Nice Classification for Trademarks in Costa Rica: Find Your Class
Find your trademark class before you file
Before you register a trademark in Costa Rica, you must choose the right trademark classes in Costa Rica under the Nice classification — the system that decides exactly which class covers what you sell or provide. The Nice Classification (NCL), in its current edition, sorts every product and service into 45 classes — 34 for goods and 11 for services. Pick the wrong one and your protection has a hole in it. Use the finder below to see which class fits, then register correctly.
- 45 classes: goods sit in classes 1–34, services in 35–45.
- Each class is a separate filing with its own fee. Most brands need more than one.
- The classic mistake: a clothing brand files only class 25 and is left unprotected in retail and e-commerce, which is class 35.
- Costa Rica is not in the Madrid Protocol, so classes must be claimed in a national filing here — an international registration does not carry over.
the current Nice Classification (NCL) · 45 classes
What the Nice classification is, and why trademark classes decide your protection
The Nice Classification is an international system, created by the Nice Agreement of 1957 and administered by WIPO, that sorts goods and services into 45 numbered classes for the purpose of registering trademarks. Costa Rica applies it: under Article 4 of Law 7978, every application must state the class or classes it covers.
The point that catches brand owners off guard is that your trademark classes in Costa Rica define the boundary of your rights. A trademark registered in class 25 protects clothing — and nothing else. If a competitor uses your name to sell software, or to run an online store, your class-25 registration does not reach them. Protection is only as wide as the classes you claimed.
The costly mistakes in choosing your trademark classes in Costa Rica
Most errors in choosing trademark classes follow a small number of patterns. As a result, these are the ones that produce real gaps. In fact, each one leaves a specific door open to a competitor.
- Clothing without retail. A fashion brand files class 25 and forgets class 35 (retail and e-commerce). The name is protected on the garment but not in the online store selling it.
- Software without services. A tech company files class 9 (downloadable software) but not class 42 (SaaS and software development as a service). Modern products often need both.
- Food without hospitality. A brand files class 30 (the product) but not class 43 (restaurant and café services), leaving the venue unprotected.
- Beer is not wine. Beer sits in class 32; wine and spirits in class 33. Assuming “alcohol” is one class leaves half the range exposed.
Each additional class carries its own official fee, so the goal is not to file everything — it is to file the combination that matches what you actually sell now and plan to sell soon. That judgment is exactly where professional classification earns its keep.
Know your class — now register it correctly in Costa Rica.
HOW TO REGISTER A TRADEMARK →If you already hold an international registration
Here is the trap for foreign companies choosing their trademark classes in Costa Rica. You may have classified your marks carefully across your international portfolio through the Madrid System — but Costa Rica is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. Those classifications do not carry over. To hold rights here, the same classes must be claimed in a national filing before the Registry of Industrial Property, and a foreign company must file through local counsel.
The good news is that the class analysis you already did abroad is a strong starting point. The work is confirming it against the national filing and making sure nothing your competitors could exploit was left uncovered. We explain the full national process in our guide to trademark registration in Costa Rica.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Nice classes are there?
- Forty-five in the current edition (the current Nice Classification (NCL)): classes 1 to 34 for goods and 35 to 45 for services.
- Does Costa Rica use the Nice Classification?
- Yes. Under Article 4 of Law 7978, every trademark application in Costa Rica must specify its Nice class or classes.
- Can one trademark cover several classes?
- Yes, and many should. Each class is a separate filing with its own fee, and most real businesses span more than one — a product class plus a services class is common.
- Does my international registration cover Costa Rica?
- No. Costa Rica is not part of the Madrid Protocol, so an international registration does not extend here. The classes must be claimed in a national filing through local counsel.
- What happens if I choose the wrong class?
- Your registration may not cover the goods or services you actually offer, leaving gaps a competitor can exploit, and it can lead to objections or limited protection. Correcting it later is slower and more expensive than filing correctly.
Not sure which classes your brand needs?
AG Legal validates your goods and services against the official Nice Classification, builds a multi-class strategy, and files your trademark correctly in Costa Rica — including for companies that already hold marks abroad.
TALK TO AG LEGALRelated guides
- Trademark Registration in Costa Rica: The Local Filing Rule
- Trademark Enforcement in Costa Rica
- Versión en español: Clasificación de Niza
This tool provides general guidance based on the Nice Classification (the current Nice Classification (NCL)). Class headings are summaries; for official terms consult WIPO’s NCLPUB. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Source: Nice Agreement; Law No. 7978.