How to Register an International (madrid) Trademark in Malaysia, Step‑by‑step Myipo Guide (2026)

Understanding how to register an international (Madrid) trademark in Malaysia is essential for any foreign brand owner, in‑house counsel or international trademark attorney seeking protection in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest‑growing consumer markets. The Madrid System, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), allows trademark holders to designate Malaysia as part of a single international application, but the process must flow through your home Office of origin, comply with Malaysia’s Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815), and now satisfy the updated practice notes in MyIPO’s Guidelines of Trademarks 2019 (VA1‑2026).

This guide sets out every step from eligibility through to responding to a provisional refusal, with the documents, fees, timeline and agent checklist you need to file correctly the first time.

Overview of the Madrid Designation Process and Who It Applies To

The Madrid System lets a trademark owner file one international application, pay one set of fees (in Swiss francs), and obtain protection in multiple member countries, including Malaysia. Rather than filing a standalone national application with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), a Madrid designation reaches MyIPO through WIPO after the applicant’s home Office of origin certifies and transmits the application.

A foreign owner does not apply directly to MyIPO for an international registration. Instead, the applicant files with their own Office of origin, the national or regional IP office of the country where the applicant holds a basic trademark application or registration. If a Malaysian‑based applicant wishes to use the Madrid System, MyIPO acts as the Office of origin. Where a non‑Malaysian applicant simply wants to extend protection to Malaysia, they file through their home office (for example, the USPTO, EUIPO or UKIPO) and designate Malaysia as one of the target territories.

The MyIPO international registration process therefore involves two distinct scenarios: (1) MyIPO as the Office of origin (Malaysian applicant filing outward), governed by Chapter 14 of MyIPO’s procedural guidelines; and (2) MyIPO as a designated Office (foreign applicant extending inward), where MyIPO examines the international registration as if it were a national application under the Trademarks Act 2019. This guide covers both paths, with an emphasis on the inward designation most foreign applicants require.

Eligibility and Prerequisites for a Madrid Designation to Malaysia

Before filing, confirm that your situation meets the requirements of the Madrid Protocol and Malaysian law.

The Madrid System is available to any person who is a national of, is domiciled in, or has a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in a Contracting Party to the Madrid Protocol. Malaysia acceded to the Madrid Protocol, and the Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815) incorporates the concept of a “protected international registration designating Malaysia”, giving an international registration the same effect as a national registration once accepted.

You must hold a basic application or basic registration at your home Office of origin. This basic mark forms the legal foundation of the international registration for the first five years (the “dependency period”). The goods and services claimed in the international application cannot exceed those covered by the basic mark, and the mark itself must be identical.

Office of Origin Rules, When You Must File via MyIPO

If you are a Malaysian national, domiciliary, or have a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in Malaysia, MyIPO is your Office of origin. You must file the international application (form MM2) through MyIPO, which certifies that the mark and the goods/services correspond to the basic Malaysian application or registration, then transmits the application to WIPO.

If you are based outside Malaysia and simply wish to designate Malaysia for protection, you file through your own home Office of origin. MyIPO’s role is then limited to examining the designation once WIPO notifies it. In either scenario, appointing a MyIPO‑registered trademark agent is strongly recommended, and in many cases required, when prosecuting the mark locally, responding to examination queries, or handling a provisional refusal.

Step‑by‑Step Procedure to Register an International (Madrid) Trademark in Malaysia

The following five steps walk through the complete Madrid designation Malaysia workflow, from pre‑filing clearance to responding to any office action. The mandatory timeline table at the end of this section summarises who acts at each stage and the typical duration.

Step 1, Decide the Filing Route and Confirm Your Basic Application or Registration

Begin with a trademark clearance search in Malaysia to assess the risk of conflicting marks. MyIPO maintains an online search facility, and a MyIPO‑registered agent can run a more comprehensive availability analysis covering phonetic, visual and conceptual similarities.

Next, confirm that your basic national filing or registration is in order. The mark reproduced in the international application must be identical to the basic mark, and the goods and services (classified under the Nice Classification) must fall within those already covered. If your basic mark is still at application stage, you may file, but be aware that any refusal, withdrawal or restriction of the basic mark within the five‑year dependency period can affect the international registration.

If you do not hold a basic mark in any Madrid Contracting Party, the Madrid route is not available and you should instead file a direct national application with MyIPO under the Trademarks Act 2019.

