Filing a trademark application is only the beginning.
After filing, the application may pass through formalities checking,
examination, objection, hearing, Journal publication, opposition and
eventually registration. If you do not know what the current status
means, an important Registry communication or deadline can be
missed.
Fortunately, IP India allows applicants to check a trademark
application using its application number.
But there is an important 2026 change: the current status portal is
no longer simply an open application-number screen. It presently starts
with OTP authentication. (TMR Search)
This guide explains the current process and, more importantly, how to
understand common trademark statuses such as Formalities Chk
Pass, Objected, Opposed, Registered and Abandoned.
Where Can You
Check Trademark Application Status?
The official facility is IP India’s Registered Trade Marks
and Application Status Information portal.
IP India’s own usage guidelines state that an applicant can use the
module to view:
- the present application status;
- examination report;
- opposition status, if any; and
- other trademark-record information.
If you already know the trademark application number, the official
guidelines instruct you to enter that number to retrieve the record. (TMR
Search)
Official portal: IP India Trademark
Application Status
How
to Check Trademark Status by Application Number: Step by Step
Step 1: Open
the IP India Trademark Status Portal
Open the official e-Register/Application Status facility.
The current portal is headed:
Registered Trade Marks and Application Status
Information.
Do not confuse this with a third-party trademark-search website.
Step 2: Complete OTP
Verification
As verified on 16 September 2026, the portal currently asks for
either:
- Email, or
- Mobile No.
You must then complete the captcha, select Send OTP,
enter the OTP and verify it. (TMR Search)
Government portal interfaces can change, so follow the live screen if
labels are modified later.
Step 3: Enter the
Trademark Application Number
After authentication, use the option for the trademark
application/registered mark.
Enter the application number allotted when the trademark application
was filed.
IP India’s official guideline specifically states that if you know
the application number, you can enter it to view the trademark details.
It also notes that the application number becomes the registered
trademark number when the mark is registered. (TMR
Search)
Step 4: Open the Application
Record
Do not look only at the one-line status.
Review the available record for items such as:
- application number;
- trademark;
- applicant/proprietor;
- class;
- application date;
- goods/services;
- present status;
- examination report;
- correspondence;
- Journal details; and
- opposition information, where applicable.
IP India’s guidelines themselves caution that the electronic data may
contain errors or omissions and provide for approaching the concerned
Registry with supporting documents where correction is required. (TMR
Search)
That is an important limitation: the status page is a
tracking tool, not something that should always be interpreted in
isolation.
What Do Common Trademark
Statuses Mean?
Formalities Chk Pass
Formalities Chk Pass is an early-stage status.
In practical Registry terminology, it generally indicates that the
application has cleared the preliminary formalities/document check and
can proceed towards substantive examination.
It does not mean that the trademark has been legally
approved or registered. Established trademark practitioners describe the
status as an initial documentary/formality clearance before examination.
(L.R.
Swami Co)
What should you do?
Usually, monitor the application for the next stage.
Do not start describing the trademark as “registered” merely because
the formalities check has passed.
Marked for Exam
This status generally indicates that the application has moved into
the examination process or has been assigned for examination.
The substantive examination is significant because Rule 33 requires
the Registrar to examine the application, including searching earlier
marks, and allows objections to be communicated through an
examination report. (IP India)
At this stage there may not yet be anything for the applicant to
file, but the status should continue to be monitored.
Objected
Objected does not mean rejected.
It generally means the Trade Marks Registry has raised one or more
objections during examination.
Rule 33 provides for the Registrar to communicate objections through
an examination report. Under the current Rules, where the applicant
fails to respond within one month from receipt of the
examination report, the Registrar may treat the application as
abandoned. (IP India)
An objection may involve matters such as registrability or conflict
with earlier marks.
The correct next step is therefore not simply to wait. Read the
actual examination report, identify the provisions
relied upon and determine what response is required.
