Design registration fees in India start at ₹1,000 per design for individuals, startups, and small entities, and ₹4,000 per design for other entities such as companies. These fees cover the design filing charge, renewal and restoration costs, and professional fees. They apply when you register the visual appearance of a product under the Designs Act 2000 and are charged for each design and class.
Design registration protects the shape, pattern, or ornamentation applied to a product, giving the owner exclusive rights to use it and to stop others from copying it. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) grants the registration for an initial 10 years, and you can extend it by 5 years, making the maximum protection period 15 years.
This article explains the fee structure for design registration in India, including filing, renewal, and related costs. It also covers eligibility for reduced fees and the factors that affect the overall cost.
Key Takeaways
- Design registration fees in India are ₹1,000 per design for a natural person, startup, or small entity, and ₹4,000 for other entities, under the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
- The fee is charged per design and per class. Designs are classified under the Locarno Classification, the international system used to categorize products by type, and each class is charged separately.
- Startups and small entities pay the same ₹1,000 fee as a natural person, a 75% reduction from the ₹4,000 large-entity fee.
- To claim the lower fee, a startup or small entity must file Form-24 with a DPIIT or Udyam certificate at the time of filing, or the ₹4,000 fee applies.
- The renewal fee is ₹2,000 (natural person/startup/small entity) or ₹8,000 (others), filed via Form-3 to extend protection for a maximum of 15 years.
- The total cost also includes a professional fee, usually ₹5,000 to ₹8,000, which attracts 18% GST, while government fees are GST-exempt.
- A lapsed design can be restored within one year using Form-4, at ₹1,000 (natural person/startup/small entity) or ₹4,000 (others).
Design Registration Government Fees by Applicant Category
The government fee to register a design in India is ₹1,000 per design for a natural person, startup, or small entity, and ₹4,000 for all other entities.
The fee tier depends on the applicant’s category, which must be declared while filing. Here’s how the design filing fees compare:
| Applicant Category | Government Fee (per design, per class) | Form-24 Requirement |
| Natural Persons, Startups, or Small Entities | ₹1,000 | Required (e.g., MSME Registration Certificate, DPIIT Startup recognition) |
| Other entities (companies, large organizations) | ₹4,000 | Not Required |
Note: Under the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021, natural persons, startups, and small entities pay 75% less than other entities. To claim the reduced fee, eligible applicants must file Form-24 with valid supporting proof (such as an MSME Registration Certificate or DPIIT Startup Recognition). Otherwise, the standard ₹4,000 fee applies. All government fees are charged per design, per class.
Government Fee vs Professional Fee for Design Registration
The total cost of design registration has two parts: the government fee and the professional fee. Here’s how the two compare:
| Basis | Government Fee | Professional Fee |
| What it is | Statutory fee paid to the CGPDTM | Charge for a patent agent, attorney, or IP service |
| Amount | ₹1,000 (natural person/startup/small entity) or ₹4,000 (other entities), per design | ₹5,000 to ₹8,000, on average |
| What it covers | The design filing itself | Novelty search, drafting representation sheets, and application preparation |
| GST | Exempt from GST | Attracts 18% GST |
| Fixed or variable | Fixed by the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021 | Varies by provider and design complexity |
| Objection response | No separate government fee to reply | Around ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 to draft a response, if raised |
Note: When comparing quotes, check whether the price includes the government fee or only the professional charge. A natural person pays ₹1,000 in government fees for one design, while professional fees (₹5,000 to ₹8,000) are separate. The design registration process usually takes 6 to 12 months.
Design Renewal and Restoration Fees in India
A registered design is protected for 10 years from the date of registration under Section 11 of the Designs Act, 2000. You can extend this protection once for 5 years, making the maximum term 15 years. To maintain protection, file Form-3 before the initial 10-year term expires. If the registration lapses, you can apply for restoration by filing Form-4 within 12 months of its expiry.
Here’s how these fees compare:
| Fee Type | Individual / Startup / Small Entity | Company / LLP / Others |
| Renewal/extension (Form-3) | ₹2,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Restoration of lapsed design (Form-4) | ₹1,000 | ₹4,000 |
Note: If you renew during the six-month grace period, you must also pay a late fee of ₹1,000 (eligible applicants) or ₹4,000 (other entities).
Here are the key deadlines that decide which fee applies:
- Normal renewal: File Form-3 to extend protection by 5 years, any time within the initial 10-year term, under Section 11 of the Designs Act, 2000.
- Grace period: If you miss the deadline, you can still renew within six months of expiry by paying the renewal fee along with a prescribed additional late fee.
- Restoration: If the grace period lapses, the design is terminated. You then have one year from the date of lapse to file Form-4 for restoration, along with a written statement explaining the delay, under Section 12 of the Designs Act, 2000.
Note: You do not pay any annual maintenance fee during the first 10 years, so you only pay the renewal fee once. If you miss the renewal deadline, the Controller must be satisfied that the failure was unintentional before restoring the design. Therefore, you should renew your design on time.
Other Design Registration Fees in India
Beyond filing, renewal, and restoration, the Design Office charges prescribed fees for other actions during a design’s lifecycle. The Design Office charges these fees for each action and applies them only when you use the relevant service. Here are the common additional fees:
| Action (Form) | Natural Person / Startup / Small Entity | Other Entities |
| Cancellation of registration (Form-8) | ₹1,500 | ₹6,000 |
| Inspection of registered design (Form-5) | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
| Certified copy (Form-15/16) | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
| Registration of a document/assignment (Form-10) | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
| Entry of the name of the proprietor (Form-11) | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
| Entry of mortgage or license (Form-12) | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
| Correction of clerical error (Form-14) | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
These are the e-filing rates under the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021. Always check the IP India portal for the latest fees before filing.
Not sure whether your design registration fees will be ₹1,000 or ₹4,000? The difference comes down to your applicant category, and one missed form can cost you the lower rate. RegisterKaro handles everything, from the design search to filing and objection replies. Contact us today to register your design at the correct fee!
