table of contents
Patent office fees for international applications
Here we will introduce the patent office fees when filing an international application with the Japan Patent Office.
If at least one of the applicants is a Japanese national or resident, an international application can be filed with the Japan Patent Office (Receiving Office: International Applications Division).
On the other hand, if you would like to see the patent office fees when filing an international application with a agency other than the Japan Patent Office, please refer to the URL below.
http://www.wipo.int/pct/ja/fees/index.html
If you would like more detailed information, please contact us individually.
Additionally, agent fees vary depending on the patent office. If you would like to know more about our agency's agent fees, please contact us individually.
Simple estimate and calculation method of patent office fees for international applications
Simple estimate
The average patent office fee for international applications is approximately 30 yen to approximately 35 yen.
This is the average when filing in the basic application form (1) The international searching authority is the Japan Patent Office (2) Online application in Japanese).
For this application form, once the volume of application documents is determined, an estimate of the patent office fee can be estimated. Please use the simple quote system below.
| Estimated patent office fees for international applications | |
| condition(*) is required | Number of Japanese words in the specification + scope of claims + abstract (*） Number of pages in the drawing (*） Number of pages of application form: 7 |
| Approximate amount of money | approx Yen |
*The above is only an estimate and may differ from the actual cost.
*If image data is included in the statement, etc., the amount will increase accordingly.
*If you would like to know the exact amount, please contact us individually.
Method of calculation
The JPO fees for international applications vary depending on (1) the International Searching Authority selected, (2) the method of submission of the application documents, and (3) the number of pages of the application documents.
① If the application documents are prepared in English, you can select either the Japan Patent Office or the European Patent Office as the international search authority.
The European Patent Office's search fees are high, so unless there are special circumstances, it will be cheaper to choose the Japanese Patent Office.
② Application documents can be submitted in paper format, but the fee will be reduced if electronic data is submitted online.
Therefore, it is recommended to submit online unless it contains content that can only be expressed on paper, such as special symbols or photographs.
③If the number of pages of application documents such as specifications and drawings increases, the patent office fee will increase accordingly.
Therefore, by creating compact application documents, you can reduce patent office fees.
The specific formula for calculating the patent office fee is as follows.
List of related feesPlease check against this.
List of related fees
All patent office fees related to international applications, from application procedures to interim amendments and defenses, are summarized in the table below.
| Type of fee | Requirements | Amount of money |
| International application fee A | Up to 30 sheets for international application | ¥195,000 |
| For each sheet of paper over 30: | ¥2,200 | |
| Reduction from A when applying online | ¥44,000 | |
| Shipping fee | Per international application: | ¥17,000 |
| Investigation fee (JP) | The Japan Patent Office conducts an international search Per international application (Japanese): |
¥143,000 |
| The Japan Patent Office conducts an international search For each international application (English): |
¥169,000 | |
| Additional fees for international search (JP) | The Japan Patent Office conducts an international search Per international application (Japanese): |
¥105,000× (Number of claimed inventions - 1) |
| The Japan Patent Office conducts an international search For each international application (English): |
¥168,000× (Number of claimed inventions - 1) |
|
| Investigation fee (EP) | The European Patent Office conducts an international search Per international application: |
¥251,100 |
| Survey fee (SG) | Intellectual Property Office of Singapore For each international application subject to international search: |
¥226,000 |
| Preliminary examination fee (JP) | The Japan Patent Office conducts an international preliminary examination Per international application (Japanese): |
¥34,000 |
| The Japan Patent Office conducts an international preliminary examination For each international application (English): |
¥69,000 | |
| Handling fee | For each international preliminary examination request: | ¥29,300 |
| Additional fee for preliminary examination (JP) | The Japan Patent Office conducts an international preliminary examination Per international application (Japanese): |
¥28,000× (Number of claimed inventions - 1) |
| The Japan Patent Office conducts an international preliminary examination For each international application (English): |
¥45,000× (Number of claimed inventions - 1) |
|
| Fees for each request for a copy of a document: | ¥1,400 | |
| For each fee related to the issuance of a copy of a document or a document containing file records: | ¥1,400 | |
| Fees per request for sending priority documents: | ¥1,400 | |
| Fees for each request for issuance of a certificate regarding documents related to an international application: | ¥1,400 | |
| Fees for each request for sending the results of a previous investigation: | ¥1,700 | |
Three fees are required when filing an application: a sending fee, an international application fee, and a search fee. Please note that the amount of search fees will vary depending on the International Searching Authority you select.
