How to Check the Status of a Pending Trademark Application in Vietnam (2026)

Once a trademark application has been filed in Vietnam, applicants often want to know which stage it has reached: has it been published, is there any deficiency notice, and when will a decision come. This article explains how to check the processing status of an application you have already filed through the official channels, together with the meaning of each status and the corresponding statutory time limits.

A clear distinction is needed. If you have not yet filed and want to check whether your sign is registrable — whether it is identical or confusingly similar to an existing mark — see our article on pre-filing trademark search. That article covers availability searching before filing; this one covers tracking an application that has already been filed.

Official lookup channels

There are three reliable data sources for checking a trademark application status in Vietnam. The first two are operated and updated by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam.

Industrial Property Digital Library (IPLib)

This is the online search database provided by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, containing information on applications and titles for trademarks, patents and industrial designs. You reach it from the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam homepage at ipvietnam.gov.vn, open the search section (Industrial Property Digital Library), select the trademark database and enter your search criteria. It is best to enter from the homepage, as the digital library's direct address changes from time to time.

Industrial Property Data and Services Platform (IPPlatform)

This platform aggregates industrial property data and supports searching by several criteria. Address: https://ipplatform.gov.vn. IPPlatform often has a friendlier interface and may require account registration to use its full features.

WIPO Global Brand Database

If your mark was filed through the international registration system, or you simply want to cross-check, you can search the WIPO Global Brand Database at https://branddb.wipo.int. Note that WIPO data lags behind the domestic system and does not replace the results at the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam for applications filed through the national route.

How to find your application

On the databases above, you can find a trademark application in one of the following ways:

• By application number: the most accurate and fastest method. The application number appears on the application form and the filing receipt, usually in the format 4-YYYY-NNNNNN. Entering the correct number returns a single result.
• By applicant name: useful when you do not remember the number but know the applicant or company name. This may return several results that need further filtering.
• By mark content: searching the word element of the mark. This is suitable for review but may return many near matches.

After locating the right application, open its detail view to see the current status, the filing date, the publication date and any notices issued.

Processing stages and what each status means

The processing sequence for a trademark application in Vietnam is set out in the Law on Intellectual Property 2005 (as amended in 2022) and Decree 65/2023/ND-CP. The table below summarises each stage, its meaning and the statutory time limit.

Stage / status	Meaning	Statutory time limit
Application receipt	The application has been filed and the filing date recorded. The filing date is the key reference for priority under the first-to-file principle.	Recorded upon filing
Formality examination	Checking the formal validity of the application: the form, the specimen, the classification of goods and services, and the fees. The outcome is acceptance as a valid application or a request to correct deficiencies.	1 month from the filing date
Publication	A valid application is published so that third parties can review it and raise observations if any. From this point the application details are fully visible in the database.	Within 2 months from acceptance as a valid application
Substantive examination	Assessment of protectability: whether the mark is distinctive and whether it is identical or confusingly similar to a registered mark or an earlier-filed application.	No more than 9 months from the publication date
Grant or refusal	If the requirements are met, the Office issues a decision to grant the Trademark Registration Certificate (after the applicant pays the fees). If not, it issues a notice of intended refusal followed by a refusal decision.	After substantive examination is completed

In practice, the total processing time for a trademark application is often longer than the sum of the time limits above, owing to the volume of applications and additional exchanges or amendments. When checking, therefore, compare the current status against these milestones to see where the application stands in the process, rather than expecting a fixed grant date.

When the status shows a deficiency, intended refusal or delay

Deficiency notice

If the status shows a deficiency at the formality examination stage, it is usually due to incorrect classification, an unacceptable specimen, missing documents or unpaid fees. The applicant should monitor the notice and supplement or correct the application within the deadline stated. Failing to respond in time may cause the application to be treated as invalid.

Notice of intended refusal

At the substantive examination stage, if the mark is assessed as not meeting the conditions for protection, the Office issues a notice of intended refusal stating the grounds. This is not the final decision: the applicant may respond, present arguments and evidence, or narrow the list of goods and services within the prescribed period. A well-reasoned response can often overcome an intended refusal.

Delayed or long-unchanged status

If the time limits have passed but the status has not updated, it may be because the online data has not synchronised or the application is still in the processing queue. You should cross-check across channels (the digital library and IPPlatform), verify the application number, and contact the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam to confirm if needed.

When to engage a representative

You should consider engaging an industrial property representative in these situations: you receive a notice of intended refusal and need a legally reasoned response; a third party opposes the application; you need to track many applications at once; or the applicant is overseas and cannot conveniently deal directly with the domestic authority. A representative receives notices on the applicant's behalf, tracks deadlines and acts in time to avoid loss of rights caused by missing a deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fee to check a trademark application status?

Checking application status on the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam's digital library, IPPlatform and the WIPO database is free. Some advanced services on the platform may require a registered account.

How do I search if I do not remember the application number?

You can search by applicant name or by the word element of the mark, then filter the results by filing date and class of goods and services to identify your application. The application number also appears on the filing receipt and application form.

Why has the online status not updated after a long time?

Online data may lag behind the actual file at the Office. If the expected time has passed and the status is unchanged, cross-check across channels and contact the authority to confirm.

Does a notice of intended refusal mean the application is refused?

No. It is a provisional notice; the applicant still has time to respond, explain or amend the list of goods and services. Only if the grounds are not overcome within the deadline will the Office issue a formal refusal decision.

Is searching WIPO data reliable enough?

WIPO data is useful for cross-checking, especially for applications filed through the international route, but it lags behind. For nationally filed applications, the Office's digital library is the most accurate source.

Conclusion

Tracking a trademark application's status is something worth doing periodically throughout the examination process. Understanding the meaning of each stage and its statutory time limit lets you react promptly to a deficiency notice or an intended refusal and avoid losing rights by missing a deadline. In complex situations, engaging an industrial property representative will help protect your interests more effectively.