Many business owners ask: How do I register a trade name in Jordan, and what are the requirements for objections and renewal? The answer begins by distinguishing a trade name from a trademark, identifying the competent authority, and checking the current service requirements before filing. The officially available information confirms that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply handles individual establishments and trade names, with electronic registration and inquiry services available.

This article provides a general framework based on the information that could be officially verified. It does not replace checking the live service screen or the applicable fee schedule at the time of filing. In particular, the available research did not establish a specific validity period or a verified amount for first-time registration or renewal.

How Do I Register a Trade Name in Jordan?

Illustration comparing a trade name and a trademark in a Jordanian business context

Trade-name registration is handled through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply under the services for individual establishments and trade names. The Ministry also provides electronic filing and allows users to inquire about trade names, establishments, their purposes, and their activities.

As a practical first step, an applicant should search the proposed name and review the information associated with the intended activity. However, an inquiry result should not automatically be treated as a final guarantee of acceptance or as proof of comprehensive protection in every commercial context.

Language requirements

The Ministry’s published official answer, quoting Article 6 of the Trade Names Law, states that a trade name must be registered in Arabic. A foreign-language trade name may be registered by decision of the Registrar where it is owned by foreign persons or companies, or by companies with mixed capital, and is registered and used outside Jordan.

Accordingly, choosing an English or other foreign-language name is not merely a branding decision. It may depend on the categories and conditions reflected in the official rule and on the Registrar’s decision. An applicant should not assume that a foreign-language name will be accepted simply because it is used in marketing or online.

Attendance, power of attorney, and electronic filing

For registration of an individual establishment, the Ministry states that the applicant may attend personally or act through an agent under a judicial power of attorney. Electronic registration is also available. The final document list may differ according to the applicant’s status and the type of transaction, and the research did not verify one uniform list for every trade-name applicant.

Applicants should therefore check the requirements displayed in the service, particularly where the applicant is a company, an agent, or a non-Jordanian person. Documents officially listed in the context of renewing a commercial register for non-Jordanians include, depending on the case, a passport, a civil-status card for children of Jordanian women, a civil-status card for children from Gaza, or a card for members of the Syrian community. This list should not automatically be treated as the complete list for every trade-name registration application.

What Is the Difference Between a Trade Name and a Trademark?

The Ministry treats registration of individual establishments and trade names as one service, and registration of trademarks and patents as another. This distinction is important when planning the legal and commercial protection of a business identity.

A trade name is connected with the registered name of an activity or establishment in the relevant register. A trademark, by contrast, is handled through the separate trademark service and concerns the sign used to distinguish products or services. Because the Ministry separates the two services, trade-name registration should not be assumed to constitute trademark registration or to provide the same procedural protection as a trademark certificate.

Trade-name registration also does not replace obtaining a licence to conduct the relevant activity. Registration and sector-specific or professional licensing are separate matters, and the requirements applicable to the intended activity should be checked before operations begin.

Documents and Fees: What Has Been Verified?

The Ministry pages reviewed did not provide a clear, verifiable amount for the first-time trade-name registration fee or the renewal fee. For that reason, this article does not state a fixed amount. The applicant should consult the applicable fee schedule or the electronic service screen at the time of filing.

For transfer of ownership of a commercial register, the Ministry’s official frequently asked questions confirm a fee of three per thousand of the sale value, with the commercial register treated as a first-time registration according to the applicable fee category. This statement concerns transfer of ownership and should not be treated as the registration or renewal fee.

Objecting to a Refusal to Register a Trade Name

The Ministry’s published official answer states that a decision refusing registration may be challenged before the Minister. This is the point concerning objections that could be clearly verified in the available material.

The research did not establish the objection period, detailed format, supporting documents, fees, or procedural deadlines. An applicant should therefore avoid relying on an assumed deadline or an unverified form. If a refusal is issued, the applicant should keep the decision and application details and ask the competent authority about the current channel, deadline, and requirements. A professional review of the facts and documents may also be appropriate before taking the next step.

Renewing the Trade Name and Commercial Register

The Ministry confirms that its electronic services include issuing and renewing a commercial register. According to the official description of the electronic process, the user logs in, selects the establishment and the requested procedure, submits the application, and pays through “eFAWATEERcom” after the application is approved by the competent employee.

However, the material reviewed did not specify the validity period of a trade name, the exact legal renewal date, or any grace period after expiry. A business should not base an important decision on an unverified period. It is safer to review the register status through the electronic service and ask the Ministry about the applicable date and amount before submitting the renewal request.

Renewal checklist

  • Confirm that the correct establishment and register are selected.
  • Review the purposes and activities shown in the system.
  • Check the documents required for the applicant’s status.
  • Confirm the fee displayed when the application is approved.
  • Keep evidence of the application and payment after completion.

Assignment or Transfer of Ownership

For transferring ownership of a commercial register relating to an individual establishment, the officially stated requirements include the attendance of the seller and buyer, a clearance certificate from the Greater Amman Municipality, any required importer-card documentation where the capital is five thousand or more, and signing the sale agreement before the competent employee.

Where the register includes a trade name and its owner wishes to transfer ownership, the Ministry’s published information states that the transfer must be announced in two official newspapers. Transfer of a trade name should also be kept separate from trademark rights: information about transferring the name does not automatically establish that a trademark or another right has been transferred through the same procedure.

Cancellation or Removal

The Ministry states that cancelling the commercial register of an individual establishment or trade name requires a clearance certificate from the Greater Amman Municipality. If the capital is five thousand or more, or if the establishment has an import and export purpose, a clearance certificate relating to the importer card is also required. The cancellation application is then submitted to the Commercial Register Directorate.

Cancellation of the register should not automatically be confused with the end of every obligation connected with the business or with cancellation of separate registrations. The effects and requirements of each related procedure should be checked with the competent authority.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trade-Name Registration in Jordan

Does registering a trade name mean that the trademark is registered?

It should not be assumed. The Ministry separates the service for individual establishments and trade names from the service for trademarks and patents. A separate trademark application may therefore be required.

Can I register a trade name in English?

The published rule requires registration in Arabic, subject to exceptions by decision of the Registrar for specified foreign persons or companies, or companies with mixed capital, where the name is registered and used outside Jordan.

When must a trade name be renewed?

The research material did not verify a specific validity period or grace period after expiry. The applicant should check the register and electronic service and confirm the date directly with the Ministry.

How much is the trade-name registration fee?

No verified amount for first-time registration or renewal was available in the reviewed material. The three-per-thousand figure is confirmed for transfer of ownership of a commercial register and is not necessarily the registration or renewal fee.

Can I object to a refusal?

Yes. The official answer states that a refusal decision may be challenged before the Minister. The deadline, form, and supporting documents should be confirmed when the decision is issued.

Legal notice: This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee acceptance of a trade name, success of an objection, or completion of a renewal. Requirements, fees, and procedures may change. Consult the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply or obtain professional advice before taking action.

Practical Takeaway

Trade-name registration in Jordan begins with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, including an inquiry into the proposed name and submission through the available service. The applicant should distinguish the trade name from the trademark and should not treat registration as a substitute for an activity licence. A refusal may be challenged before the Minister according to the official information, while the detailed deadlines and document requirements require direct verification. The same caution applies to the renewal period and fee. Because transfer and cancellation involve specific clearances and supporting steps, reviewing the register details and documents in advance can help reduce delay, while a professional review may assist in evaluating the available options.

Official sources