How to register your trademark in Albania: complete guide (2025)

This guide takes you step by step from the idea for a name to a registered trademark in Albania. Since 16 August 2025, trademarks have been governed by a new, stand-alone law on trademarks, harmonised with EU legislation. The institution that registers them is the General Directorate of Industrial Property (DPPI).

Why registration is worth it

A registered trademark gives you the exclusive right to use the name or logo for your goods and services and to prevent others from using an identical or similar sign that can be confused with yours. Protection lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. We cover the reasons in Why you should register your trademark.

Step 1: Choose a distinctive sign

The trademark must distinguish your goods or services from those of others. Descriptive names (e.g. “Fresh Bread” for bread), generic or misleading names are refused. Also decide on the type: a word, figurative or combined mark, or one of the other types the law recognises. See What is a trademark and Word, figurative or combined mark?

Step 2: Search before you apply

Check whether there are trademarks or companies with the same or a similar name. In trademark.al's public search you search the trademarks of Albania and Kosovo and the QKB and ARBK businesses at once. Bear in mind that the search informs you, but does not include applications that the office has not yet published. The full guide: Searching before you apply.

Step 3: Define the goods and services

The trademark is protected only for the goods and services you declare, according to the 45 Nice classes – 1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services. In the application form, the AI class agent proposes the classes with the official WIPO 2026 terms, based on the description of your business. See The Nice Classification.

What you need before you start

• The name or text of the trademark, exactly as it will be registered, and – for a logo – the image in PNG or JPG.
• The owner's details: the person or company that will hold the trademark.
• A clear description of what you produce, sell or offer, so that the AI agent can propose the classes.
• The details of the first application abroad – the country, the number and the date – if you claim priority within 6 months.

Step 4: Fill in the application

On trademark.al the application is made with a 9-step form: territory and representative, the mark, the business, questions, proposed classes, classes and cost, applicant, declarations, review and payment. For trademarks with an image, upload a PNG or JPG file of up to 5 MB. The name check shows you very similar trademarks and companies and, if there is a risk, you accept it expressly before payment. You can save the form as a draft.

Step 5: Pay

Before payment you see every line of the cost: the DPPI office fee, legal representation, the administration fee, the transaction fee and the total. Pay by card through UPay or by bank transfer – the same total either way. The application is not sent for filing unless it has been paid.

Step 6: Sign the power of attorney

After payment you receive the power of attorney (POA) by e-mail, in the name of the representative who files the trademark. As a natural person, you sign it before a notary; for DPPI the original is sent by post. The deadline is 30 days.

Step 7: Filing and the procedure at DPPI

The licensed representative files the trademark within 2 calendar days of payment. Then come the formal examination, the substantive examination, publication in the official bulletin and the 3-month opposition period. If there is no opposition, or it is resolved in your favour, the trademark is registered and the certificate is issued. Details: The registration procedure at DPPI.

Step 8: Protect it after registration

• Use the trademark: a trademark not used for 5 years may be revoked.
• Monitor it: learn in time about similar trademarks and companies and oppose within 3 months of publication.
• Renew it every 10 years.
• Think about Kosovo and other countries: protection applies only where the trademark is registered.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

The cost depends on the country, the number of classes and the services you request; prices are set by TMA and you see the full cost in the form before payment. The duration depends on the office and on any oppositions; the fixed period that affects every application is the 3-month opposition period after publication.

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