Trademark Registration Indonesia: The Complete Bali Guide

Trademark registration in Indonesia is filed online through DJKI (the Directorate General of Intellectual Property) under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, using the Nice Classification's 45 classes. The process takes roughly 12 to 18 months from filing to certificate, costs from around IDR 1.8 million per class for a small enterprise applicant up to IDR 3 million or more per class for a general applicant, and protection lasts 10 years, renewable indefinitely. Foreign applicants must appoint a registered local IP consultant or attorney, since DJKI does not accept direct foreign filings.

• What DJKI is and why it matters
• Who can register a trademark in Indonesia
• Step by step: how to register a trademark in Indonesia
• Indonesia trademark cost in 2026
• How to apply for a trademark online in Indonesia
• Why Bali brands need to file early
• The most expensive mistake to avoid
• FAQ

DJKI trademark: what it is and why every application goes through it

DJKI, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, is the government body under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights that receives, examines and registers every trademark application in Indonesia. There is no regional or Bali-specific trademark office. A cafe in Canggu, a villa brand in Uluwatu and a manufacturer in Surabaya all file through the same DJKI system, governed by Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications.

A trademark can be a business name, logo, slogan, packaging design, a sound, or a 3D shape. Registration gives you exclusive rights to that mark within your chosen class, nationwide, for 10 years. It does not need to be renewed regionally: one certificate covers Bali, Jakarta and everywhere else in the country.

We see a lot of confusion among clients who assume that registering a PT PMA or PT local company name automatically protects the brand. It does not. Company name registration through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (AHU) and trademark registration through DJKI are two entirely separate systems, and having one does not give you rights under the other.

Who can register a trademark in Indonesia

Any individual, company or business entity can apply, local or foreign. The one hard requirement for foreign applicants: you must appoint a registered local trademark consultant or attorney to file and represent you before DJKI. This is not optional and it is not a formality. DJKI correspondence, office actions and deadlines are issued in Indonesian and sent to the registered local address, so a foreign applicant without local representation will miss them.

We register trademarks for hospitality operators, F&B brands, wellness and yoga studios, fashion labels and technology companies across Bali, most of them foreign owned businesses operating through a PT PMA company in Bali. If you already have a PT PMA, the trademark application can be filed in the company's name rather than the individual founder's, which matters later if you sell the business or bring in investors.

Step by step: how to register a trademark in Indonesia

The process runs in a fixed sequence. Skipping the search step is the single most common reason applications get rejected or opposed later.

1. Trademark search. Check the DJKI database for identical or confusingly similar marks already filed or registered in your class. This takes a few days and should always happen before you spend money on filing.
2. Class selection. Indonesia uses the Nice Classification, 45 classes covering goods and services. Class 43 covers hospitality and restaurants, Class 25 covers clothing, Class 3 covers cosmetics, Class 35 covers advertising and business services. Many Bali brands need two or three classes: a villa brand offering accommodation and a retail shop, for example, needs both Class 43 and Class 35.
3. Filing. The application includes the applicant's identity, the mark itself (wordmark, logo or both), a description of goods or services, and for foreign applicants, a Power of Attorney appointing the local representative.
4. Formal examination. DJKI checks the application is complete and fees are paid. This takes a few weeks.
5. Publication. The mark is published in the official Trademark Journal for two months. Anyone believing the mark infringes their own rights can file an opposition during this window.
6. Substantive examination. DJKI examiners assess distinctiveness and check for conflicts with existing marks. Official guidance allows up to 150 working days from the end of publication, though in practice it often runs longer.
7. Certificate issued. If the mark clears examination, DJKI issues the registration certificate, valid for 10 years from the original filing date.

Indonesia trademark cost

Government fees depend on whether you file as a small and medium enterprise (UMKM) applicant or a general applicant, and on how many classes you file. Professional fees for search, class advice, filing and monitoring through publication and examination are on top of the government fee. Costs below are typical for 2026 and should be confirmed at the time you file, since DJKI periodically revises its fee schedule.

UMKM status requires proof of small business classification, usually a business registration or NIB showing the relevant category. Foreign owned PT PMA companies generally file at the general applicant rate. Get a written quotation before you commit, since the final figure depends on how many classes your brand actually needs, and under-filing on classes is a false economy that costs more to fix later.

How to apply for a trademark online in Indonesia

DJKI's filing system is online, but "apply online" does not mean an individual founder can log in and file solo with confidence. The portal requires an account tied to a registered IP consultant for foreign applicants, correct classification input, and correctly formatted specimen files for the mark. Errors in the class description or an incomplete Power of Attorney are the two most common reasons an online filing gets kicked back at formal examination, which resets your place in the queue and delays your filing date.

