What Is Form TM-A?

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Published 6 August 2026 · Updated 6 August 2026 · 1 min read

Form TM-A is the application form used to register a trademark in India — it's the document that formally starts the registration process with the Trade Marks Registry.

What it covers

TM-A captures the applicant's details, a clear representation of the mark itself, and the Nice Classification class(es) and specification of goods or services being claimed. Since the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, a single TM-A can cover multiple classes in one filing, rather than requiring a separate application per class.

How it's filed

TM-A is filed electronically through the IP India portal. Filing is same-day once the details are finalized — you receive an official application number and filing date immediately, and this filing date is what your eventual registration is backdated to.

What happens after filing

Once filed, the application is queued for review by a Registry examiner. If it clears examination cleanly, it proceeds to journal publication; if the examiner raises an objection, you'll receive an examination report with a deadline to respond. The full sequence from TM-A onward is covered in Step 3 of our trademark registration guide.