Step 2, Appoint a Registered Local Agent and Prepare the Power of Attorney

Under MyIPO practice, a non‑resident applicant prosecuting a trademark in Malaysia must appoint a MyIPO‑registered trademark agent. The Guidelines of Trademarks 2019 (VA1‑2026) set out updated requirements for agent registration, examination and renewal, so it is critical to verify that your chosen agent holds a current, valid registration with MyIPO before executing the power of attorney.

The power of attorney (POA) should be signed by the applicant (or an authorised officer of a corporate applicant), notarised, and, where the executing jurisdiction requires it, apostilled or consularised. MyIPO’s VA1‑2026 practice notes clarify the form and supporting documentation expected; any POA not in English or Malay must be accompanied by a certified translation. Retain the original and provide the agent with a notarised copy.

For the Madrid System itself, WIPO forms MM‑10 (appointment of a representative before WIPO) and MM‑11 (appointment of a representative before a designated Office) may also be relevant, depending on whether your representative acts at the international or national level.

Step 3, Complete and File Form MM2 Through Your Office of Origin and Pay Fees

The international application is filed on WIPO form MM2 (or MM1 where the applicant’s home system uses the Madrid Agreement rather than the Protocol, though most filings today use MM2). The form is submitted to your Office of origin, not directly to WIPO or MyIPO.

When completing the MM2, designate Malaysia among the Contracting Parties where protection is sought. Attach or reference the following:

• Basic mark details, application or registration number at the Office of origin.
• Reproduction of the mark, identical to the basic mark.
• List of goods and services, classified under the Nice Classification; may be the same as or narrower than the basic mark’s scope.
• Priority claim, if claiming Convention priority (within six months of the earliest filing), attach a certified copy of the priority document.
• Declaration of intention to use, Malaysia requires a declaration that the applicant has a bona fide intention to use the mark.

Fee payment at this stage has two components. First, pay the Office of origin’s transmittal or handling fee (the amount varies by office, MyIPO publishes its transmittal schedule for outward filings in Chapter 14 of its procedural guidelines). Second, pay WIPO’s fees, which comprise the basic fee, a complementary or supplementary fee, and any individual designation fee for Malaysia. Use the WIPO Madrid Fee Calculator to generate the exact amount in Swiss francs for your class count and designated territories.

Step 4, Office of Origin Transmits to WIPO; WIPO Issues the International Registration and Notifies MyIPO

Once the Office of origin certifies the application, it transmits the file to WIPO’s International Bureau. WIPO conducts a formal examination (not a substantive one), records the international registration, and publishes it in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks. This typically occurs within one to two weeks of WIPO receiving the certified application, though processing times may vary.

WIPO then notifies each designated Office, including MyIPO, of the new designation. From the date of notification, MyIPO has the right to examine the mark exactly as it would a direct national application. Under the Madrid Protocol, the designated Office has either 12 or 18 months (depending on declarations made upon accession) to issue a provisional refusal. Malaysia has made the 18‑month declaration, meaning MyIPO may issue a provisional refusal of protection within 18 months of notification.

If no provisional refusal is issued within the applicable period, protection in Malaysia is deemed granted. The mark then enjoys the same rights as a nationally registered trademark under the Trademarks Act 2019.

Step 5, Respond to a Provisional Refusal (if Issued), Evidence, Translations and Deadlines

If MyIPO raises objections, on absolute grounds (descriptiveness, non‑distinctiveness) or relative grounds (conflict with an earlier mark), it issues a provisional refusal of protection. The notice specifies the grounds and sets a response deadline.

Your local agent must prepare and file a response within the deadline stated in the notice. Typical actions include:

• Filing written counterarguments addressing each ground of refusal.
• Submitting evidence of use (invoices, advertising materials, packaging photographs, dated and labelled) demonstrating acquired distinctiveness or reputation.
• Providing certified translations of any supporting documents not in English or Malay.
• Amending the goods and services specification if the objection relates to overbroad wording.
• Requesting an extension of time, if permitted, when additional evidence is being gathered.

Failure to respond within the deadline results in a final refusal of protection for Malaysia. Practitioners should prepare template evidence packs and certified translations in advance to avoid missing compressed timelines.

Required Documents and Information for a Madrid Designation to Malaysia

Compile the following documents before filing. MyIPO’s VA1‑2026 guidelines reinforce the importance of submitting correctly formatted, translated and authenticated documents at each stage.