Partial refund of international search fees
There is no examination request system for international applications.
You will be asked to pay the international search fee at the time of application, and the international search will begin automatically.
However, if certain conditions are met, there is a system in place in which a portion of the international search fee will be refunded.
Even in applicable cases, the fee will not be refunded unless appropriate procedures are taken, so this is a system that you should understand.
System summary
If the international application includes necessary information of a previous domestic application such as a patent application, and a significant portion of the examination results of the domestic application can be used, 143,000 yen of the 57,000 yen search fee will be charged. will be returned at the applicant's request (Article 50, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Regulations of the International Application Act) (Note). Typical cases where this system can be used are as follows.
*In addition to the above, there are cases in which the examination results of previous domestic applications can be used.
(Note) For international applications with international filing dates before March 2022, 3, the refund amount will be 31 yen.
Procedure flow
(1)Procedures to be carried out at the time of international filing or immediately after international filing
- ①Enter information on the previous domestic application in Box VII of the international application form
When filing an international application, enter the necessary information about the previous national application in Box VII of the international application request form (Form PCT/RO/101). - ② Request for examination of an earlier domestic application (unless a request has already been made)
It is necessary to start the examination of the national application before or at the same time as the start of the international search.
Therefore, a request for examination of the earlier domestic application listed in Box VII of the international application form should be filed at an early stage. - ③ Procedures for excluding the designation of Japan (if the earlier domestic application is the basic application claiming priority)
If the earlier national application is the basic application claiming priority of the international application, the earlier national application will normally be deemed to be withdrawn after 15 months have passed from its filing date (priority date).
In order to avoid the earlier domestic application being deemed withdrawn, it is necessary to take steps such as excluding the designation of Japan from the international application.
(2) Sending a “notification regarding the usage status of the results of the previous investigation, etc.”
When preparing the international search report, the examiner will endeavor to utilize the examination results of the earlier domestic application stated in the application as much as possible.
At the same time, we will prepare a "notification regarding the status of use of the results of the previous search" indicating whether the results of the previous search were usable or not, and send this notification along with the international search report.
(3) Submission of “Request for Partial Refund of International Search Fee”
If the "Notification Regarding the Utilization Status of the Results of Previous Search, etc." states that "a considerable part of the results of the previous search, etc. can be used," the "Request for Partial Refund of International Search Fees" ” will be submitted.
After completing the administrative procedures within the Japan Patent Office, a portion of the international search fee will be refunded to the designated account.
*If a significant portion of the results of the previous investigation cannot be used, the funds will not be returned.
Use of the international search report of the international application as the basis for claiming priority
In cases where an international application claims priority based on an earlier international application, if a substantial part of the earlier international search report prepared by the Japan Patent Office can be used to prepare the international search report for the international application: , 143,000 yen of the 57,000 yen search fee will be refunded at the request of the applicant (Article 50, Paragraph 1 of the Enforcement Regulations of the International Application Act).
In this case, it is not necessary to fill out Box VII of the international application form.
(Note) For international applications with international filing dates before March 2022, 3, the refund amount will be 31 yen.
*Fees request form from a party other than the WIPO International Bureau*
Recently, a situation has arisen in which someone other than the International Bureau of WIPO sends a request for a fee requesting payment of a fee completely unrelated to the international application.
This fee bill may be sent directly to a less experienced applicant without an agent.
In particular, it tends to be sent to applicants with a small number of past applications or applicants in individual names.
Please note that this fee invoice is in no way connected to WIPO or any official publication by WIPO.
For more information and examples regarding this fee bill, please refer to the WIPO website.
<Contents within the page>
PCT Support Office Procedures for PCT international applications International search/international preliminary examination Glossary Fees for PCT international applications