The UDRP cost at WIPO starts at USD 1,500 in official fees for a complaint covering one to five domain names decided by a single panelist. Since March 2026 there is also an expedited one-month track at USD 4,000, and clearer refunds when a case ends early: WIPO keeps only USD 100 if you withdraw before the complaint is formally notified. This guide is for brand owners and in-house teams who need to budget one complaint or a whole programme of domain recoveries.
Key takeaways
- A standard single-panelist UDRP at WIPO costs USD 1,500 for one to five domains and USD 2,000 for six to ten; a three-member panel costs USD 4,000 or USD 5,000.
- The expedited track costs USD 4,000 and aims for a decision within 30 calendar days for up to five domains held by the same registrant.
- Withdrawing early is cheap: WIPO retains USD 100 before notification and USD 500 after commencement but before a panel is appointed. After appointment, nothing is refunded.
- Official fees exclude professional fees, evidence gathering, translations and any court follow-up.
- ccTLD procedures in the corridor have their own schedules: a .eu complaint costs EUR 700 in 2026 thanks to a temporary discount.
What does a UDRP cost at WIPO? The official fee schedule
The UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) is the ICANN procedure for recovering generic domains such as .com or any new gTLD from a cybersquatter. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, the largest provider, charges a fixed fee that covers both its administration and the panelist’s honorarium. The figures below come from the WIPO UDRP fee schedule, valid as of 1 December 2002 and updated with the services announced on 9 March 2026.
| Case type | 1 to 5 domains | 6 to 10 domains | More than 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single panelist | USD 1,500 (USD 1,000 panelist, USD 500 WIPO) | USD 2,000 (USD 1,300 panelist, USD 700 WIPO) | Set in consultation with WIPO |
| Three panelists | USD 4,000 (USD 1,500 presiding, USD 750 per co-panelist, USD 1,000 WIPO) | USD 5,000 (USD 1,750 presiding, USD 1,000 per co-panelist, USD 1,250 WIPO) | Set in consultation with WIPO |
| Expedited, single panelist | USD 4,000 (USD 1,000 WIPO, USD 3,000 panel) | Not available | Not available |
One complaint can cover several domains only if they are registered by the same holder (paragraph 3(c) of the UDRP Rules). That rule drives most of the savings in a portfolio programme, as explained below.
What does the expedited UDRP cost and when is it worth it?
WIPO’s expedited case processing aims to take a case from filing to panel decision in 30 calendar days or less, including the compliance review, registrar verification and the mandatory 20-day response period. On the deadlines in the Rules, a standard case without incidents usually runs to around two months.
- Price: USD 4,000, of which USD 1,000 goes to WIPO and USD 3,000 to the panel.
- Scope: single-panelist cases only, one to five domains with the same registrant, under the UDRP or a ccTLD policy that has adopted it.
- Conditions: a prompt registrar, timely payment (WIPO recommends credit card or a WIPO Current Account) and fast replies from the complainant.
- If the parties settle, WIPO refunds USD 3,000 to the complainant. Voluntary suspension periods do not count towards the one month.
- The respondent can also ask to expedite the remainder of a standard case when it files its response, for USD 2,500.
In practice, the extra USD 2,500 over a standard case is worth it when a domain is live and harming customers, for example during a product launch or a phishing campaign. It makes less sense when the respondent is likely to contest the case with a three-member panel, because expedited processing does not apply to three-member cases.
How do refunds work if the UDRP case ends early?
The March 2026 update made early termination predictable. For a one-to-five-domain case, WIPO retains:
| When the case ends | WIPO retains | Refunded on a USD 1,500 case |
|---|---|---|
| Before the complaint is formally notified to the respondent | USD 100 | USD 1,400 |
| After commencement, before a panel is appointed | USD 500 | USD 1,000 |
| After the panel is appointed | Full fee | Nothing |
WIPO’s announcement gives typical situations: the registrar’s disclosure of the underlying registrant shows that the holder is your own licensee, that a privacy service was shielding a party, or that there is a legitimate coexisting business. Because registrars often reveal the real holder only after the complaint is filed, this refund window is effectively a low-cost check before you commit to the full proceeding.
Settlement follows paragraph 17 of the Rules: the parties notify WIPO, sign a standard settlement form, the registrar lifts the lock and the case is dismissed. A settlement reached before the panel is appointed is refunded according to the tiers above, depending on when it happens.
Who pays the UDRP cost: complainant, respondent or both?
Under paragraphs 6 and 19 of the Rules, the complainant pays the full fee for a single-panelist case. If the respondent elects a three-member panel, it must pay half of the three-member fee and the cost is shared equally; if the complainant chooses three panelists, it pays the whole amount. The panel cannot award costs or damages: the only remedies are transfer or cancellation.
Two practical points: nothing happens until the fee is received, and if it is not paid within ten calendar days the complaint is deemed withdrawn. Bank charges and transfer fees are borne by the party making the payment, according to the schedule.
