Request UK processing of an international patent application
If you’ve made an international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) you can make a request for it to be processed in the UK national phase to obtain a UK patent.
If you made your PCT application after 31 December 2020, the UK patent will also provide protection in Guernsey and Gibraltar.
You must make a request within 31 months of either the:
- priority date if your international application claims priority from an earlier application
- filing date of your international application if no priority is claimed
You cannot apply online from 1am to 3am (UK time).
Before you start
You’ll need:
- details of your completed international PCT application, including supporting documents (in PDF format)
- a translation of the international application if it was not filed or published in English
- a debit or credit card, or an Intellectual Property Office (IPO) deposit account
- an email address
You should request a search and a ‘substantive examination’ to have your application processed in the UK.
Fees
| Type of application | Cost to apply online | Cost to apply by post |
|---|---|---|
| Begin the national phase (UK) of an international application for a patent | £30 | £30 |
| Search - for applications already searched internationally | £120 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) |
| Search - for any other application | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) |
| Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) |
Apply by post
You can apply by post if you want to pay by cheque, cash, bank transfer or deposit account.
Download and fill in the following forms:
- National processing of an international application for a patent (UK)
- Request a search
- Request for a substantive examination
Send completed forms and payment to:
Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
Read the guidance on how to file documents with the Intellectual Property Office.