File a Patent in China — CNIPA Invention, Utility Model & Design
Invention patents, utility models, and design patents through CNIPA-licensed Chinese patent agencies. Fixed two-step pricing with translation and dual-track filing strategy handled in-house.
- Filed through CNIPA-licensed Chinese patent agency (mandatory for foreign applicants)
- Dual-track strategy: utility model in 6–12 months + invention patent in parallel
- Two-step engagement — validate before drafting
- Now the world's largest patent jurisdiction by filings (~1.6M/year)
Step One — Strategy & Search
Start with a fixed-fee engagement to validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
- CNIPA prior-art and clearance search
- Invention vs utility model dual-track strategy
- Translation cost forecast and local-agent coordination plan
- Step Two ($3,400) only if you proceed to drafting
"China rewards speed. Filing a utility model in parallel with your invention patent gets you enforceable rights in 6 months — we recommend it for nearly every consumer-product client."
GTC Patents Team
Senior patent counsel · China
Why File Your China Patent with Us?
Senior IP professionals, fixed pricing, and operational discipline — built for inventors, startups, and growth-stage companies.
CNIPA-Licensed Chinese Patent Agency
Foreign applicants are required to file through a CNIPA-licensed Chinese patent agency. We coordinate with vetted local counsel end-to-end — no separate engagement needed.
Fixed Two-Step Pricing
Step One ($699) for clearance and dual-track strategy. Step Two ($3,400) for full drafting, professional Chinese translation, and CNIPA filing. No surprises.
Invention + Utility Model Dual Filing
China's utility model grants in 6–12 months without substantive examination. Filing it in parallel with your invention patent gives you fast, enforceable rights while the invention is still being examined.
Patent-Specialized Chinese Translation
We use translators with technical patent backgrounds — not generic legal translators. Mistranslations of claim language are a leading cause of post-grant invalidations in China.
Dedicated Case Management
Every CNIPA deadline (RFE within 3 years, OA responses within 4 months / 2 months, annual renewals) is docketed and surfaced in your client dashboard.
"Patents are 20-year commercial assets, not paperwork. Our job is to draft claims broad enough to be valuable and tight enough to survive — and to give you the budget visibility to plan your portfolio properly."
GTC Patents Team
Senior patent counsel · China
China Patent Pricing — Two-step engagement
Same simple model we use in every country. Validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
Strategy & Search
- CNIPA prior-art and clearance search
- Strategy: invention patent vs utility model dual-track filing
- Translation cost forecast and local-agent coordination plan
- Engagement letter & roadmap (Step Two only if you proceed)
Drafting & Filing
- Full specification & claims drafted to CNIPA standards
- Coordinated filing through CNIPA-licensed Chinese patent agency
- Professional Chinese translation by patent-specialized linguists
- Filing of Request for Examination (within 3-year window)
Chinese translation ($0.10–$0.18/word) and CNIPA official fees are pass-through at cost.
Total Cost of China Patent Filing
All-in budget scenarios from filing to grant. Government fees are passed through at cost from the patent office; our professional fees are fixed.
Invention Patent (standalone)
Most common — full-strength patent for novel inventions
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & CNIPA Filing | $3,400 |
| Chinese Translation (~6,000 words) | ~$700 |
| CNIPA Government Fees | ~$320 |
Utility Model (fast-track)
Mechanical / structural inventions, fast 6–12 month grant
| Step Two — Drafting & CNIPA Filing | $800 – $1,400 |
| Chinese Translation | ~$500 |
| CNIPA Government Fees | ~$80 |
Design Patent (single)
Ornamental design, single product (partial design now allowed)
| Drafting & CNIPA Filing | $900 |
| Chinese Translation (drawings only) | ~$120 |
| CNIPA Government Fees | ~$100 |
Included in our professional fees
- CNIPA prior-art search and Step One strategy memo
- Invention vs utility model dual-track recommendation
- Full English specification, claims, abstract, drawings
- Patent-specialized Chinese translation
- CNIPA filing through licensed Chinese agency
- Annual renewal reminders
Office Action responses, oral hearings, partial-design carve-outs, and post-grant invalidation defense are quoted separately when applicable. CNIPA annual renewals are pass-through at cost from the filing year.
How We Compare on China Patent Filings
Registered representation at fixed pricing — without the boutique-firm hourly bill or the "templated" online-filing tradeoffs.
| Feature |
Best Value
GTC
|
DIY / online filer | Boutique IP firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step One (search & dual-track strategy) | $699 fixed | Not available | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Step Two (drafting & CNIPA filing — invention) | $3,400 fixed | Foreign filing not allowed | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| CNIPA-licensed Chinese agency | |||
| Patent-specialized translation | Generic only | Often outsourced | |
| Utility model dual-filing strategy | Usually extra | ||
| Client dashboard & deadline tracking |
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China Patent Prosecution Lifecycle
From the day we sign Step One to the day your patent grants — typical timeline: 24 – 36 months (invention) / 6 – 12 months (utility model).
Step One — Search & Strategy
CNIPA prior-art search, invention vs utility model recommendation, partial-design strategy (post-2021 reform), and translation cost forecast.
Step Two — Drafting & Translation
Full specification and claims drafted to CNIPA standards, then translated by patent-specialized linguists. Inventor reviews English version before translation.
CNIPA Filing
Filed through CNIPA-licensed Chinese agency with optional parallel utility model. Filing receipt and application numbers issued.
Utility Model Grant (if filed)
Utility models grant in 6–12 months without substantive examination — fast enforceable rights.
Request for Examination
Invention patent RFE must be filed within 3 years from filing date. We file early to start substantive exam as soon as possible.
Examination & Grant (Invention)
Office Actions issue with 4-month response window (1st), 2 months (subsequent). Once allowed, patent is granted and published.
Annual Renewal Fees
Annual renewals are payable from the filing year. We track and remind you well in advance.
Benefits of China patent registration
- 20-year exclusive rights to the world's largest single-jurisdiction patent market
- Specialized IP courts in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou with mature damages jurisprudence
- Utility model option provides enforceable rights in 6–12 months
- Customs IP recordal lets China Customs seize counterfeit exports at the border
- Critical for any consumer brand with manufacturing or supply chain in China
- Defensive — published Chinese applications become prior art worldwide
What you'll need to get started
- 1Invention disclosure — written description in English (we coordinate translation)
- 2Inventorship — full legal names of all inventors
- 3Sketches, drawings, or photographs (redrafted to CNIPA standards)
- 4Power of Attorney to our Chinese agent (we provide template)
- 5Priority document if claiming Paris Convention or PCT priority
We treat all disclosures as confidential. For detailed technical information, we recommend signing an NDA before the second meeting.
Frequently asked questions
Filing in multiple countries?
Consider PCT international instead of China alone.
One PCT application filed via WIPO preserves your priority right in many countries for up to 30/31 months — including China — giving you 18 extra months to evaluate commercial viability before committing to national-phase filings.
Request your China patent consultation
Tell us about your invention. A senior patent professional will respond within one business day. All disclosures are treated as confidential.
Start your patent application
Tell us about your invention through our guided intake. A senior patent professional reviews your China filing goals and responds with a strategy and Step One quote — no payment required upfront.
- Registered patent attorneys & agents — confidential consultation
- Flat $699 Step One — strategy, prior-art search & filing-route recommendation
We respond within one business day. No obligation.