CIPO Update: Trademarks online service updated to allow requests for expedited examination

On October 3, 2025, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) released an update to the trademarks online services, allowing requests for expedited examination to be submitted via the online service. 

Requests for expedited examination have been available in their current form following the amendments to the Trademarks Act in 2019, and the issuance of the associated Practice Notice.  Although examination times in Canada have improved significantly (CIPO currently estimates less than nine months to examination for newly filed applications), expedited examination is markedly faster and can take place within days. 

Per the release notes for the update, the requestor will be able to file requests via the “general correspondence” process through the CIPO online portal. To file the request, the requestor is required to select the reason(s) for requesting expedited examination. The following is the list of acceptable reasons to choose from:

1. A court action is expected or underway in Canada with respect to the applicant's trademark in association with the goods or services listed in the application;
2. The applicant is in the process of combating counterfeit products at the Canadian border with respect to the applicant's trademark in association with the goods or services listed in the application;
3. The applicant requires registration of its trademark in order to protect its intellectual property rights from being severely disadvantaged on online marketplaces; or
4. The applicant requires registration of its trademark in order to preserve its claim to priority within a defined deadline and following a request by a foreign intellectual property office. Note that in such cases the request will need to be attached to the affidavit or statutory declaration.

The availability of the online process is expected to simplify and streamline the submission of these requests and is in line with the CIPO’s continuing efforts to transition to electronic correspondence procedures. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Robert McNaughton and the Trademarks Team at Marks & Clerk Canada if you would like to discuss the new CIPO update for expedited examination, or Canadian trademarks more generally.