct TÜRKPATENT filing at $500 agent fee is the more economical route.
WIPO registers the international mark within about 2 months of receipt, then forwards it to TÜRKPATENT. TÜRKPATENT has 18 months to issue a provisional refusal; if none is issued, protection in Turkey is confirmed. Total timeline is typically 18–24 months.
