How to Renew Trademark Online in Malaysia (2026): TME1, TME2, Fees & Chapter 11 Updates

Last updated: 27 July 2026

If you need to know how to renew trademark online in Malaysia, the short answer is straightforward: file Form TME1 through MyIPO’s IP Online portal up to six months before your registration expires and pay RM1,000 per class. Should you miss that window, a six-month grace period remains available via Form TME2, though the fee rises to RM1,200 per class. MyIPO’s revised Chapter 11 Renewal guidance, published in March 2026, clarified the publication sequence and timing rules that apply to both standard and late renewals. Failing to act within either window triggers removal from the Register, after which the costlier and more uncertain TME3 restoration process is your only route back, a process that exposes the mark to third-party opposition.

This guide walks through every form, fee, deadline and practical pitfall so that Malaysian business owners, in-house counsel and trademark agents can protect their registrations with confidence.

Do You Need to Renew Your Trademark in Malaysia?

Under the Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815), every trademark registration in Malaysia is valid for an initial period of ten years from the date of registration. The registration may then be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely, provided the proprietor files the correct form and pays the prescribed fee before, or shortly after, the expiry date. The statutory framework therefore treats trademark renewal in Malaysia not as optional housekeeping but as a recurring legal obligation that directly preserves the proprietor’s exclusive rights.

The practical consequence of missing your trademark renewal deadline in Malaysia is severe: MyIPO will remove the mark from the Register. Once removed, a competitor may file an identical or similar mark, and you lose the presumption of validity that a live registration provides. Practitioners generally recommend initiating the MyIPO trademark renewal process at least three to six months before expiry. This lead time accounts for internal approvals, agent coordination, payment processing and any unforeseen queries from the Registry.

How to Check Your Trademark Expiry on IP Online

MyIPO operates the IP Online portal, which is the primary electronic system for searching and managing trademark records. To verify your registration’s expiry date, log in to IP Online, navigate to the trademark search function, and enter either your registration number or the mark itself. The record detail page displays the registration date and the calculated expiry date. Cross-referencing this information against your internal IP calendar is essential, relying solely on MyIPO reminder notices is not recommended, as dispatch is not guaranteed. Checking your expiry early is the single most effective way to avoid being pushed into the TME2 grace period or, worse, the TME3 restoration track.

How to Renew Trademark Online in Malaysia: Forms, Fees and Timelines

MyIPO uses three principal forms for trademark renewal and restoration. The table below summarises the filing window, applicable fee and key consequences for each. Understanding this framework is the foundation of any trademark renewal strategy in Malaysia.

For a single-class registration renewed on time, the total trademark renewal fee in Malaysia is RM1,000. Multi-class registrations multiply that figure by the number of classes covered. When the TME2 grace period is used instead, each class costs RM1,200, representing a 20 per cent premium for what is effectively a procedural delay. The TME3 restoration route carries additional costs and introduces uncertainty that cannot be budgeted with precision, because it depends on whether any third party opposes the restoration.

The filing windows are strict. TME1 opens exactly six months before the expiry date printed on the registration certificate, and closes on expiry. TME2 then opens immediately and runs for a further six months. Once both windows have elapsed, the Registrar removes the mark and only TME3 remains available. There is no further statutory grace period beyond TME2.

Chapter 11 Updates: What Changed in March 2026 and Why It Matters

In March 2026, MyIPO published a revised Chapter 11 of its Trademark Guidelines, forming part of the broader Guidelines VA1-2026 package. The Chapter 11 renewal update clarified several operational rules that affect the timing and publication of renewal applications. Key clarifications include the sequencing of Gazette publication for late renewals and restorations, confirmation that the six-month TME2 grace period runs from the date of expiry (not from the date of any reminder notice), and updated guidance on the documents the Registrar expects to accompany a TME3 restoration request. Industry observers expect the practical effect to be fewer procedural rejections for TME2 filings, because the timing rules are now explicit rather than inferred.

Proprietors and agents should review the Chapter 11 Renewal PDF alongside the VA1-2026 Guidelines to ensure their internal workflows reflect the current requirements.