How UDRP costs compare with ccTLD procedures in the corridor
Country-code domains are not always covered by the UDRP. Each registry chooses its policy and provider, so the budget depends on the extension:
| Extension and procedure | Official fee, single panel | Source |
|---|---|---|
| gTLDs (.com, new gTLDs), UDRP at WIPO | USD 1,500 (1 to 5 domains) | WIPO, 2002 schedule and 2026 update |
| .eu, ADR at the Czech Arbitration Court | EUR 1,300 standard; EUR 700 from 1 January to 31 December 2026 (1 domain) | CAC .eu ADR fees |
| .es, Red.es procedure at WIPO | EUR 1,400 (1 to 5 domains) | WIPO .ES fees |
| .fr, PARL EXPERT at WIPO | EUR 1,500 | WIPO .FR fees |
| .br, SACI-Adm at WIPO | USD 1,000 (1 to 5 domains); USD 2,000 with three panelists | WIPO .BR fees |
Grounds, deadlines and remedies also differ between these procedures, so the cheapest route on paper is not always the one with the best chance of success.
How to budget UDRP costs for a domain portfolio
When a brand faces dozens of infringing names, the official fee is rarely the largest line. A realistic budget covers:
- Grouping: identify which domains share a holder. Five names against one registrant cost USD 1,500 in a single complaint, against USD 7,500 in five separate ones.
- Tiers: decide which names justify the expedited track and which can follow the standard timetable.
- A reserve for a three-member panel, in case the respondent elects one and the fee rises to USD 4,000, half of it payable by you.
- Professional fees for assessing the three elements, preparing evidence and drafting the complaint.
- Translation, because the proceeding usually runs in the language of the registration agreement.
- Follow-up: the registrar waits ten business days before implementing a transfer, and the respondent may go to court.
What this means for your business
- Map the domains by extension and holder before choosing a procedure.
- Use the low-cost withdrawal window: review the registrar’s disclosure before the case is formally notified.
- Keep the expedited track for live harm; it does not save money, it saves weeks.
- Budget ccTLD cases separately, using each registry’s schedule.
If you have names in several extensions and countries, our team handling UDRP cost planning and domain name recovery can group the cases, pick the procedure for each and give you one consolidated budget.
Where companies overspend on UDRP cases
- Filing one complaint per domain. Names held by the same registrant belong in a single complaint.
- Paying for speed that does not materialise. Expedited processing needs a responsive registrar and complainant and fails if the respondent asks for three panelists.
- Missing the cheap exit. Once the panel is appointed, there is no refund, even if the case settles the next day.
- Choosing the forum by price alone. A weak complaint lost at USD 1,500 costs more than a strong one won at USD 4,000, and a bad faith filing risks a finding of reverse domain name hijacking.
- Forgetting the trademark base. If your mark is not registered where it matters, strengthen your trademark registrations in Europe, Latin America and Africa first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UDRP complaint cost in 2026?
At WIPO, the official fee is USD 1,500 for one to five domains decided by a single panelist and USD 2,000 for six to ten. A three-member panel costs USD 4,000 or USD 5,000, and the expedited one-month track USD 4,000. These are provider fees only; professional fees for preparing the complaint and evidence are separate.
Do I get my money back if the cybersquatter transfers the domain voluntarily?
Partly. For a one-to-five-domain case, WIPO keeps USD 100 if the case ends before formal notification and USD 500 if it ends after commencement but before a panel is appointed. In an expedited case that settles, USD 3,000 is refunded. Once the panel is appointed, there is no refund.
Can the respondent be made to pay my UDRP costs?
No. The panel can only order transfer or cancellation of the domain. The respondent pays only if it elects a three-member panel, in which case the fee is shared equally. Recovering legal costs or damages requires court proceedings under national law, which can run alongside or after the UDRP.
Can IP Global Guard prepare a budget for several UDRP cases?
Yes. We map your target domains by extension and holder, group them into the fewest complaints, recommend the standard or expedited track and estimate official fees for each procedure. We then prepare and coordinate the cases with WIPO and other providers, directly where our professionals are entitled to act and through qualified representatives otherwise.
How IP Global Guard keeps domain recovery on budget
A UDRP programme stays on budget when the cases are grouped well, the right track is chosen and nobody files a complaint that should have been withdrawn for USD 100. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, handles domain recovery and portfolio management with one strategy and one billing relationship across more than 25 jurisdictions; see our coverage in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Send us the list of infringing domains and the marks they target. We will group them, recommend the procedure for each extension and return a clear fee estimate before anything is filed. Ask our domain team for a UDRP budget.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects official fees on its publication date.
Sources
- WIPO, Updated WIPO UDRP fee schedule and new services (9 March 2026)
- WIPO Center, Schedule of fees under the UDRP (valid as of 1 December 2002, with 2026 services)
- WIPO Center, Expedited case processing (2026)
- ICANN, Rules for the UDRP (updated 21 February 2024)
- Czech Arbitration Court, .eu ADR fees (discount from 1 January to 31 December 2026)
- WIPO Center, Schedule of fees for .ES disputes (February 2006)
- WIPO Center, Schedule of fees for .FR disputes (from 22 March 2016)
- WIPO Center, Schedule of fees for .BR SACI-Adm disputes (from 16 November 2010)
