Colombia is one of Latin America’s most active and efficient trademark jurisdictions. Applications are examined by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), and the substantive law is Andean Community Decision 486 — the common industrial-property regime Colombia shares with Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Colombia is a first-to-file country and has been a member of the Madrid Protocol since 2012.
You need a local representative
An applicant without domicile in Colombia must act through a representative domiciled in the country and provide a Power of Attorney. In practice this means instructing a local associate — the role MK Global IP performs for US and European firms across the Andean region and the wider continent, under your instruction and with a single point of contact.
The registration process, step by step
- 01Clearance search. A pre-filing search of the SIC register to assess availability and identify conflicts.
- 02Filing. The application is filed with the applicant details, the sign, and the goods/services under the Nice Classification.
- 03Formal examination. The SIC verifies that the application meets filing requirements.
- 04Publication & opposition. The application is published in the Industrial Property Gazette, opening a 30-working-day window for oppositions.
- 05Substantive examination. The SIC examines registrability and prior rights and may raise objections.
- 06Decision & grant. If allowed, the registration is granted and the certificate issued.
Timelines
Absent oppositions or objections, registration typically takes around 6 to 8 months from filing — one of the faster routes in Latin America, which makes Colombia an attractive first filing for regional strategies.
Oppositions and the Andean dimension
Applications are open to opposition for 30 working days after publication. A distinctive feature of the Andean system is that the owner of a mark registered in another Community country (Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia) may, in certain circumstances, oppose based on that foreign right — one reason a regional view of a portfolio matters, and where a structured trademark watch adds value.
Maintenance and renewal
A registration is valid for ten years from grant and renewable for successive ten-year periods, with renewal filed in the six months before expiry (plus a six-month grace period). Colombia does not require a declaration of use to maintain a registration, but a mark unused for three consecutive years can be cancelled for non-use under Decision 486.
Filing in Colombia or across the Andean region?
As a Colombia-based firm, MK Global IP acts as your local representative here and across 50+ jurisdictions, under your instruction, with one point of contact.
Talk to our teamFrequently asked questions
Do foreign applicants need a local representative to file a trademark in Colombia?
Yes. An applicant without domicile in Colombia must appoint a representative domiciled in the country and file a Power of Attorney. This is the local-counsel role MK Global IP performs for foreign associates.
Which law governs trademarks in Colombia?
Colombia is a member of the Andean Community, so trademarks are governed by Andean Community Decision 486 — the common industrial-property regime shared with Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia — and administered nationally by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC).
How long does it take to register a trademark in Colombia?
When an application is not opposed and raises no objections, registration typically takes around 6 to 8 months from filing — one of the faster timelines in the region.
What is the opposition period in Colombia?
Third parties have 30 working days from publication of the application in the Industrial Property Gazette to file an opposition.
How long is a Colombian trademark registration valid?
Ten years from the grant date, renewable for successive ten-year periods. Renewal is filed within the six months before expiry, with a six-month grace period afterwards.
Can a Colombian trademark be cancelled for non-use?
Yes. Under Decision 486, a registration that has not been genuinely used for three consecutive years can be cancelled for non-use at the request of an interested party.