When Can I Renew My Trademark in Zambia (2026): Deadlines, Fees, Grace Period & PACRA Forms

Last updated: 16 July 2026

If you are asking when can I renew my trademark in Zambia, the short answer is that you may file for renewal up to six months before the registration expiry date, and you must do so before that date to avoid surcharges. Zambia’s Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023, operationalised in 2025 through implementing regulations, replaced the former regime with a modernised framework that aligns the country’s renewal term at ten years, renewable indefinitely for successive ten-year periods. The Act also introduces a structured grace period and a formal restoration mechanism administered by the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), making 2026 the first full calendar year in which all renewals proceed under the new rules.

This guide walks through every step: the legal basis, exact trademark renewal deadlines, PACRA forms you need to file, current fees and surcharges, and what happens if you miss the window entirely.

Quick Checklist: Do This Now If Your Mark Is Near Expiry

Before diving into the statute, use this action checklist to stay on track with your Zambia trademark renewal:

• Locate your registration certificate. Confirm the exact registration date and expiry date, the renewal window is calculated from the expiry.
• Search PACRA records. Verify the mark’s current status, registered classes and proprietor details on the PACRA portal.
• Obtain the correct PACRA renewal form. Download and pre-fill the prescribed form (see the PACRA forms section below).
• Calculate and pay the statutory fee. Fees are payable per class; confirm the current schedule on the PACRA website or in the latest Zambia Industrial Property Journal.
• Appoint an attorney if needed. A power of attorney is required when filing through an agent, prepare this document in advance.
• If you are already past expiry: Check whether you are within the six-month grace period (surcharge applies) or whether you must apply for restoration (additional evidence required).

When Can I Renew My Trademark? The Renewal Window and Legal Basis

What the Trade Marks Act 2023 says about renewal

The Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023 is the governing statute for all trademark registrations in Zambia. Under the Act, a trademark registration is valid for an initial period of ten years from the date of registration. The proprietor may renew the registration for further periods of ten years each, with no upper limit on the number of successive renewals, meaning a trademark can be maintained indefinitely so long as it is renewed on time.

The Act provides that a renewal application must be filed before the expiry of the current registration period. In practice, PACRA accepts renewal filings up to six months before the expiry date, giving proprietors a generous pre-expiry window to prepare paperwork and settle fees. This pre-expiry filing window is consistent with international norms and mirrors the approach taken in many ARIPO member states.

Where a proprietor fails to file before expiry, the Act provides a grace period (discussed below) during which renewal can still be effected on payment of the prescribed surcharge. Beyond the grace period, the mark is removed from the register, though a restoration application may still be possible within defined time limits.

Which registrations are affected, existing marks and transitional provisions

The 2023 Act repealed the previous Trade Marks Act (Cap 401) and introduced transitional provisions to protect existing registrations. Marks registered under the old statute remain valid and are treated as if registered under the new Act. Their renewal dates do not change, they continue to fall on the anniversary of the original registration date. However, the procedural requirements for Zambia trademark renewal (including forms, fees and filing channels) now follow the new Act and its implementing regulations, as announced by PACRA in its operationalisation notices.

Industry observers expect that the transition will be seamless for most proprietors, since PACRA has been processing renewals under the new framework since 2025 and has published updated forms and guidance accordingly.

Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Trademark Registration in Zambia

Required information to gather

Before you begin the PACRA trademark renewal process, assemble the following:

• Trademark registration number. This appears on your registration certificate and in PACRA’s online records.
• Full proprietor details. The name, address and nationality of the registered owner (must match the register, if details have changed, file an amendment first).
• Class or classes covered. Renewal fees are charged per Nice Classification class, so confirm every class in which the mark is registered.
• Agent details and power of attorney. If filing through a trademark agent or attorney, a signed power of attorney must accompany the application.
• Proof of payment. PACRA requires evidence that the prescribed fee has been paid before the renewal is processed.

