2025 has marked another outstanding year for the Thai Department of Intellectual Property (the “DIP”), characterized by a robust increase in filing volume and pivotal steps toward procedural modernization.

1. Key Market Insights

As far as trademarks are concerned, the number of trademark applications has increased by approximately 7.28% from 2024, totaling 41,255 applications during the first three quarters of 2025. The data reveals a balanced ecosystem: Thai applicants account for 52% (21,364 applications, whereas foreign applicants represent 48% (19,891 applications). While domestic entrepreneurs drive the majority of volume, the nearly equal weight of foreign applications underscores Thailand’s status as a critical destination for global brands.

The filing distribution highlights three dominant sectors: retail services (5,287 applications), cosmetics & beauty products (5,236 applications), and health & hygiene goods (4,667 applications). These categories reflect Thailand’s strong consumer market, growing beauty and wellness industry, and expanding healthcare sector. Concentration in these areas presents both opportunities and competitive challenges for brands seeking to establish or expand their market presence.

The DIP is processing registrations at a healthy rate, maintaining steady throughput despite the increased filing volume. This is encouraging for brand owners.

2. The Wait is Over (or Not)

Good news first: To handle the increasing workload, the DIP has taken some significant steps. Among others, to solve the problem in issuing registration certificates for applications filed through the Madrid Protocol, the DIP issued the notification on e-certificate in August enabling issuance of statements of grants and e-certificates through the international Bureau. Moreover, certain practices for applications filed through the Madrid Protocol have become more settled. It is now confirmed that, in case of rejection to some descriptions of goods and services, if the applicant does not contest, the application will proceed with the remaining goods and services (though the DIP may reject additional items prior to publication).

So, is the wait over? For registration certificates, yes. For overall prosecution timelines – not quite.

As practitioners, we have observed that Madrid filings frequently face substantial delays at various prosecution stages, especially the DIP’s review of the responses to the provisional refusals. Though the provisional refusal must be issued within 18 months, once the response is filed, the DIP would normally require more than a year for reviewing the response. Not having any opportunity to customize the descriptions of goods and services specifically to meet the Thai standard prior to filing, a vast majority of Madrid applicants would face rejections to the goods and services. As a result, such substantial delay becomes nearly inevitable.

3. Our Recommendation

While the Madrid Protocol offers initial cost savings, direct national filing currently offers a more time-efficient approach for brand owners prioritizing speed-to-registration and prosecution certainty in Thailand. Examination results are often issued within 6 to 8 months, with registration achievable within one year. Our prefiling strategy includes customizing specifications of goods and services to align with DIP standards, reducing the risk of provisional refusals and prosecution delays. In addition to existing 4-month and 6-month accelerated examination routes, the DIP has introduced a new fast-track option specifically for applicants in the field of e-commerce effective January 1, 2026.

Whether you choose the Madrid Protocol or direct national filing, Domnern Somgiat & Boonma would be pleased to guide you through all steps from prefiling strategies to enforcement. Don’t hesitate to contact mail@dsb.co.th to discuss your trademark needs.