Guide to Obtaining Brand Authorization

07/23/2026

Applies to:Mexico

For Seller

Key Points

Obtaining brand authorization is essential when listing products with a brand’s name or trademark.
Brand authorization requests are submitted through the Qualification Center in Seller Center and require specific documentation depending on your seller type.

Brand authorization is required to list certain branded or trademarked products, in accordance with the Intellectual Property Policy. It confirms that you have the necessary rights to sell a brand’s products or use its intellectual property.

Without proper brand authorization, you may face:

Listing restrictions
Listing removals
Other enforcement actions

How Brand Authorization Works

When creating or editing a product listing, sellers must select the correct brand name in the Brand field:

If the desired brand is listed, select it.
If it’s not listed, you can manually add it or select “No brand.”

⚠️ Important: Selecting “No brand” for a clearly branded product is prohibited and may result in product takedowns.

Some brands don't require you to obtain brand authorization to list their products. You can freely select them from the dropdown list when listing their products. But if a brand requires brand authorization, you must obtain it first in order to select the brand from the dropdown list. Otherwise, it will be greyed out.

When Brands do not require authorization
- The brand name will appear as selectable. You may list under it freely.
When Brands require authorization:
- You are authorized, and the category is linked: The brand name appears selectable.
- You are authorized, but the category is not linked: The brand name appears grayed out. A tooltip will explain the brand is not authorized in that category. This means that you will have to submit an authorization for the same brand, but from the different desired class category.
- You are not authorized: The brand name appears grayed out. A tooltip will explain the restriction and link you to apply for authorization.

Authorization validity

Brands control how long their authorization remains valid. Some may require periodic renewal (e.g., submitting an updated Letter of Authorization or Licensee Agreement).

How to Apply for Brand Authorization

Sellers can apply any time through:

Seller Center → My Account → Account Settings → Qualification Center → Brand Qualification → Add Brand AuthorizationThe process will differ depending on whether you own the trademark or have the trademark owner's permission to sell their products.

Select Trademark Owner if you own the trademark in your country (or brand).
Select First Level Authorized Seller if you have permission directly from the trademark (or brand) owner to sell their products. You can also indicate if you are the national exclusive distributor.
Select Second Level Authorized Seller if your permission is from an authorized reseller or distributor.
Select Third Level Authorized Seller if your permission is from a second level authorized reseller or distributor.

Trademark Owners

Submit an application including your Instituto Mexicano de La Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) trademark registration number and certificate.
Ensure the trademark owner matches your seller profile information.
Provide the trademark registration application and expiration dates.
If we're able to verify the trademark registration number, your brand will be added to TikTok Shop’s Brand List, linked to your seller account and assigned a unique identifier.
You will gain brand authorization for that trademark/brand.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not submit brand authorization applications for trademarks that are still in "Pending Trademark" status.

Authorized Sellers (LOA Required)

First-Level Sellers: Submit a valid Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the trademark/brand) owner directly issued to you.
Second-Level Sellers: Submit two LOAs—one from the trademark owner to the first-level authorized reseller, and one from the first-level authorized reseller to you.
Third-Level Sellers: Submit three LOAs (from trademark owner → first-level authorized reseller → second-level authorized reseller → you).

Key details your LOA must include:

Name of authorizing party (brand owner / rights holder)
Name of authorized party (seller applying)
Expiry date of the LOA
Brand name, category, and region coverage
Official signature from the brand/rights owner, stamp, or seal

LOA file requirements:

Formats: PDF (preferred), JPG, JPEG, PNG
Max file size: 5 MB
Clear and legible copy on official letterhead

An example of LOA is provided below:

[Brand Owner's Company Letterhead]To whom it may concern,

We/I, hereby certify that [Please insert the trademark owner's full name of the company or person], as the registrant of [BRAND NAME] (the "Trademark"), are entitled to use and license the Trademark with full power and authority.

We/I, hereby certify that we authorize [COMPANY NAME] (the "Merchant"), a company registered at [REGISTERED ADDRESS], to sell and distribute all categories of the Trademark branded products via any sales channels and run any marketing and advertising activities online and offline.

The valid period of this authorization is from [EFFECTIVE DATE] until [EXPIRING DATE]. We reserve the right to revoke this authorization throughout the period of validity, however, written notice of such revocation will be given to Merchant at least thirty (30) days in advance.

This letter of authorization is written in English.

For and on behalf of

Trademark Owner:

Signature: (Company's Seal, if any)

Authorized Signatory

Print Name:Title:Email:Date:

Checklist for a Successful Brand Authorization

Present Your Brand Name Accurately

Ensure your brand name matches your official website, registered trademark, product packaging, and product labels. This includes capitalization, punctuation, and spacing.
The brand name must be between 2 to 30 characters. It can be in any language.

Submit Valid and Clear Documentation

Upload a clear and legible copy of the original LOA(s) or Licensee Agreement.
- Supported file types: PDF (preferred method), PNG, JPG, JPEG. File size must be under 5 MB.
Make sure the document is on official letterhead from the brand owner and includes:
- All key terms, including brand coverage and duration of authorization
- The signature or official stamp/seal of the authorized signatory

Use Proper Email Documentation

For email submissions, the sender’s domain must match the brand rights holder.
The email body must include all necessary authorization terms.

Keep Your Authorization Up to Date

Enter the correct expiration date for both your trademark and your LOA.
Contact the trademark or brand owner at least 30 days before your LOA expires to request a renewal.
Ensure the authorized party listed on the document matches your Company Name exactly.

Actions to Avoid

Don’t apply with a trademark that is still in Pending status.
Don’t include URLs, email addresses, or only special characters in brand names.
Don’t use more than 5 consecutive numbers in a brand name.
Don’t add promotional language (“best deals,” “50% off”) to brand names.

Completing Your Authorization

Once approved:

Your account will be linked to the brand.
You’ll be able to list eligible products under that brand name.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is my trademark verified?Trademarks are verified through Instituto Mexicano de La Propiedad Industrial (IMPI). The details in your submission must match the information in the database.

Can I change my brand name after it’s approved? No. Approved brand names cannot be changed.

Does brand authorization protect sellers from infringement enforcement? No. It only confirms you’re authorized to sell but doesn’t exempt you from enforcement if complaints or violations occur.

What happens when my LOA/trademark expires? Your brand authorization will be removed, and products may be taken down. Contact the brand owner at least 30 days before expiry to renew and resubmit documents.

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