Objected vs Opposed:
They Are Not the Same
This distinction causes considerable confusion.
| Status | Who raises the issue? | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Objected | Trade Marks Registry during examination | Before or around acceptance |
| Opposed | A third party | After advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal |
Under Rule 42 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, a notice of opposition
is filed in Form TM-O within four months from publication in the
Trade Marks Journal. (IP India)
So an Objected application has not necessarily been
opposed by another business.
And an Opposed application has already reached a
different procedural stage.
Accepted & Advertised
This generally means the mark has been accepted for advertisement and
published in the Trade Marks Journal.
Rule 39 provides for applications requiring advertisement to be
advertised in the Journal. Once published, the opposition procedure
becomes relevant. (IP India)
This is an advanced stage, but it is not yet the same as
registration.
A third party may still file an opposition within the applicable
period.
Opposed
If the status shows Opposed, a third party has
initiated opposition proceedings against registration of the mark.
Current Rule 42 requires the notice of opposition to be filed in
TM-O within four months from the date of publication.
Rule 44 provides that the applicant’s counterstatement is also filed in
TM-O within two months from receipt of the notice of
opposition. (IP India)
Do not treat an opposed application as automatically lost.
Opposition is a proceeding in which the parties have an opportunity
to put forward their respective case and evidence.
Registered
Registered means the trademark has proceeded onto
the Register.
Rule 53 provides that where no opposition has been filed within the
prescribed period—or an opposition has been filed and dismissed—the
Registrar shall, subject to the relevant statutory provisions, enter the
trademark on the register. (IP India)
For a registered mark, the e-Register can also provide information
such as the electronic registration record and renewal information. (TMR
Search)
Abandoned
This is one of the statuses that should be checked promptly.
An application can be treated as abandoned in several circumstances
under the Rules. Examples include failure to remedy notified
deficiencies, failure to respond to an examination report within the
applicable period, or—in specified circumstances—failure to appear at a
hearing. (IP India)
Abandoned does not simply mean “rejected on the
merits.”
The reason for abandonment matters.
Check:
- the most recent correspondence;
- examination report;
- hearing notice/order;
- date on which the relevant communication was issued; and
- exactly why the application was treated as abandoned.
Can an
Abandoned Trademark Application Be Restored?
There is no safe universal answer of “yes, just restore it.”
Rule 119 provides a mechanism for review of a Registrar’s
decision in Form TM-M, ordinarily within one month from the
decision, with a possible further period not exceeding one month where
allowed by the Registrar. Whether review is legally available and
appropriate depends on the particular order and circumstances. (IP India)
Therefore, if an application unexpectedly shows
Abandoned, do not blindly file a fresh application or
assume the old application can automatically be revived.
First examine the order and the procedural history.
Refused
Refused is different from
Abandoned.
Refusal generally follows a substantive decision that the application
cannot proceed on the grounds considered by the Registry.
If the status is Refused, the underlying order—not merely the
one-word portal label—should be reviewed before deciding what remedy is
available.
Which
Documents Should You Check Along With the Status?
When checking an application, do not stop at:
Status: Objected
or:
Status: Abandoned
Where available, also inspect:
- examination report;
- reply already filed;
- hearing notice;
- hearing order;
- Registry correspondence;
- Journal publication;
- opposition documents; and
- latest procedural communication.
The IP India status guidelines specifically confirm that applicants
can view the examination report and opposition status through the
application-status system. (TMR
Search)
This often explains far more than the status label itself.
Practical Example
Suppose an Amazon seller filed a trademark application for a new
brand.
The portal later shows:
Objected
That does not tell the seller whether the objection
concerns descriptiveness, similarity with an earlier mark, documentation
or some other point.
The sensible sequence is:
- open the application;
- download/read the examination report;
- identify the specific objection;
- note the relevant date;
- check whether a response has already been filed;
- determine the applicable next step.
The portal status tells you where the file broadly
stands.
The underlying documents tell you why.
