Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a member of the Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (both since 1991), the Eurasian Patent Convention (since 1995), and the Madrid Agreement (since 1991) and Madrid Protocol (since 2010) for trademarks. Patents are protected for 20 years, trademarks for 10 years (renewable), and industrial designs for up to 25 years. The latest amendments to the Patent Law and the Trademark Law are in force since January 25, 2026, and the trademark opposition period is two months from publication. Filing word-mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet, alongside the original version, is highly recommended because the Kazakh language uses the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian remains a parallel language. The .kz country code domain is open to individuals and legal entities with no local presence required. This page covers the filing requirements, legal basis, and key deadlines for protecting intellectual property in Kazakhstan.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area: 2,724,900 sq. km.
Population: 21,083,626 (2026).
Capital: Astana.
Language: Kazakh and Russian.
Currency: Tenge.
GENERAL REMARKS
Kazakhstan used to be a part of the former Soviet Union. The Republic declared its independence on December 16, 1991. The State Patent Office of Kazakhstan was established on June 23, 1992.
PATENTS OF INVENTION
LEGAL BASIS
- Patent Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in force since August 21, 1999, last amendments in force since January 25, 2026.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty, since December 25, 1991.
- Eurasian Patent Convention, since November 4, 1995.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- Specification: claims and abstract (may be filed in Kazakh or Russian language, or any other language, whereby the Kazakh or Russian translation should be filed within two months from the filing date);
- Drawings if any, 1 set;
- Priority certificate, if any.
REMARKS
National Phase of PCT: under Chapter I: 31 months; under Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: (after full examination) 20 years from the filing date.
Annuities: beginning with the 1st annuity from the filing date. The accumulated annuities are required to be paid after the patent is granted and published (within two months from the publication date).
Opposition: may be presented by any person at any time during the patent validity, through court procedure.
TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS
LEGAL BASIS
- Law on Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of the Republic of Kazakhstan, of July 26, 1999, in force since September 4, 1999, last amendments in force since January 25, 2026.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
- Madrid Agreement, since December 25, 1991.
- Madrid Protocol, since December 8, 2010.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- The sign to be protected in electronic format;
- List of goods and/or services, according to the International Classification (to be translated into Kazakh or Russian); one application may include several international classes;
- Priority document, if any (to be filed within two months from the filing date).
REMARKS
Kinds of protection: trade and service marks, word marks, device marks and combinations thereof, three-dimensional, holographic, sound and smell marks. Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended, as the Kazakh language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, and Russian still being a parallel language in the country.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: must be used; if not used within any three-year period after the registration (or last use) date, the mark can be cancelled upon request of an interested party; nominal use (advertising, publications) is accepted in absence of actual use.
Duration – renewals: 10-year periods after the filing date or last renewal date.
Opposition: any interested party may file an opposition within two months from publication of the application.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS
LEGAL BASIS
- Patent Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in force since August 21, 1999, last amendments in force since January 25, 2026.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- The design itself (or in reduced size), photographs or drawings thereof;
- Specification of the design;
- Priority document, if any.
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: after a formal and full examination – 10 years from the filing date with possibility of renewal for three consecutive periods of five years, up to a total term of 25 years.
Opposition: may be presented by any person at any time during the design validity, through court procedure.
DOMAIN NAMES
LEGAL BASIS
- Rules for registration, use and allocation of domain space in the Kazakhstan segment of the Internet, approved by Order of the Minister of Communications and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated September 7, 2010, No 220, amended by the Orders of the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan on September 28, 2020 and September 20, 2022.
FILING
- ccTLD: .kz
- Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
- Local presence: not required.
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: one to ten years, renewable.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none, but an administrative procedure other than UDRP is available before Kaznic.
Frequently Asked Questions — IP Protection in Kazakhstan
What documents are required to register a trademark in Kazakhstan?
To register a trademark in Kazakhstan, the following are required: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), the sign to be protected in electronic format, a list of goods and/or services according to the International Classification (to be translated into Kazakh or Russian; one application may include several classes), and a priority document if any, to be filed within two months from the filing date. Besides the original version, filing word-mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended. Trademark registration is governed by the Law on Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of July 26, 1999, in force since September 4, 1999, with the last amendments in force since January 25, 2026.