Practitioners should maintain a standard POA template that includes the applicant’s full name and address, the agent’s MyIPO registration number, the scope of authority (filing, prosecution, opposition and appeal), and a notarisation block compliant with the laws of the executing jurisdiction. Preparing two versions, one for corporate applicants with board resolution language and one for individual applicants, reduces turnaround time on new instructions.

Timeline and Key Deadlines for a Madrid Trademark Designation to Malaysia

The timeline below summarises the critical deadlines from filing to final protection or refusal. Exact dates depend on WIPO processing times, MyIPO examination workloads and whether office actions are issued.

These deadlines are set by WIPO rules and the Trademarks Act 2019. Practitioners should diarise each deadline upon receipt of WIPO or MyIPO communications and build in a buffer of at least two weeks before each cut‑off to allow for evidence gathering, translation and agent review.

Costs, Fees and Tax Considerations for a Madrid Designation to Malaysia

Costs for a Madrid designation to Malaysia fall into three categories. Exact amounts change periodically, so the figures below should be verified using the sources indicated before each filing.

No Malaysian sales tax or service tax is levied on WIPO fees, but local agent professional fees may attract Malaysian service tax at the prevailing rate. Applicants outside Malaysia should also confirm whether their home jurisdiction imposes withholding obligations on cross‑border professional fees paid to a Malaysian agent. For broader context on Malaysian stamp duty and regulatory costs, see the guide to Malaysia stamp duty and conveyancing changes 2026.

What Changed in 2026, MyIPO VA1‑2026 Guidelines

In early 2026, MyIPO published the Guidelines of Trademarks 2019 (VA1‑2026), updating the practice framework that governs how trademark applications, including international designations, are examined and processed. Key changes relevant to the Madrid designation Malaysia process include:

• Agent registration and renewal. VA1‑2026 clarifies the requirements for MyIPO‑registered trademark agents, including examination prerequisites, continuing professional development obligations and renewal procedures. Applicants should confirm that their appointed agent meets the updated criteria before executing a POA.
• POA and document practice. The updated guidelines reinforce the format and authentication standards for powers of attorney, including notarisation requirements and the supporting documentation that must accompany a POA filed with MyIPO.
• Translation and evidence standards. VA1‑2026 codifies MyIPO’s expectations for certified translations and evidentiary submissions during examination, particularly relevant when responding to a provisional refusal.
• Communication and procedural clarifications. The guidelines introduce updated practice notes on the handling of MM forms, correspondence timelines and the interaction between MyIPO’s domestic examination procedures and the Madrid Protocol framework.

Industry observers expect that these changes will tighten compliance requirements for agents and improve the consistency of MyIPO’s examination of international designations. Applicants who filed before VA1‑2026 took effect should review any pending prosecution to ensure their documents comply with the updated standards.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Missing or incorrectly formatted POA. MyIPO may refuse to act on instructions if the POA is not notarised, lacks a certified translation or does not name a currently registered agent. Remedy: use a standard POA template, confirm notarisation and legalisation requirements for your jurisdiction, and verify the agent’s MyIPO registration number against the VA1‑2026 criteria before signing.
• Overbroad or non‑standard goods/services wording. MyIPO examiners may object to descriptions that do not match accepted Nice Classification terms, triggering an office action. Remedy: draft specifications using the WIPO Nice Classification database and have your local agent review the wording before filing the MM2.
• Failing to verify WIPO fee composition. Underpaying WIPO fees delays processing and may result in an irregularity notice. Remedy: run the WIPO Fee Calculator immediately before payment, confirm the total with your Office of origin, and retain the fee breakdown for your records.
• Missing evidence or translation deadlines after a provisional refusal. The response window is strict and extensions are discretionary. Remedy: prepare template evidence packs (photographs, invoices, statutory declarations) and pre‑arrange certified translation services so materials can be filed within days of receiving a refusal notice.

Sources

1. MyIPO, Applying for a Trademark
2. MyIPO, Guidelines of Trademarks 2019 (VA1‑2026)
3. MyIPO, Chapter 14: International Applications Where Malaysia Is the Office of Origin
4. WIPO, Madrid System Fee Calculator
5. Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815), Malaysia (WIPO Lex)
6. MyIPO, Agent Registration Manual