Step-by-Step: How to Renew Online via MyIPO IP Online (TME1 Filing)

The most cost-effective and reliable way to handle trademark renewal in Malaysia is to file Form TME1 online through the IP Online portal before the registration expires. The following step-by-step process applies to the standard TME1 filing:

1. Log in to IP Online. Access the MyIPO IP Online portal using your registered credentials. If you are a trademark agent filing on behalf of a proprietor, ensure your agent registration details are current and linked to the client’s record.
2. Search for the trademark record. Use the registration number or the mark itself to locate the relevant entry. Confirm the expiry date displayed matches your records.
3. Select the renewal action. From the record detail page, choose the renewal filing option. The system will prompt you to complete Form TME1 electronically.
4. Complete Form TME1. Enter the required particulars: proprietor name and address, registration number, class or classes to be renewed, and the agent’s details (if applicable). The TME1 form fields are prescribed by MyIPO’s TME1 document, ensure every mandatory field is populated to avoid rejection.
5. Attach supporting documents (if required). For a standard on-time renewal, MyIPO does not ordinarily require proof of use or additional evidence. However, if there are any pending amendments, assignment recordings or address changes, it is advisable to resolve these before or alongside the renewal filing.
6. Confirm the fee and make payment. The system will calculate the total fee based on the number of classes selected. Proceed to the payment gateway. Accepted payment methods include online bank transfer and credit/debit card through the portal’s integrated payment system.
7. Download and save the acknowledgement receipt. Once payment is confirmed, IP Online generates a transaction receipt. Save this as your proof of filing, it records the date, amount, registration number and transaction reference.
8. Monitor the record. After processing, the renewed expiry date should appear on the IP Online record. Check back within four to six weeks to confirm the update has been recorded.

Payment Codes and Payment Tips

Each type of trademark transaction at MyIPO is assigned a specific payment code. For TME1 renewal filings, the applicable payment code is referenced in the TME1 form PDF. When filing for multiple marks or multiple classes in a single session, confirm that the correct code is applied to each line item, errors in payment coding are a common cause of processing delays. Trademark agents handling bulk renewals should also verify whether MyIPO accepts batch submissions or requires individual filings per registration, as the IP Online system’s batch functionality may differ from manual counter lodgement. Retaining the payment receipt with the corresponding code for each registration simplifies reconciliation and any future correspondence with the Registry.

Late Renewals and Restorations: TME2 and TME3 Processes

Missing the TME1 window does not immediately extinguish your rights, but it does trigger the TME2 grace period, a six-month late-renewal window that carries both a financial penalty and heightened administrative scrutiny. Understanding the distinction between TME2 and TME3 is critical for any proprietor navigating a lapsed trademark renewal deadline in Malaysia.

TME2: The Six-Month Grace Period

If the expiry date passes without a TME1 filing, the proprietor may still renew by filing Form TME2 within six months of the expiry date. The fee for TME2 is RM1,200 per class, comprising the standard RM1,000 renewal fee plus a RM200 surcharge. The mark remains on the Register throughout the TME2 grace period, meaning that the proprietor’s rights are technically uninterrupted, although enforcement actions initiated during this window may face procedural challenges. The Chapter 11 Renewal guidance confirms that the six-month period is calculated from the expiry date itself and is not extended by any administrative notice or correspondence from the Registrar.

TME3: Restoration After Removal

Once the TME2 window closes, the Registrar removes the trademark from the Register. At this point, the only available remedy is to file Form TME3 for restoration. The TME3 process is materially different from standard renewal: the application for restoration is published in the MyIPO Gazette, giving third parties an opportunity to oppose the restoration. If a competitor has filed a similar mark or has a legitimate interest in the mark remaining off the Register, they may lodge opposition proceedings. The restoration fee is separate from and in addition to the renewal fee, and the total cost can escalate significantly if opposition is lodged and legal representation becomes necessary.

Processing times for contested TME3 applications can extend well beyond the standard renewal timeline, potentially taking several months or longer depending on the complexity of any opposition.

Practical Strategy: TME2 vs Restoration

The decision framework is simple in principle. If you are within six months of expiry, filing TME2 immediately is almost always the correct choice, the RM200 surcharge is a negligible cost compared to the risk, expense and delay of the TME3 restoration route. The only scenario where accepting removal and pursuing TME3 might be considered is where the proprietor is actively reconsidering whether the mark still serves a commercial purpose and wants time to evaluate before committing to a further ten-year term. Even then, the opposition risk during TME3 publication makes this a high-stakes gamble.

Early indications suggest that since the Chapter 11 updates took effect, practitioners are prioritising TME2 filings even more aggressively to avoid the newly clarified publication and opposition sequence under TME3.

Proof-of-Use and Common Pitfalls in Trademark Renewal

One of the most frequently asked questions about how to renew trademark online in Malaysia is whether the proprietor must demonstrate that the mark is actually being used in commerce. The answer, for routine TME1 and TME2 renewals, is no. MyIPO does not require evidence of use as a condition of renewal, payment of the prescribed fee and submission of the correct form is sufficient. This is consistent with the position under the Trademarks Act 2019, which separates the renewal mechanism from the use requirements that apply in other contexts.

