Trademark Registration in Turkey: 2026 Guide for Foreign Brand Owners

Short answer: a trademark is protected in Turkey only if it is registered with TÜRKPATENT, the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, either through a national application or by designating Turkey in a Madrid Protocol international registration. Registrations in the US, the UK or the EU (EUTM) do not cover Turkey. Foreign applicants filing nationally must act through a TÜRKPATENT registered trademark attorney; a simple signed power of attorney is enough, with no notarisation or apostille. An unopposed application usually reaches registration in 4 to 8 months. Official fees for one class total ₺9,830 in 2026 (₺2,820 at filing, ₺7,010 at registration). Protection lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely.

Does My Foreign Trademark Protect Me in Turkey?

No. Trademark rights are territorial. A US, UK or Chinese registration has no effect in Turkey, and Turkey is not an EU member state, so an EU trademark does not extend to it. Turkey is a first-to-file jurisdiction: as a rule, the earlier application wins, and prior use of an unregistered mark can only be relied on in limited situations, through opposition or court action and with evidence.

The practical risk is real for companies entering Turkey through a distributor, a franchisee or online marketplaces. If a local party files your brand first, you may be unable to sell under it, your listings on Turkish marketplaces can be taken down on their complaint, and recovering the mark means litigation. Filing before you appoint a distributor or start selling is the cheapest form of protection.

Two Routes: National Application or Madrid Protocol

Both routes give the same rights once protection is granted. If Turkey matters on its own, for example for a distributor agreement, customs enforcement or Turkish marketplaces where a local certificate is often requested, a national filing is usually the more practical choice. For the international route see our Madrid Protocol and Turkey guide, and for the EU comparison EUTM vs Turkish trademark.

Who Can Apply and What Documents Are Needed?

Individuals and companies of any nationality can own a Turkish trademark. Applicants without a domicile or real business establishment in Turkey must be represented by a trademark attorney registered with TÜRKPATENT. For an ordinary national filing you need:

• The applicant's exact legal name and address, as they should appear on the register
• An image of the mark (for logos, a clear JPEG or PNG; colour claims follow the image)
• A list of goods and services; we prepare the Turkish specification in TÜRKPATENT's accepted terms
• A simple signed power of attorney; a scan is accepted, no notarisation, apostille or legalisation
• Priority details and the certified priority document, if you claim an earlier foreign filing made within 6 months

No certificate of incorporation, no specimens and no evidence of use are required to file. Some later acts, such as withdrawing an application or recording an assignment, need notarised documents. Details are in Documents required to register a trademark in Turkey; priority claims are explained in Right of priority.

Step by Step: How Registration Works

For the factors that cause delays, see How long does trademark registration take in Turkey.

How Much Does a Turkish Trademark Cost in 2026?

Official fees are set by TÜRKPATENT in Turkish lira and updated each year. The application fee is paid at filing; the registration fee is paid only after the mark clears publication.

The registration fee is charged once per mark, regardless of the number of classes. With us, filing a single-class application costs $250 (service fee $150 + VAT, plus the $70 official application fee) and each additional class adds $60. The official registration fee of ₺7,010 (approx. $142 at current exchange rates) is paid later, only after the mark is approved. Details are on our pricing page; contact us for a formal quote. Other official fees you may meet later: opposition ₺1,150, renewal (up to 2 classes) ₺8,730, assignment recordal ₺5,960.

Refusals and Oppositions: What Foreign Applicants Should Know

• Absolute grounds (examined ex officio): lack of distinctiveness, descriptive terms, deceptive marks, and identical earlier marks. A notarised letter of consent from the earlier owner can overcome an identical-mark refusal.
• Oppositions: filed within 2 months of publication, on grounds such as likelihood of confusion, well-known marks, bad faith or an agent filing without authorisation. The applicant has 1 month to respond.
• Appeal: decisions can be appealed to TÜRKPATENT's Re-examination and Evaluation Board within 2 months, and the Board's decision can be challenged before the Ankara Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Court within 2 months.

Watching the Turkish bulletin for similar filings is part of protecting a registered mark. See Trademark opposition in Turkey.

Distributors, Agents and Bad-Faith Filings

The most expensive Turkish trademark disputes for foreign companies start with a distributor, agent or former partner filing the brand in its own name. Turkish law gives specific tools against this: the owner can oppose an application filed by its agent or representative without authorisation, and bad-faith filings can be opposed or invalidated. These remedies need evidence and time. The simpler protection is contractual and procedural: file the mark in your own name before the relationship starts, and state in the distribution agreement that the distributor will not file or use the mark in its own name.

After Registration

• Use the mark in Turkey. A mark not genuinely used in Turkey for 5 years can be cancelled on request; export use and use with your consent count. See Non-use cancellation and Proof of use.
• Renew every 10 years. Renewal is filed in the last 6 months of the term, with a 6-month grace period at a higher fee. See Trademark renewal in Turkey.
• Record changes. Assignments, licences and changes of name or address should be recorded with TÜRKPATENT; an unrecorded assignment cannot be relied on against third parties acting in good faith.
• Enforce. A registered mark is the basis for marketplace takedowns, cease-and-desist letters, preliminary injunctions, infringement actions and applications to Turkish customs to suspend counterfeit shipments.

Notes for US Companies

A USPTO registration gives no rights in Turkey. US companies can either designate Turkey in a Madrid filing based on their US application or registration, or file directly at TÜRKPATENT. Three points come up repeatedly:

• Specification: US identification language is often narrower and more detailed than Turkish practice; a Madrid designation inherits it, which may limit protection in Turkey.
• Central attack: if the US base is restricted, refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Turkish designation falls with it, although it can be transformed into a national application within 3 months.
• No use requirement at filing: unlike the US system, Turkey does not require a declaration or specimen of use to file or register.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Official fees are TÜRKPATENT's 2026 tariff and are updated annually; confirm current figures before filing.