PACRA forms, what to file and how to complete key fields

PACRA prescribes specific forms for trademark transactions. For a standard renewal, the proprietor (or their authorised agent) must complete and submit the prescribed renewal application form as set out in the Trade Marks Regulations. The form requires the following essential fields:

• Registration number and date of registration. Enter these exactly as they appear on the certificate.
• Mark representation. Include the mark as registered (word mark text or device image).
• Class(es) for renewal. Specify every Nice class to be renewed, partial renewal (dropping a class) is permitted.
• Proprietor declaration. Sign and date the form (or have the authorised agent sign with attached power of attorney).

Forms are available for download on the PACRA service portal. Proprietors should check the current version at info.pacra.org.zm before filing, as PACRA periodically updates form templates to reflect regulatory changes.

Online vs. in-person filing, payment channels and receipt handling

PACRA accepts trademark renewal filings through two channels:

• In-person or postal filing. Submit the completed form together with payment evidence at PACRA’s head office in Lusaka or at a regional office. Obtain a stamped receipt, this is your proof of filing date and is critical if any dispute arises about whether the renewal was filed within the statutory window.
• Online filing. PACRA’s electronic filing system allows certain intellectual property transactions to be submitted digitally. Check the PACRA portal for current availability of online trademark renewal and for accepted electronic payment methods.

Whichever channel you use, retain a copy of the completed form, proof of payment and the PACRA receipt. The renewal takes effect from the expiry date of the current period, not from the date of filing, so an early filing does not shorten your protection.

Fees, Surcharges and Cost of TM Renewal in Zambia

Understanding the cost of trademark renewal is essential for budgeting, especially for multi-class portfolios. PACRA publishes its fee schedule in the Zambia Industrial Property Journal and on its website. The table below summarises the main fee categories:

PACRA periodically adjusts statutory fees through Statutory Instruments, so always verify the current schedule before filing. Multi-class marks will incur the renewal fee for each class, dropping an unnecessary class at renewal can reduce costs but also narrows protection.

Trademark Renewal Deadline in Zambia, Grace Period and Restoration Mechanics

Renewal deadline, exact filing window

The trademark renewal deadline in Zambia is the expiry date of the current ten-year registration period. You may file your renewal application at any point during the six months before that date. Filing early within this window carries no penalty and does not change the renewal’s effective date, the new ten-year term always runs from the expiry of the previous period.

Example date calculation: Suppose your mark was registered on 15 March 2016. The initial ten-year period expired on 15 March 2026. You could have filed your renewal as early as 15 September 2025 (six months before expiry). If you filed and paid on 10 January 2026, the renewed registration runs from 15 March 2026 to 15 March 2036.

Trademark renewal grace period in Zambia

If you miss the expiry date, the Trade Marks Act 2023 provides a six-month grace period during which you may still renew. Filing during this window requires payment of both the standard renewal fee and the prescribed late surcharge. The Registrar will process the renewal, and the new ten-year period runs from the original expiry date as though the renewal had been filed on time.

During the grace period, however, the proprietor’s rights are in a precarious position. Third parties may attempt to file applications for identical or similar marks, and the proprietor’s ability to enforce exclusive rights may be challenged. Industry observers note that prompt action during the grace period is therefore essential, delay increases both cost and legal risk.

Restoration after expiry, how to apply and what PACRA will want to see

If the six-month grace period also passes without a renewal filing, the mark is removed from the register. The Trade Marks Act 2023 allows the proprietor to apply to the Registrar for restoration of the registration, subject to prescribed conditions. A restoration application is a separate procedure, more demanding, more expensive and less certain than a simple renewal.

PACRA will typically require the following evidence in support of a restoration application:

• Explanation for the failure to renew. A sworn statement or statutory declaration setting out why the renewal was not filed on time.
• Evidence of continued use. Invoices, packaging samples, advertising material, licensing agreements or other proof that the mark has been used in Zambia during the registration period.
• Evidence of intention to use. Where the mark has not been used, a credible business plan or signed licensing arrangement showing genuine intention to commence use.
• Payment of all prescribed fees. The restoration fee, the renewal fee and any applicable surcharges must be paid in full.

The Registrar retains discretion to refuse restoration where the evidence is insufficient or where third-party rights have intervened. Early indications suggest that PACRA applies this discretion cautiously, but proprietors should not treat restoration as a guaranteed fallback.

