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If you are protecting a brand in more than two or three markets, the single most important question is simple: which Madrid Protocol countries can you reach from one application? The Madrid System lets you file once, in one language, pay in one currency, and designate dozens of markets — but only the ones that have actually joined. As of 2026 the Madrid Union has 117 members covering 133 countries, and the map keeps changing, with Saudi Arabia the newest to climb aboard. This guide gives you the current list, explains why the member count and the country count differ, flags the notable markets that are still outside, and shows what designating a country actually gets you.
How Many Madrid Protocol Countries Are There in 2026?
There are 117 members of the Madrid Union in 2026, and together they cover 133 countries — representing more than 80% of world trade, according to WIPO, which administers the system from Geneva. That gap between “117 members” and “133 countries” is the first thing to understand about the Madrid Protocol countries, and it trips up a lot of first-time filers.
The reason is that some members are not single countries at all but regional trademark organisations. Designate one of them and you cover every state in that bloc with a single checkbox. So the practical reach of a Madrid application is wider than the raw member count suggests. We unpack those regional members below.
The system is also still growing. Membership has expanded steadily, and the most recent additions — including Saudi Arabia and Grenada — show the map is far from frozen. Because the list genuinely changes year to year, always confirm a specific market against WIPO’s live member profiles before you rely on it for a filing decision.
The Full List of Madrid Protocol Countries
Here are the current Madrid Protocol countries and members, grouped by region. Three of the entries — the European Union, the Benelux Office and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) — are regional bodies, which is why designating them reaches many countries at once.
Europe: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium (via Benelux), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg (via Benelux), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands (via Benelux), North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
Middle East and Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, Iran, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic and the United Arab Emirates.
Africa: Algeria, African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Botswana, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Americas: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.
This grouping reflects WIPO’s member profiles as of 2026. Because accessions and declarations change, treat the official WIPO list as the controlling source for any specific designation.
Regional Members: EU, Benelux and OAPI
Three members punch far above their weight because they are regional organisations, not single states:
- European Union — one designation yields a single EU trade mark (EUTM) covering all 27 EU member states through the EUIPO. You do not designate France, Germany and Italy separately; you designate the EU once.
- Benelux — a single designation covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP). There is no national trademark route for these three; the Benelux registration is the only option.
- OAPI — the African Intellectual Property Organization gives one registration across its 17 mostly French-speaking member states in West and Central Africa.
This is why the member count (117) is smaller than the country count (133). It also creates a strategic choice: in Europe, you can designate the EU as a bloc or pick individual countries such as the United Kingdom (no longer in the EU) and Switzerland (never in it). The right mix depends on where you actually trade and where you expect to enforce.
Recent Additions: Saudi Arabia, Grenada and More
The Madrid System keeps expanding, and recent accessions have meaningfully widened its reach. Saudi Arabia is the newest member, joining in 2026 — a significant development given the size of the Gulf market and the fact that the regional GCC Patent Office closed to new filings back in 2021, pushing brand owners toward national and Madrid routes. Grenada also acceded in 2026.
The Gulf is now almost fully covered: Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and now Saudi Arabia are all Madrid Protocol countries. That turns a region that once required a patchwork of national filings into something you can largely reach from a single international application.
If Saudi Arabia is on your roadmap, our deep-dive on trademark registration in Saudi Arabia walks through how the new Madrid route interacts with SAIP’s national practice. For the mechanics of keeping all these designations alive, see our guide to Madrid Protocol deadlines.
Notable Countries NOT in the Madrid System
The gaps matter just as much as the members. If a market you care about is not a Madrid Protocol country, you cannot reach it through the international application — you need a direct national or regional filing. Some economically important absentees in 2026 include:
- South Africa — still outside the Madrid System; file nationally through the CIPC.
- Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela — much of Spanish-speaking South America remains national-only (Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico are members).
- Taiwan and Hong Kong — not reachable via Madrid; China’s designation does not extend to Hong Kong or Macau.
- Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen — several Middle Eastern markets are still national-only even as the Gulf fills in.
- Nigeria, Angola and Ethiopia — large African economies that are not yet members, and Nigeria is not part of OAPI either.
- Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — key South and Southeast Asian markets outside the system.
For any of these, budget for local counsel and separate national applications. A smart global filing plan usually blends Madrid designations for the members with a short list of direct national filings for the strategic non-members.
What Madrid Protocol Membership Means for Your Filing
Being able to designate a country is only the start. A Madrid application is built on a “base” application or registration in your home office — for a US company, a USPTO filing; for an EU company, an EUTM. You then file one international application through that home office, designate the Madrid Protocol countries you want, and WIPO forwards each designation to the relevant national office.
Each designated office then examines your mark under its own law and can refuse protection, usually within 12 or 18 months. So Madrid gives you a single front door, not a single decision — a mark sailing through in Japan can still be refused in Brazil. Budget for possible local responses in each market that matters.
Two more realities to plan around. For the first five years, your international registration depends on the home base — if the base falls, so do the designations, the so-called “central attack.” And renewals run on a single 10-year clock for the whole bundle, which is a gift administratively but a trap if the dates are not docketed. Our teams handle both the filing strategy and the renewal docketing so nothing slips.
Plan Your International Trademark Filing
Deciding which Madrid Protocol countries to designate — and where a direct national filing beats Madrid — is where a global brand strategy is won. PerspireIP designs cost-efficient international filing programmes that blend Madrid designations with targeted national applications. Contact our trademark team to map the right coverage for your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in the Madrid Protocol in 2026?
The Madrid Union has 117 members covering 133 countries as of 2026. The member count is lower than the country count because three members — the European Union, Benelux and OAPI — are regional organisations that each cover several states.
Who is the newest Madrid Protocol country?
Saudi Arabia is the newest member, acceding in 2026, with Grenada also joining that year. Always check WIPO’s live member profiles for the most current list before relying on a specific designation.
Is the United States in the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The United States has been a member since 2003, so US companies can file internationally through the USPTO as their base office and designate other Madrid Protocol countries from a single application.
Which major countries are NOT in the Madrid System?
Notable absentees in 2026 include South Africa, Argentina, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Nigeria and Myanmar. For these markets you need a direct national or regional trademark filing rather than a Madrid designation.
Does designating the European Union cover every EU country?
Yes. Designating the EU yields a single EU trade mark (EUTM) covering all 27 member states through the EUIPO. You do not need to designate individual EU countries separately, though you may still want the UK and Switzerland, which are outside the EU.
Can a mark be refused even in a Madrid Protocol country?
Yes. Each designated office examines your mark under its own law and can refuse protection, usually within 12 to 18 months. Madrid gives you one filing, not one decision, so local responses may be needed in individual markets.