From 1 October 2026, US companies that extend a trademark abroad under the Madrid Protocol must file the international application through WIPO’s Madrid e-Filing platform instead of the USPTO’s TEASi form. WIPO confirmed on 31 July 2026 that both systems remain available until 30 September. For US brands heading to Mexico, Colombia, Brazil or Chile, Madrid e-Filing at the USPTO means a WIPO account and fees paid in Swiss francs; for Argentina or Peru nothing changes, because neither is in the Madrid System.
Update (October 2026): the switch has taken effect. Madrid e-Filing is now the only platform for new outbound applications based on US marks, applications started in TEASi must be completed there, and the USPTO states that both the international application fee and the certification fee are paid to WIPO in Swiss francs. USPTO, Transition to Madrid e-Filing (updated 1 October 2026).
Key takeaways
- Until 30 September 2026 US filers can use TEASi or Madrid e-Filing; from 1 October 2026 only Madrid e-Filing.
- WIPO fees are paid directly to WIPO in Swiss francs (CHF), and every filer needs a WIPO Account.
- The USPTO certification fee is unchanged: USD 100 per class for an application based on one US mark.
- In Latin America, Madrid reaches Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Chile, but not Argentina, Peru, Uruguay or Paraguay.
What is the USPTO changing?
The Madrid System, run by WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization), lets a trademark owner file one international application through its national office, the “office of origin”, and designate other member countries. For a US company that office is the USPTO, which checks the application against the US basic application or registration and certifies it to WIPO.
Until now that request was prepared in TEASi and paid to the USPTO in dollars. The USPTO announced on 15 July 2026 that WIPO’s Madrid e-Filing will replace it, expecting fewer filing errors and a secure channel to correct problems during certification.
| Point | TEASi (until 30 September 2026) | Madrid e-Filing (from 1 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Where you file | USPTO form | WIPO platform, still certified by the USPTO |
| Access | USPTO account | WIPO Account required |
| WIPO fees | Paid to the USPTO in US dollars | Paid directly to WIPO in Swiss francs |
| Data entry | Manual | Key data imported from the US basic mark |
| Corrections | Errors could end in a denial of certification | Messages with the office of origin; replies to WIPO irregularity notices online |
How do fees work with Madrid e-Filing at the USPTO?
The amounts do not change. Under the USPTO fee schedule, certification costs USD 100 per class for an application based on one US application or registration, and USD 150 per class if based on more than one. WIPO’s Madrid schedule of fees adds a basic fee of CHF 653 (CHF 903 in colour), CHF 100 per class beyond three and a fee per designated country. Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Chile charge individual fees, so check the WIPO fee calculator before budgeting.
Paying in Swiss francs means the dollar cost moves with the exchange rate. Reed Smith noted on 22 July 2026 that it also removes the USD 24,999.99 Pay.gov limit that large filing programmes could hit.
Which Latin American countries can a US brand reach through Madrid?
Madrid e-Filing only helps where Madrid applies. According to the WIPO Lex list of contracting parties:
| Market | Madrid member? | Route for a US brand |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Yes, since 2013 | Designation |
| Colombia | Yes, since 2012 | Designation |
| Brazil | Yes, since 2019 | Designation |
| Chile | Yes, since 2022 | Designation |
| Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay | No | National application through a local agent |
| Central America (except Belize) | No | National applications, country by country |
Argentina may change: under its February 2026 trade agreement with the United States it must submit the Madrid Protocol to Congress before the end of 2027, according to Marval (13 February 2026). Until then, Argentina means a national filing.
What this means for your business
- Create WIPO Accounts for everyone who files, including outside counsel, using the same email for account, application and registration, as WIPO recommends.
- Do not start a TEASi application in late September: it must be finished in TEASi.
- Budget in Swiss francs and agree who pays WIPO.
- Review the US basic mark first: the international application cannot go beyond its goods and services.
- Run national filings for non-Madrid markets in parallel, so launch dates line up.
If your roll-out mixes Madrid designations and national filings, our trademark registration team for Latin America and Europe can map both routes and coordinate the local side.
Where US brands get Latin America wrong
- Assuming one Madrid filing covers the region. The gap in Argentina or Peru often surfaces when a distributor has already filed.
- Forgetting dependency: for five years the international registration stands or falls with the US basic mark.
- Treating provisional refusals as paperwork: they are answered before the local office, usually through local counsel, within strict deadlines.
- Skipping clearance: a search before filing costs less than an opposition after it.
A cross-border IP strategy for US and Latin American markets keeps these decisions in one plan.
Frequently asked questions
When does Madrid e-Filing become mandatory for US applicants?
From 1 October 2026, Madrid e-Filing is the only platform for new international trademark applications based on US applications or registrations. Until 30 September 2026 applicants may still use TEASi, but an application started there must be completed in TEASi, so moving to Madrid e-Filing before the deadline is the safer option.
Do I need a WIPO Account to file a Madrid application from the US?
Yes. Madrid e-Filing requires a WIPO Account, and WIPO recommends using the same email address for the account, the application and any resulting international registration. Everyone who prepares or files, including paralegals and outside counsel, should register early so the switch does not delay a planned filing.
Can I designate Argentina or Peru through the Madrid System?
No. Neither Argentina nor Peru is a member of the Madrid Protocol, so protection there requires a national application through a local agent. Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Chile can be designated. Argentina has committed to submit the Protocol to its Congress before the end of 2027, but it is not a member yet.
Can IP Global Guard handle the Latin American side of a US Madrid filing?
Yes. The international application starts at the USPTO, usually with your US counsel. We review the designations, prepare and coordinate national filings in non-Madrid countries and responses to provisional refusals through qualified local correspondents, and keep the Latin American, European and African portfolio under a single point of contact.
How IP Global Guard supports US brands in Latin America
The new platform changes how the application is filed, not which markets Madrid reaches or what happens when a local office objects. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, coordinates trademark portfolios across more than 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Africa, with one strategy and one billing relationship.
Send us the US basic mark, the classes and the Latin American countries on your roadmap. We will split them into Madrid designations and national filings and coordinate the local work from a single point of contact. Ask our team to map your Latin American filings.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the position on its publication date.
Sources
- WIPO, Transition to Madrid e-Filing at the USPTO (31 July 2026)
- USPTO, Madrid e-Filing announced as the new platform for international filings (15 July 2026)
- Reed Smith, USPTO transitioning to Madrid e-Filing (22 July 2026)
- USPTO, Fee schedule, Madrid Protocol fees (effective 19 January 2025)
- WIPO, Madrid schedule of fees (since 1 February 2023)
- WIPO Lex, Madrid Protocol contracting parties (database)
- Marval, the Madrid Protocol and the US agreement (13 February 2026)
- USPTO, Transition to Madrid e-Filing (updated 1 October 2026)
