· 6 min read
Croatia Trademark Registration Costs: With and Without SME Fund
A Croatian national trademark protects your brand in Croatia. An EU trademark costs more to file, but can protect it across all 27 EU countries. Here is how the official fee examples compare.
Quick comparison for one class: Croatia’s published national filing fee is €66.36 on paper, with a 20% reduction for electronic filing, which brings the fee to about €53.09. EUIPO’s online fee for an EU trademark is €850 for one class. In the 2026 SME Fund example, a successful voucher could reimburse 75% of eligible fees, leaving about €13.27 for the Croatian e-filing fee or €212.50 for the EU filing fee.
The lower Croatian fee buys protection in Croatia only. The EUIPO application seeks one EU trademark covering the EU as a whole. The right choice depends on where you sell today and where you plan to expand.
Trademark fees in Croatia: with and without SME Fund
This table compares official application fees for one class. The Croatian online figure applies the 20% e-filing reduction in the published Croatian fee schedule. The SME Fund column is an example using the 2026 reimbursement rate; it is not an upfront discount.
| Application route | Official fee, no voucher | Example after 75% reimbursement | Territory covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatian national mark, online, 1 class | €53.09 | €13.27 | Croatia |
| EU trademark at EUIPO, online, 1 class | €850 | €212.50 | All 27 EU Member States |
Why consider an EU trademark instead?
If your customers, online shop, distributors or growth plans reach beyond Croatia, one EU trademark application can cover the whole European Union. Filing separate national applications country by country may mean multiple applications, fees and renewals. An EU trademark can therefore be a more practical route for a business building a brand across borders.
- One application for 27 EU countries. The EU trademark is a unitary right covering the EU.
- One first-class fee. EUIPO charges €850 online for the first class, €50 for the second and €150 for each class from the third.
- SME Fund may reduce eligible costs. In the 2026 call, the voucher reimbursed 75% of eligible EU or national trade mark fees, subject to the scheme’s rules and cap.
- Plan for expansion. If you expect to trade in multiple EU markets, broader coverage from the start may fit your plans better.
An EU trademark is not automatically the right choice for every business. It covers a wider territory and may be challenged based on earlier rights anywhere in the EU. If your activity is limited to Croatia, a national application may be more proportionate. A risk assessment and clearance search can help compare the options before filing.
What does “with SME Fund” mean?
The SME Fund is a reimbursement scheme for eligible EU-based small and medium-sized enterprises. It does not remove the filing fee at checkout: the business pays eligible fees first, receives a voucher decision before starting the IP activity, then requests reimbursement in line with the call rules. Reimbursement is paid to the SME beneficiary.
The 75% calculation above uses the published 2026 rules as an illustration. EUIPO says the 2026 trade mark and design voucher is no longer available for new applications because its funds were exhausted. The terms for a future SME Fund call, including 2027, should be checked once officially published. Do not rely on the 2026 rate as a guaranteed future benefit.
Who can apply?
The 2026 SME Fund was open to qualifying SMEs established in the EU, including businesses established in Croatia. An individual applicant without an eligible business does not qualify simply because they live in an EU country. The official SME definition and the specific call conditions apply. The trademark owner and SME Fund beneficiary must also meet the scheme’s requirements.
How we can help
Eesti Consulting can help you compare the Croatian national route with an EU trademark, prepare the application and assess possible conflicts with earlier marks. Our preparation and risk assessment service is €400 per application under the offer shown on our website. The 2027 voucher terms are not confirmed; we will verify eligibility against the official call when it opens.
Tell us about your brand ↗Official sources
- Croatian State Intellectual Property Office: trademark registration process
- Croatian State Intellectual Property Office: online trademark filing
- Croatian official fee schedule (PDF)
- EUIPO: EU trademark fees
- EUIPO: SME Fund 2026
- EUIPO: SME Fund 2026 FAQ
For a general overview, read What Is the SME Fund Programme? and our Estonia trademark fee comparison. See all Resources or contact us.
smefund.eu by Eesti Consulting · Independent service provider, not part of EUIPO or the European Commission. Fee examples checked on 22 October 2026. Always verify current fees and voucher rules before filing.