25 March, 2026

Argentina Raises IP Fees: What foreign rights holders need to know

Argentina's INPI has approved Resolution 75/2026, updating all IP fees from 1 April 2026 and introducing the UMAPI — a new unit updated monthly against inflation. Here is what it means for your portfolio.

On 18 March 2026, Argentina’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) published Resolution 75/2026, introducing a comprehensive restructuring of its official fee schedule. The new tariffs take effect on 1 April 2026 and — for the first time — a monthly indexation mechanism is put in place to keep fees aligned with inflation.

If you hold trademarks, patents, utility models or industrial designs in Argentina, or are planning to file, this change directly affects the cost of protecting and maintaining your rights.

What Is Changing?

1. New fee schedule from 1 April 2026

All official fees charged by INPI for trademark registration, renewal, opposition, patent filing, examination, annuities and industrial design registrations are updated with effect from 1 April 2026. The new amounts are published in the Official Gazette as an annex to Resolution 75/2026.

2. Creation of the UMAPI

The Resolution creates a new tariff unit called the Unidad de Medida Arancelaria de la Propiedad Industrial (UMAPI). From 1 May 2026, all fees will be expressed in UMAPIs and automatically converted to Argentine pesos each month, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by INDEC.

The initial value is set at one-hundredth of the fee for a new trademark application in one class, which gives an initial UMAPI value of ARS 360.

3. Monthly automatic adjustment

From 1 May 2026, the peso value of the UMAPI is updated every month based on the CPI for the preceding month. The new value applies from the first day of the following month and is published on INPI’s online portal, giving practitioners a short planning window.

4. Scope: what the UMAPI does not cover

The UMAPI system does not apply to variable fees, surcharge differentials, or fees calculated as a percentage of contract value — such as technology transfer registrations (assessed at 0.25% of the contract’s economic value, with a minimum of 90 UMAPIs).

Key Fees at a Glance

The table below shows selected fees under the new schedule, expressed both in UMAPIs and in Argentine pesos at the launch rate of ARS 360/UMAPI.

Service 

UMAPIs

ARS (at launch)
New trademark application (1 class, up to 20 items) 

100

ARS 36,000
Trademark renewal 

200

ARS 72,000
Opposition filing 

100

ARS 36,000
Opposition maintenance (RAO procedure) 

500

ARS 180,000
Nullity / Cancellation action 

666

ARS 239,760
Patent application (up to 10 claims) 

266

ARS 95,760
Substantive examination (up to 10 claims) 

444

ARS 159,840
Annual fees — years 1–3 (per year) 

133

ARS 47,880
Annual fees — years 16–20 (per year) 

1,200

ARS 432,000
Industrial design registration 

113

ARS 40,680

Amounts subject to monthly revision from 1 May 2026. SMEs, individuals and public universities may benefit from discounts of up to 50% (years 1–10) and 60% (years 11–20) on patent annuities.

Key Dates

  • 18 March 2026 — Resolution 75/2026 published in the Official Gazette.
  • 1 April 2026 — New fee schedule enters into force.
  • 1 May 2026 — UMAPI system becomes operative; monthly CPI adjustment activates.
  • Monthly (from May 2026) — UMAPI value updated and published on INPI’s portal.

What Should Rights Holders Do?

The shift to the UMAPI system has two immediate practical consequences: fees will increase every month in line with Argentine inflation, and any budget estimate prepared today will be outdated within weeks.

We recommend:

  • Reviewing all upcoming renewals, annuity payments and examination requests scheduled for April 2026 or later, to ensure correct amounts are provisioned.
  • Requesting updated cost estimates for any filings in preparation, specifying the expected filing date to allow for the correct UMAPI conversion.
  • Checking eligibility for reduced fees if you are an SME, individual inventor or public institution.
  • Monitoring INPI’s online portal monthly for the updated UMAPI value.
“The creation of the UMAPI marks a structural shift in Argentine IP fee management: amounts will now change every month, making real-time budget monitoring essential for rights holders.”

How Herrero & Asociados Can Help

Our IP team has been monitoring the Argentine fee reform closely. We can provide:

  • Updated cost estimates for trademark, patent, utility model and design filings in Argentina.
  • Strategic advice on timing filings to optimise costs before monthly UMAPI increases.
  • Full management of your Argentine IP portfolio, including renewals, oppositions and annuity payments.
  • Eligibility assessment for SME and individual fee discounts.

Do you have questions about your Argentine IP portfolio?

Contact our team for personalised guidance on the new fee structure: info@herrero.es

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fee amounts are indicative and subject to monthly revision by INPI from 1 May 2026.