Patent Filing Egypt

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a key jurisdiction for patent protection in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and a contracting state to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Patent rights in Egypt are administered by the Egyptian Patent Office (EGPO), which operates under a formal examination regime and a deep Egypt Patent Search. A PCT national phase application transitions an international PCT filing into a national patent application governed by Egyptian patent law, subject to local procedural requirements, translation mandates, and substantive examination.

Egypt is strategically important due to its large population, growing industrial base, and active commercial sectors, including pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, electrical and mechanical engineering, consumer goods, agricultural technology, and information technology. Patents granted in Egypt provide enforceable rights that enable patent owners to prevent unauthorized manufacture, use, sale, and importation of inventions in a jurisdiction with established civil enforcement mechanisms and growing IP awareness.

For any global intellectual property strategy, national phase entry in Egypt is an essential step for innovators targeting robust protection across the MENA region.

Who Can File the Patent Application in Egypt

Any PCT applicant who has designated Egypt may enter the national phase. Eligible filers include:

• Individual inventors
• Egyptian corporations and entities
• Foreign corporations and multinational enterprises
• Universities, research institutions, and startups
• Co-owners, joint applicants, and legal successors
• Patent assignees
  

Representation Requirement

Foreign applicants must appoint a registered Egyptian patent attorney or agent. Only locally registered representatives may interact with the Patent Office on behalf of applicants, including filing submissions, responding to Office Actions, and managing prosecution and post-grant compliance.

Entitlement Requirements

Egyptian patent practice requires:

• Accurate inventorship statements
• If the applicant is not the inventor, a valid assignment document establishing rights to the invention
• Legal proof of corporate identity for companies or institutions

These entitlement requirements must be met within prescribed time frames to avoid procedural rejection.

Strict Deadline for filing Egypt Patent Application – 30-Month Rule

Egypt applies the standard PCT rule for national phase entry: 30 months from the earliest claimed priority date. Compliance with this deadline is mandatory for valid national phase entry and must include:

• National phase Filing
• Appointment of local representative
• Filing or commitment to filing an Arabic translation
• Payment of requisite national phase fees

Strict adherence to the 30-month deadline is essential for preserving patent rights in Egypt.

Extensions After the 30-Month Deadline

Egypt currently does not provide routine extensions beyond the 30-month deadline for entering the national phase. Missing this deadline generally results in loss of the right to pursue patent protection for that PCT application in Egypt. Therefore, managing deadlines precisely is critical to avoiding rights forfeiture.

Filing Language for Egypt Patent Application

The official language for patent filing in Egypt is Arabic. 

Applicants who file documents in another language must provide a full and accurate Arabic translation of:

• The specification
• Claims
• Abstract
• Patent Drawings

Translations must be submitted within the timeframe allowed by the Patent Office; failure to do so may affect the application’s validity or prosecution progress.

Required Documents to file a Patent in Egypt

A complete national phase entry typically requires the following:

1. PCT Application Copy: A certified or official copy of the PCT application supporting the transition into the national phase.
2. Arabic Translation: Full Arabic translation of the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings.
3. Power of Attorney (POA)

• • Required for foreign applicants
  • Must be legalized at the Egyptian consular level
  • Can be filed at submission or within the permitted grace period

4. Assignment: If the applicant is not the inventor, a deed of assignment reflecting the transfer of rights must be submitted and legalized.
5. Corporate Documentation: For corporate applicants, a certified Certificate of Incorporation or Commercial Register extract must be provided and legalized.
6. Sequence Listings (If Applicable): Electronic sequence listings for biotech inventions must be filed in the required format.

Proper legalisation and timely submission of documents is essential for procedural compliance and to avoid delays.

Egypt Patent Search and Examination Procedure

Egyptian national phase applications undergo both formal and substantive examination. The Patent Office reviews:

• Formal compliance with filing, translation, representation, and documentation
• Substantive Egypt Patent Search: Patentability Search, inventive step, and industrial applicability
• Prior art relevant to the claimed invention

Substantive examination begins once the official examination fee is paid.

Examination Process and Office Actions

Examination in Egypt may generate various Office Actions:

Formal Office Actions:

Address administrative defects such as:

• Missing legalized documents
• Translation inconsistencies
• Procedural irregularity

Substantive Office Actions

Cover substantive patentability concerns:

• Novelty objections
• Inventive step objections
• Insufficient disclosure or clarity

Applicants have specific timeframes to respond to all Office Actions. Failure to respond may lead to application abandonment.

When necessary, the Patent Office may request expert technical reports to assist in evaluation.

Deadline for Request for Examination

In Egypt, substantive examination is triggered by payment of the examination fee rather than a separate formal request. Applicants must pay the examination fee within a prescribed period (typically three months from notification), failing which the application may be suspended until payment and any late surcharges are cleared.

Publication Process and Legal Impact

Published Egyptian patent applications become publicly accessible after formal acceptance. Publication:

• Notifies the public of the invention and its claimed scope
• Establishes prior art effect for third parties
• Alerts competitors to the applicant’s technology

Publication does not confer enforceable rights, but it is a key milestone in the prosecution process.

Grant Process and Enforceability

Once all objections are overcome and fees are paid, the Patent Office issues a Notice of Allowance followed by a formal grant and publication in the Official Gazette.

A granted patent in Egypt provides enforceable rights, including the ability to:

• Prevent unauthorized manufacture, use, sale, or importation
• Pursue infringement actions in Egyptian courts
• Seek injunctions and damages
• Utilize border measures and customs enforcement

Egyptian courts are empowered to adjudicate infringement and invalidity disputes under national patent law.

Patent Validity Term

Egyptian patents have a 20-year term from the international filing date of the PCT application. Annuities must be paid annually to maintain the patent in force throughout its term.

Typical Time to Obtain a Patent

The typical timeline for national phase prosecution in Egypt ranges from 24 to 48 months from national phase entry to grant, depending on the complexity of examination, severity of objections, and responsiveness of prosecution.

Annuities and Maintenance Procedure in Egypt

Annual maintenance fees (annuities) are due starting from the second anniversary of the filing date. The Patent Office issues notifications prior to each due date. A grace period with surcharge is available for late payment; failure to pay within this period results in patent lapse and loss of rights.

Official Government Fees for Egypt Patent Filing

Filing & Formalities Fees

Translation fees are variable depending on length and language.

Examination Fees

Notes:

• Examination fees must be paid within the timeframe prescribed by the Patent Office.ww
• Failure to pay on time may lead to application suspension and additional surcharges.

Grant & Publication Fees

Annuity Fees (Indicative Annual Structure)

Annuities must be paid on each anniversary of the filing date.

Utility Model Protection in Egypt

Egypt provides utility model protection as an alternative to patent protection. Utility models:

• Offer a faster route with simplified examination
• They are suitable for incremental innovations or mechanical inventions
• Have shorter terms compared to standard patents

Applicants may elect utility model protection where appropriate, subject to local requirements.

Egyptian Patent Office & Official Website

Egypt’s national patent authority (the Egyptian Patent Office) :

Official Website: Egyptian Patent Office