I. General Overview
Area: 647,500 square kilometers
The population is approximately 41.13 million (United Nations, 2023). Pashtuns make up 40%, Tajiks 25%, and there are over 20 other ethnic minorities, including Hazara, Uzbek, and Turkmen. Pashto and Dari are the official languages, and other languages include Uzbek, Balochi, and Turkish. Sunni Muslims make up 86%, Shia Muslims 13%, and others 1%.
The main economic data for 2021 are as follows:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $14.79 billion
GDP growth rate: -20.7%.
GDP per capita: US$368.8
(Data source: World Bank)
Currency name: Afghani, abbreviated as "Afghani".

II. Treaty Membership
1. Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Convention)
Accession: 2017

2. Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol)
Accession: 2018

III. Trademark Application Procedure and Required Documents
1. Trademark Registrable Elements and Types
Elements that can be registered as trademarks in Afghanistan include: text, graphics, symbols, slogans, three-dimensional logos, color combinations, etc.
The types of trademarks that can be registered in Afghanistan include: trademarks, service marks, and collective trademarks.

2. Filing Routes
1) National filing (direct filing)
2) Madrid International Registration

3. Required Documents
⦁ Name and address of applicant
⦁ List of goods and/or services
⦁ Clear representation of the mark
⦁ Power of attorney, which must be notarized and legalized
⦁ If a priority is claimed, a certified copy of the priority document and corresponding translations need to be submitted
Remark:
a. Alcoholic beverages in Class 33 cannot be registered

4. Application Procedure and Timeline
Filing: The 9th edition of the Nice Classification is adopted; multiple-class applications are not accepted; the first-to-file principle is followed
Examination: formal examination and substantive examination
Publication/Opposition: the opposition period is 30 days
Registration: It takes about 5-6 months from filing to registration (if smooth).

5. Protection Period and Renewal
The validity period is 10 years from the date of application and can be renewed for 10 years each time before expiration

5. Assignment
Allowed for both pending and registered trademarks. A notarized and legalized power of attorney and a notarized and legalized assignment agreement from the assignee are required, and the assignment period is approximately one and a half to two years.

5. Chang of Name/Address
Trademark changes require a notarized and legalized power of attorney and a notarized and legalized proof of change, and the processing period is approximately one year.

8. Cancellation
Non-use Cancellation: If a trademark has not been used for 5 consecutive years, any interested party may file a cancellation request for the non-used trademark.

IV. Trademark application statistics *:
A: Statistics on total trademark applications:
2020: -
2021: -
2022: -
B: Statistics of trademark applications from China:
2020:332
2021:241
2022:238