Practical Examples and Timelines for Zambia Trademark Renewal

The following two scenarios illustrate how the renewal timeline works in practice:

These examples underscore the practical value of diarising the renewal date well in advance and filing at the earliest opportunity within the six-month pre-expiry window.

PACRA Trademark Renewal Forms: Where to Find Them and How to Complete Key Fields

PACRA publishes all prescribed intellectual property forms on its service portal. The table below summarises the forms most relevant to trademark renewal and related transactions:

Always download the latest version of each form from the PACRA portal at info.pacra.org.zm to ensure compliance with current regulatory requirements. Outdated forms may be rejected.

Risks of Failing to Renew and Litigation Considerations

Allowing a Zambia trademark renewal to lapse carries serious commercial and legal consequences:

• Removal from the register. Once the grace period expires, the Registrar removes the mark. The proprietor loses the statutory presumption of ownership and the exclusive right to use the mark in Zambia.
• Third-party applications. Competitors or bad-faith actors may apply to register an identical or confusingly similar mark once the original registration lapses. Opposing such an application after removal is far more complex than simply renewing on time.
• Increased costs. Restoration fees, legal costs for preparing evidence of use, and potential opposition proceedings can cost multiples of a standard renewal fee.
• Loss of enforcement rights. An unregistered mark can only be protected through the common-law tort of passing off, a more difficult and expensive cause of action than infringement of a registered mark.

Proprietors with active licensing agreements should also review whether their licences contain renewal obligations, as a lapse in registration may trigger termination clauses or expose the licensor to damages claims.

When to Hire Counsel for Your Zambia Trademark Renewal

Many straightforward, single-class renewals can be handled directly by in-house teams. However, professional IP counsel is strongly advisable in the following situations:

• Multi-class portfolios. Managing renewal dates, partial surrenders and class-specific strategies across a large portfolio benefits from specialist oversight.
• ARIPO or Madrid Protocol designations. Marks designating Zambia through the Banjul Protocol (ARIPO) or the Madrid Protocol follow distinct renewal procedures at the international level, coordination between PACRA, ARIPO and WIPO is essential.
• Restoration applications. Preparing the evidence package and statutory declaration for a restoration demands legal drafting skills and familiarity with PACRA practice.
• Contested renewals or oppositions. If a third party has filed a competing application or initiated cancellation proceedings, experienced litigation counsel is indispensable.

To connect with a qualified Zambia-based IP practitioner, visit the Global Law Experts Zambia lawyer directory.

Renewal Frameworks Compared: Zambia vs. UK vs. USPTO

International brand owners often manage trademark portfolios across multiple jurisdictions. The following comparison highlights how Zambia’s post-2025 renewal framework aligns with, and differs from, two major systems:

Zambia’s alignment with the 10-year / 6-month grace period model used by the UK and other TRIPS-compliant jurisdictions simplifies portfolio management for multinational brand owners. The key distinction is that the USPTO does not offer a post-grace restoration route, once a US registration lapses, the owner must re-file, making timely renewal even more critical in that jurisdiction.

Conclusion

Understanding when you can renew your trademark in Zambia, and acting on that knowledge promptly, is the single most cost-effective step a brand owner can take to protect their rights. The Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023 gives proprietors a clear six-month pre-expiry filing window, a six-month grace period with surcharge, and a discretionary restoration pathway as a last resort. Filing early within the renewal window eliminates surcharges, avoids the risk of third-party filings during any lapse, and keeps enforcement rights intact. For portfolios that include ARIPO or Madrid designations covering Zambia, coordination with international filing timelines is equally important.

Proprietors who build renewal diarisation into their annual compliance calendar, and engage qualified Zambian IP counsel for complex or multi-class portfolios, will find the process straightforward under the new regime.

Sources

1. Parliament of Zambia, Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023
2. WIPO Lex, Trade Marks Act, 2023 (Zambia)
3. PACRA, Patents and Companies Registration Agency (official site)
4. PACRA, What Can I Trademark (service guidance)
5. PACRA, Notices (operationalisation and regulatory updates)
6. ARIPO, Trademarks (IP services)
7. European Commission IP Helpdesk, Zambia Implements New Trade Marks Act