However, proof of use becomes relevant in two important situations:

• TME3 restoration proceedings. When a mark is restored to the Register after removal, the Registrar or an opposing party may request evidence that the mark was in use or that the proprietor had a genuine intention to resume use. Failing to provide credible evidence at this stage can result in the restoration being refused.
• Non-use revocation applications. Under the Trademarks Act 2019, any person may apply to revoke a registered trademark that has not been genuinely used in Malaysia for a continuous period of three years. While this is a separate proceeding from renewal, the timing often coincides, a competitor who notices a mark has lapsed and been restored may simultaneously file a non-use revocation action.

The types of evidence that MyIPO accepts as proof of use include invoices, product packaging, advertising materials, screenshots of online sales platforms, and any documentation showing the mark being used in the course of trade in Malaysia. Common pitfalls include submitting evidence that is undated, that shows the mark in a different form from the registered version, or that relates to use outside Malaysia. A well-organised evidence file, ideally compiled and maintained throughout the registration term, not assembled retrospectively under deadline pressure, significantly reduces risk in both restoration and revocation scenarios.

Costs, Budgeting and Timelines: Worked Examples

To illustrate the financial and timing implications, consider three scenarios for a single-class trademark registration:

For a business holding three registrations across two classes each, a timely TME1 renewal costs RM6,000 in total. The same portfolio renewed via TME2 costs RM7,200. If even one of those marks enters the TME3 restoration process, the total expenditure, factoring in restoration fees, potential agent or legal fees for responding to oppositions, and the commercial risk of operating without a live registration during the gap, can easily exceed double the on-time renewal cost. Budgeting for trademark renewals should therefore treat the TME1 deadline as a firm financial commitment, not a target date.

What to Do if MyIPO Rejects or Flags Your Application

Occasionally, MyIPO may issue a query or reject a renewal application for administrative reasons. Common causes include discrepancies between the proprietor details on the form and the recorded details on the Register (for example, a change of company name or address that has not been formally recorded), incorrect payment codes, or incomplete form fields. If your TME1 or TME2 filing is flagged, MyIPO will typically issue a written notification specifying the deficiency and allowing a prescribed period in which to respond.

The appropriate response is to address the specific deficiency identified, whether by filing an amendment, correcting the payment, or providing supporting documentation. If the issue relates to a change in corporate structure or contractual assignment, the underlying recording (for example, an assignment or transmission) should be filed before re-submitting the renewal. Where the query involves a substantive legal issue, appointing a registered trademark agent in Malaysia is advisable, agents are familiar with MyIPO’s procedural expectations and can expedite resolution. Ignoring a MyIPO query does not pause the renewal deadline; if the TME1 or TME2 window expires while a query is outstanding, the application may lapse.

Trademark Renewal Checklist and Official Resources

Before initiating your MyIPO trademark renewal, work through the following checklist to ensure a smooth filing:

• Confirm the expiry date. Log in to IP Online and verify the expiry date for each registration you intend to renew.
• Determine the correct form. TME1 for on-time renewals; TME2 if within six months after expiry. Download the current TME1 form from the MyIPO website.
• Verify proprietor details. Ensure the name, address and other particulars on the Register match the information you will enter on the form. File any outstanding changes of name or address first.
• Calculate fees. Multiply the per-class fee (RM1,000 for TME1; RM1,200 for TME2) by the number of classes covered by the registration.
• Prepare payment. Confirm the correct payment code from the TME1 form PDF and ensure sufficient funds are available for online payment.
• Review Chapter 11 updates. Consult the Chapter 11 Renewal PDF (March 2026) for current publication and timing rules, especially for recent Malaysian legislative changes that may affect related filings.
• File and retain proof. Submit the form online, make payment, and save the acknowledgement receipt.
• Diarise the next renewal. Set a calendar reminder for three to six months before the new expiry date, ten years from the current renewal, to begin the process again.

Sources

1. MyIPO, Guidelines of Trademark 2019 (VA1-2026)
2. MyIPO, Chapter 11 (Renewal) (March 2026)
3. MyIPO, Trademark Renewal Application Guide
4. MyIPO, TME1 Form & Payment Code PDF
5. MyIPO, Trademarks Act 2019 (Act 815)
6. WIPO Lex, Trademarks Act 2019 (Malaysia)