EU trade mark renewal is only a formality on the surface. Missing the deadline means losing protection across all 27 countries at once — and reinstating it is no longer possible through renewal but only through a new application, with a new priority date and no guarantee that the sign is still available.
An EUTM certificate is valid for 10 years from the filing date of the application — not from the date of registration. This distinction is worth noting from the outset, as it is precisely where confusion about deadline calculations most often arises.
Timelines: When to File and What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
EUIPO sends a reminder about the approaching expiry date six months in advance — but relying solely on that notification is risky. It goes to the address registered in the system and can go astray when a proprietor or representative changes without the records being updated.
| Stage | Deadline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard period | Up to 6 months before the expiry date | Filing and payment of the basic fee without surcharge |
| Final deadline | The expiry date of the 10-year period | Last day to file without a surcharge |
| Grace period | Additional 6 months after the expiry date | Filing remains possible but a surcharge applies |
If neither the request nor the fee is submitted even within the grace period, the registration lapses pursuant to Article 53(8) EUTMR and the mark is permanently removed from the EUIPO register.
In our experience, clients most often lose track precisely at the grace period boundary: it feels as though "there is still time" — until it becomes clear that missing the grace period window means not a surcharge but the complete loss of the mark. Starting the procedure 6–9 months before the expiry date is advisable — this allows enough time to correct any errors in the proprietor's details if they come to light.
How Much Does Renewal Cost?
The basic online fee for renewing one class of goods or services is €850; for two classes, €900; and each additional class adds €150 (EUIPO, Fees and payments).
Where the deadline has been missed and renewal is filed during the grace period, a surcharge of 25% is added to the basic fee — capped at €1,500 regardless of the number of classes (EUIPO, FAQ: Renewals). In practice, for a mark covering several classes this surcharge often turns out to be more significant than it initially appears — it is worth calculating it in advance rather than after the fact.
Step-by-Step Filing Procedure
The procedure itself is straightforward and is conducted entirely online through the EUIPO User Area.
- Verify the proprietor's details — address, representative's contact information, and the validity of the power of attorney. An outdated address is the most common reason EUIPO's reminder never arrives.
- Submit the official renewal request through the EUIPO online portal.
- Pay the basic fee — and, where applicable, the grace period surcharge.
- Await registration of the renewal — from that point the mark is protected for a further 10 years.
See also: for information on how the basic fees are structured at the initial application stage, see our article on the cost of EU trade mark registration; for an explanation of why proprietors risk losing a mark before its term expires, see our article on Trade mark revocation for non-use.
Can the Mark Be Changed During Renewal?
Renewal is a procedure for preserving an existing right — not a tool for making amendments. The logo, the name of the sign, or the list of goods and services cannot be changed within the renewal procedure; a separate new application is required for that purpose.
Partial renewal is available, however: the proprietor may exclude from the specification those classes that are no longer actively used in the business. This is not a cosmetic detail. Removing "dormant" classes simultaneously reduces the renewal fee and eliminates the risk discussed in the article on revocation for non-use: the fewer unused classes remain on the register, the fewer points of vulnerability exist for a third-party challenge.
What This Means for Brand Protection Strategy
Renewing an EUTM costs a fraction of what it takes to restore rights after a mark is lost and must be re-registered from scratch. The difference is not only in the fees: a new application means a new priority date, a fresh examination, and the risk that in the intervening period someone else has registered a similar sign in the same class.
The practical habit that eliminates most of this risk is a calendar reminder set 9 months before the expiry date — regardless of whether a letter from EUIPO has arrived. This is one of those rare cases in IP practice where being proactive costs tens of times less than dealing with the consequences of inaction.