In practice, most of our clients send us the brand name, logo file and a description of what they sell over WhatsApp, we run the search and confirm classes, and we handle the online filing and all DJKI correspondence from there. You get a filing receipt and a case reference to track progress. We also flag the publication window date so you know when the opposition period opens and closes.

Why Bali brands need to register early

Bali's F&B, wellness, fashion and hospitality sectors turn over new brands constantly, and it is common for two unrelated businesses in Canggu or Seminyak to land on similar names within months of each other. Because Indonesia works on a first to file basis rather than first to use, the business that files first generally wins the mark, even if the other business opened first and has more social media followers.

We regularly see this play out with villa brands: an owner in Badung regency builds a following under a name for a year, then discovers a similar name was filed months earlier by a business in Gianyar or Jakarta they had never heard of. At that point the options are limited and expensive: rebrand, negotiate a coexistence agreement, or file an opposition with no guarantee of success. None of this is specific to arriving through Ngurah Rai airport as a new investor versus being Bali based for years; the first to file rule applies equally.

If you are setting up through a PT PMA in Bali, file the trademark application at the same time you incorporate, not after your first sale or your first Instagram post. If your brand also depends on a specific location, for example a villa or restaurant lease, pair trademark filing with proper property due diligence so the brand and the site are both secured before you open.

Trademark duration, renewal and enforcement

A registered trademark is valid for 10 years from the filing date. Renewal can be filed up to six months before expiration, with a grace period of six months after expiration allowed with a late penalty. After that grace period lapses, the mark is at real risk of being filed by someone else.

If someone infringes your registered mark, Indonesian law gives you standing to pursue a cease and desist letter, a civil claim for damages, a criminal complaint, or an administrative action through DJKI. None of these routes are available if the mark was never registered in the first place, which is the core reason registration matters even for a small operation that thinks it is too small to be copied.

The most expensive mistake: operating for a year or more under an unregistered name, building customer recognition and menus and signage around it, then discovering someone else has already filed it. Rebranding at that stage means new signage, new packaging, a new domain, and lost search rankings, easily costing many times more than filing correctly would have cost on day one. File the trademark search before you print a single business card.

FAQ

How much does trademark registration cost in Indonesia?

Government filing fees in 2026 run around IDR 1.8 million per class for small enterprise applicants and around IDR 3 million per class for general applicants, with professional handling fees on top depending on the firm. Total cost depends on how many Nice Classification classes your brand needs. Get a written quotation covering government fees and professional fees before filing.

How long does trademark registration take in Indonesia?

From filing to certificate typically takes 12 to 18 months. This includes formal examination, a mandatory two month publication period where third parties can oppose, and substantive examination which official guidance sets at up to 150 working days after publication ends, though it often runs longer in practice. An opposed application takes considerably longer.

Can a foreigner register a trademark in Indonesia?

Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign owned companies can register trademarks in Indonesia, but must appoint a registered local IP consultant or attorney to file and represent them before DJKI. DJKI does not accept direct applications from foreign applicants without local representation, and all official correspondence is sent to the local representative's address.

What is DJKI and how do I apply for a trademark online in Indonesia?

DJKI, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, is the sole authority for filing and registering trademarks in Indonesia. Applications are submitted online through DJKI's e-filing system. Foreign applicants file through a registered local consultant, who handles the account, document upload, class selection and all correspondence during examination.

How many classes should I register my trademark under?

File under every Nice Classification class that covers what your business actually sells or plans to sell, not just your main product. A Bali restaurant with a retail merchandise line, for example, typically needs Class 43 for food service and Class 35 for retail and advertising. Filing only one class leaves the other activity legally unprotected.

Do I need a trademark if I already registered my PT PMA company name?

No, company name registration and trademark registration are separate systems. Registering a PT PMA through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights protects your legal entity name for corporate purposes, but it does not stop someone else from registering your brand name as a trademark for goods or services. The two registrations should be done separately and both are worth having.

If you are planning to launch or protect a brand in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia, send us the name, logo and a short description of your business on WhatsApp at +62 877-9626-0478, or reach us through our contact page. The first consultation is free, and we will tell you honestly which classes you need and what it will cost before you commit to anything. You can also browse our full range of legal services in Bali, including company setup, visas, and notary work, if trademark protection is one part of a bigger move to Indonesia.

See also: Company Establishment in Indonesia: PT PMA Setup Guide.