Civil unrest in Nepal and a whirl of Department of Industry notices — issued, revoked, then reissued — have left trademark applicants and brand owners unsure about deadlines, documents and use obligations. Here’s the operative position and what to do.
Note: This reflects the DOI position as at early 2026; the specific dates below fell in the first half of 2026. Because the notices have changed repeatedly, confirm the current DOI notice and deadlines before acting.
The shifting notices
- 19 August 2025 — the DOI required submission of pending documents for all pending applications, and payment/collection of certificates for uncollected registered marks, within 90 days. It also directed registrants to submit use evidence or product samples within 60 days (Section 18C, PDTA).
- 24 September 2025 — that notice was revoked amid disruption from the “Gen Z” movement.
- 1 December 2025 — the operative notice, setting the requirements below.
What the operative (December 2025) notice requires
- Re-submission of incomplete applications. Applicants with incomplete documents must re-submit with the necessary documents within 90 days (by 28 February 2026). Applications older than 7 years that remain incomplete by the deadline will be automatically cancelled.
- Collection of registration certificates. Where a mark was published in the Industrial Property Bulletin before the notice and not opposed, the owner must apply for the Registration Certificate within 6 months (by 1 June 2026), or the application will be cancelled.
Use requirements — currently not mandatory
The revoked August 2025 notice had required use evidence or product samples within 60 days (Section 18C, PDTA). Since that notice is no longer in force, the current position does not mandate submitting use evidence. However, the DOI may well issue fresh directions on use soon — so as a risk-mitigation measure, it’s advisable to begin using your marks in Nepal and keep evidence of that use.
Recommended next steps
Pending applicants — submit outstanding documents before the deadline, including the original Power of Attorney, Home Registration Certificate, and the priority document (if priority is claimed).
Registered owners —
- Pay the fee and collect your Registration Certificates within the deadline; and
- though not currently mandatory, collect and keep evidence of use of your mark in Nepal to reduce future cancellation risk.
The takeaways
- The operative notice is the December 2025 one — earlier notices (incl. the use-evidence directive) were revoked.
- Two hard deadlines applied in early 2026 — re-submitting incomplete applications, and applying for registration certificates.
- Very old incomplete applications risk auto-cancellation (over 7 years old).
- Use evidence isn’t mandatory now — but prepare for it by using your marks and keeping proof.
Frequently asked questions
Is submitting evidence of use mandatory for trademarks in Nepal? Not under the currently operative notice — the August 2025 use-evidence directive was revoked. But the DOI may reintroduce it, so keeping use evidence is prudent.
What must pending applicants in Nepal do? Re-submit incomplete applications with the required documents (original Power of Attorney, Home Registration Certificate, and priority document if claimed) before the DOI deadline.
What happens to very old incomplete applications? Applications older than 7 years that remain incomplete by the deadline face automatic cancellation.
Do registered owners need to act? Yes — pay the prescribed fee and collect the Registration Certificate within the deadline to avoid cancellation, and ideally keep evidence of use.