Patent Filing in Europe (EPO)
The European Patent Office grants one European patent for up to 39 member states through a single procedure. After grant, the patent is validated in the states you choose or registered as a Unitary Patent.
When is your national phase deadline in Europe (EPO)?
Enter the earliest priority date of your PCT application (or the international filing date if there is no priority).
Patent filing in Europe (EPO): key facts
Reinstatement of rights (Rule 49.6) available for the Article 22 acts under the 'due care' criterion.
Fee support measures for small entities referenced (Administrative Council decision CA/D 16/23, OJ EPO 2024, A3; EPO notice OJ EPO 2024, A8).
Request based. The examination request and fee are normally due by the 31-month deadline.
The PCT publication replaces EPO publication when it is in English, French or German.
20 years from the international filing date.
Typically 3 to 5 years. Faster through PACE or the PPH.
Renewal fees from the 3rd year, counted from the international filing date, until grant; national fees after validation.
No utility model at the EPO. Some member states offer national utility models.
Possible
Official fees for patent filing in Europe (EPO)
Filing in several countries? Compare fees with other countries →
Standard official fees (general)
From the WIPO PCT Applicant's Guide, updated October 14, 2026. Amounts in EUR. Your exact fees depend on your application: use the calculator above.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee, for online filings | EUR 135 | |
| Filing fee, for non-online filings | EUR 285 | |
| Additional fee for pages in excess of 35 for the 36th and each subsequent page | EUR 17 | |
| Designation fee for one or more EPO Contracting States designated | EUR 720 | |
| Extension fee for each extension State (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | EUR 102 | |
| Validation fee, Cambodia | EUR 180 | International applications filed on or after 1 March 2018 |
| Validation fee, Georgia | EUR 200 | International applications filed on or after 15 January 2024 |
| Reinstatement of rights fee | EUR 790 |
Fee reductions: Fee support measures for small entities referenced (Administrative Council decision CA/D 16/23, OJ EPO 2024, A3; EPO notice OJ EPO 2024, A8); amounts not captured.
Regional phase entry requirements
Time limit
31 months from the priority date (Article 22(3) and Article 39(1)(b)); designation, extension and validation fees within 31 months from the priority date or six months after publication of the international search report, whichever expires later
The EPO is the only route for Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, San Marino and Slovenia.
Translation
Under Article 22: description, claims, text matter of drawings, abstract, any Article 19 amended claims the applicant wants to form the basis of proceedings, and any Article 19 statement. Under Article 39(1): description, claims, text matter of drawings, abstract, amended parts (both as filed and as amended by the IPRP annexes), and Article 19 claims/statement if wanted. Missing translation of the application means it is considered withdrawn; missing translation of Article 19 claims only causes those claims to be disregarded.
Late entry and reinstatement
Reinstatement of rights (Rule 49.6) available for the Article 22 acts under the 'due care' criterion; only beneficial once the period for further processing for the omitted act(s) has expired; fee 790 EUR
Agent and power of attorney
Applicants with neither residence nor principal place of business in an EPC Contracting State must be represented by a professional representative before the EPO (acts filing the regional phase may be done by the applicant).
Other information
- INCOMPLETE: the fetched page text ended partway through the national fees table (at the Lao PDR validation fee); later fee rows (e.g. Lao, other validation states, search, examination, claims and renewal fees), reductions, agent requirement and Rule 51bis list could not be captured
- Claims fees: see EP.08
- Copy of the international application not required in particular circumstances
- Colour drawings accepted for Euro-PCT applications entering the European phase on or after 1 October 2025 if available on PATENTSCOPE (OJ EPO 2025, A49 and A57)
- Search, examination, claims and renewal fees are not listed in the WIPO summary: see the current EPO schedule of fees.
Source: WIPO PCT Applicant's Guide, national chapter, updated October 14, 2026.
What you need to file in Europe (EPO)
| Document | When |
|---|---|
| Entry request (EPO Form 1200) | At entry |
| Examination request | At entry |
| Translation into English, French or German, if needed | At entry |
| Sequence listing, if applicable | If applicable |
Not needed when a registered European patent attorney acts, unless the EPO asks for one.
Needed to record a change of applicant. A signed document from both parties.
Intention to grant, approval of the text, grant and printing fees and claim translations.
Filing requirements in detail
| Extension of the filing deadline | Yes/2 Months |
|---|---|
| Late translation allowed | NO |
| Amendments at entry | Possible |
| Article 19 amendments | Possible |
| Chapter II / Article 34 amendments | Possible |
| Examination request at entry | yes |
| Annuities at entry | Yes/If falls from International Filing date |
| Power of attorney | Yes |
| PPH fee | 600 |
From national phase entry to grant
- 1Month 31Regional phase entry
Fees, examination request and any translation filed.
- 2Entry + 2–6 monthsSupplementary search
Where the EPO was not the International Searching Authority.
- 3After searchResponse to the search opinion
Amendments and arguments filed.
- 41–3 yearsExamination
Communications from the examining division answered.
- 5If neededOral proceedings
Hearing before the examining division.
- 6On approvalGrant and validation
Grant fee, claim translations, validation or Unitary Patent.
- 7Yearly from year 3Renewal fees
To the EPO before grant, nationally after.
Countries reached only through Europe (EPO)
For these countries the national route is closed: a PCT application covers them through Europe (EPO).
Patent filing in Europe (EPO): questions
What is the deadline for PCT national phase entry in Europe (EPO)?
31 months from the earliest priority date.
Can I enter the national phase in Europe (EPO) after the deadline?
Reinstatement of rights (Rule 49.6) available for the Article 22 acts under the 'due care' criterion; only beneficial once the period for further processing for the omitted act(s) has expired; fee 790 EUR
In which language must the application be filed in Europe (EPO)?
English, French or German. Under Article 22: description, claims, text matter of drawings, abstract, any Article 19 amended claims the applicant wants to form the basis of proceedings, and any Article 19 statement.
Do I need a local patent attorney in Europe (EPO)?
The PCT applicant or its successor in title. Applicants outside the EPC states must act through a European patent attorney.
Is a power of attorney needed, and must it be legalized?
Not needed when a registered European patent attorney acts, unless the EPO asks for one.
Are there official fee reductions in Europe (EPO)?
Fee support measures for small entities referenced (Administrative Council decision CA/D 16/23, OJ EPO 2024, A3; EPO notice OJ EPO 2024, A8); amounts not captured.
How does examination work in Europe (EPO)?
Request based. The examination request and fee are normally due by the 31-month deadline.
How long does it take to get a patent in Europe (EPO)?
Typically 3 to 5 years. Faster through PACE or the PPH.
Is utility model protection available in Europe (EPO)?
No utility model at the EPO. Some member states offer national utility models.
How much does patent filing in Europe (EPO) cost?
The cost is the official fees of the patent office plus professional fees. The standard official fees from WIPO are listed on this page; the calculator works out the exact official fees for your application (pages, claims, applicant type) after a quick email check, and our team sends a full quote on request.
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