Following Canada’s accession to the Madrid Protocol, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) experienced a higher than anticipated number of trademark applications, resulting in significant delays for examination of new applications.

Over the years, the CIPO implemented a number of measures to reduce the wait times, including hiring new examiners and using artificial intelligence tools.

Recently, the CIPO published updated information on their website regarding the forecasted processing times for new trademark applications. For trademark applications filed in February 2025, the forecasted wait times for examination are approximately:

• 13 months for applications filed using the pre-approved list of goods and services and for Madrid Protocol applications (based on the date of WIPO’s notification of designation); and
• 14 months for applications filed not using the pre-approved list of goods and services.

These forecasted wait times for examination of trademark applications not using the pre-approved list of goods and services would mark a significant improvement in wait times, as the CIPO is currently only examining such applications filed in February 2022 (i.e. around 36 months ago).