Can I register a trademark in Kazakhstan through the international Madrid System?
Kazakhstan is a member of the Madrid Agreement (since 1991) and the Madrid Protocol (since 2010), so international registration through WIPO is also possible.
What kinds of trademarks may be registered in Kazakhstan?
In Kazakhstan, both trademarks and service marks may be registered, including word marks, device marks and combinations thereof, as well as three-dimensional, holographic, sound and smell marks. Besides the original version, filing word-mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended, as the Kazakh language uses the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian is still a parallel language in the country.
How long is the trademark opposition period in Kazakhstan?
Any interested party may file an opposition within two months from the publication of the trademark application in Kazakhstan.
How long does trademark protection last in Kazakhstan?
Trademark protection in Kazakhstan lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewable for further 10-year periods.
Must a trademark be used in Kazakhstan?
Yes. A registered trademark must be used. If it is not used within any three-year period after the registration (or last use) date, it can be cancelled upon request of an interested party. Nominal use, such as advertising or publications, is accepted in the absence of actual use.
What are the routes for filing a patent in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is a member of the Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), both since December 25, 1991, and of the Eurasian Patent Convention (since November 4, 1995), so protection can be obtained through a national filing, a PCT national phase entry, or a Eurasian patent. Filing requirements for a national application include: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), a specification with claims and abstract (which may be filed in Kazakh, Russian or any other language, with a Kazakh or Russian translation to be filed within two months from the filing date), drawings if any (1 set), and a priority certificate if any. For PCT national phase entry, the deadline is 31 months under both Chapter I and Chapter II. After full examination, patents are valid for 20 years from the filing date. Patent protection is governed by the Patent Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in force since August 21, 1999, with the last amendments in force since January 25, 2026.
How long is the patent opposition period in Kazakhstan?
In Kazakhstan, an opposition against a patent may be presented by any person at any time during the patent validity, through a court procedure.
When are patent annuities due in Kazakhstan?
In Kazakhstan, annuities begin with the 1st annuity from the filing date. The accumulated annuities must be paid after the patent is granted and published, within two months from the publication date. For current deadlines and practitioner guidance, consult Katzarov’s Manual on Industrial Property.
How do I register an industrial design in Kazakhstan?
Industrial designs in Kazakhstan are protected under the Patent Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in force since August 21, 1999, with the last amendments in force since January 25, 2026. Filing requires: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), the design itself (or in reduced size) or photographs or drawings thereof, a specification of the design, and a priority document if any. Kazakhstan is a member of the Paris Convention (since 1991). After a formal and full examination, protection lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for three consecutive periods of five years, up to a total term of 25 years. An opposition may be presented by any person at any time during the design validity, through a court procedure.
How do I register a .kz domain name?
The .kz domain is Kazakhstan’s country code top-level domain (ccTLD). Both individuals and legal entities may register, and local presence is not required. Registration runs for one to ten years and is renewable. There is no uniform dispute resolution procedure (UDRP), but an administrative procedure other than UDRP is available before KazNIC. Registration is governed by the Rules for registration, use and allocation of domain space in the Kazakhstan segment of the Internet (Order No. 220 of September 7, 2010, as amended in 2020 and 2022).
Does the power of attorney need notarization or legalization in Kazakhstan?
In Kazakhstan, the Power of Attorney for trademark, patent, and design filings does not require legalization. A simply signed POA is sufficient.
Where can I search the Kazakh trademark database?
The Kazakh trademark register is maintained by the National Institute of Intellectual Property (Qazpatent) in Astana. Searching requires knowledge of the Nice Classification, Kazakh and Russian (Cyrillic) spellings of marks, and interpretation of legal status codes. For comprehensive trademark searches and clearance opinions, contact Katzarov’s team.
Where can I search for patents in Kazakhstan?
Patent records in Kazakhstan are maintained by the National Institute of Intellectual Property (Qazpatent). For professional patent searches, contact Katzarov’s team.
What is the contact information for the Kazakh IP Office (Qazpatent)?
The National Institute of Intellectual Property (Qazpatent) is located at 57A Mangilik El Avenue, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan. Phone: +7 (7172) 62-15-15. Email: kazpatent@kazpatent.kz. Website: kazpatent.kz.
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