Trademark Status Quick
Reference
| IP India Status | Practical Meaning | Immediate Attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Formalities Chk Pass | Preliminary formalities cleared | Usually monitor |
| Marked for Exam | Application moving through examination | Monitor |
| Objected | Registry has raised examination objection(s) | Yes |
| Accepted & Advertised | Accepted and published/being advertised | Monitor opposition stage |
| Opposed | Third party has filed opposition | Yes |
| Registered | Mark entered on Register | Monitor renewal/record details |
| Abandoned | Application treated as abandoned for a procedural reason | Yes |
| Refused | Registry has refused application | Yes |
The table is a practical guide, not a substitute for reading the
actual Registry document applicable to a particular application.
FAQs
1.
Can I check a trademark status using only the application number?
Yes. IP India’s official guidelines expressly provide for retrieving
a trademark record using its application number. The current portal
first requires OTP authentication. (TMR
Search)
2. Is trademark
application status checking free?
The official e-Register/status facility is publicly provided by IP
India. The portal does not display a statutory fee merely for viewing
the application status.
3. What does “Formalities
Chk Pass” mean?
It generally means the application has cleared the preliminary
formality/document check. It does not mean the trademark is registered
or that substantive examination has been completed. (L.R.
Swami Co)
4.
What should I do if the trademark status says Objected?
Open the examination report immediately and check the objection and
relevant communication date. Rule 33 provides that failure to respond
within one month from receipt of the examination report may result in
the application being treated as abandoned. (IP India)
5. Does
Objected mean the trademark has been rejected?
No. An objection is an examination-stage issue. A refusal is a
separate outcome after the Registry considers the matter.
6. What does Opposed mean?
It means a third party has challenged registration after publication.
Under the current Rules, opposition is filed in Form
TM-O, and the opposition procedure then follows Rules 42
onward. (IP India)
7. Can an
Abandoned trademark application be restored?
Do not assume automatic restoration. The reason and order must be
examined. Rule 119 provides for review of certain Registrar decisions
through TM-M within specified time limits, but whether that route
applies depends on the particular case. (IP India)
8. Is Registered the final
status?
Registration means the mark has entered the Register, but ongoing
matters such as renewal and changes to the register can still require
attention. The e-Register can show renewal-related information for
registered marks. (TMR
Search)
Conclusion
Checking trademark status by application number takes only a few
steps.
Understanding the status is the more important
part.
“Formalities Chk Pass” is not registration. “Objected” is not the
same as “Refused.” “Opposed” is not the same as a Registry objection.
And “Abandoned” should not be treated as a status that can always be
casually reversed.
If a status requires action, open the underlying Registry documents
and check the relevant date before deciding what to file next.
Need Help
Understanding Your Trademark Status?
If your trademark application shows Objected, Opposed,
Abandoned, Refused or another status you are unsure about,
CompliAid™ – Tax and Business Advisory can assist with
reviewing the application record and identifying the appropriate
trademark compliance step.
WhatsApp: +91 9810225019 Landline:
0120-4362389 Email: support@compliaid.in
Website: CompliAid.in
Office: Plot No. 46A, Between Gali No. 6 & 7,
Main Movie Magic – Gurudwara Road, Indrapuri Ext., Loni, Ghaziabad,
201102
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes. Trademark
procedures and remedies depend on the individual application, Registry
communications, applicable deadlines and current law. A portal status
alone should not be treated as a legal conclusion.
Sources & References
Primary sources relied upon include the IP India Trademark
Application Status/e-Register portal and its official usage
guidelines, the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and the
Trade Marks Rules, 2017. (TMR Search)
| Material Claim | Primary Authority | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Current status portal uses OTP authentication | IP India e-Status | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Application number can be used to retrieve status | IP India e-Register Guidelines | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Examination objection and response framework | Rule 33, Trade Marks Rules, 2017 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Opposition is filed in TM-O within four months | Rule 42 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Counterstatement following opposition | Rule 44 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Entry on Register after opposition stage | Rule 53 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Review of Registrar decision | Rule 119 | 16 Sep 2026 |