What do the UKIPO's own fees add up to?

Filed online with search and examination, £405, plus £27 for each claim over 25 and £13 for each page of description over 35. These fees rose on 1 April 2026.

When is the first UK renewal fee due?

On the fourth anniversary of the filing date, then every year. The first fee is £90 and it rises each year, up to £810. You can pay up to 6 months late with an extra fee for each month.

I missed the 12-month priority deadline. Is it too late?

Maybe not. You can still file within 2 more months and ask to restore priority on Patents Form 3, if missing the deadline was unintentional.

Is there an official fee just to get a UK filing date?

Not if you file online. A filing-date-only application needs a description and any drawings. Search and examination can be requested and paid for later.

Do overseas applicants need a UK patent attorney?

No agent is legally required. The applicant must give an address for service in the UK, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or Gibraltar.

Can a UK patent application be sped up?

Yes, in some cases. The IPO offers faster processing for inventions with an environmental benefit, or where there is a good business reason, such as the risk of missing investment.

UK national patent vs. EPO route, which should I pick?

Choose UK national if the UK is your only European target. Choose the EPO route if you need protection in multiple European countries. Economies of scale kick in quickly.

What is the GB1 'first filing' and is it like a US provisional?

'GB1' is informal shorthand, not an official UKIPO term. The IPO calls it an application for a filing date only. It establishes a priority date with no search or examination at first. There is no official fee when you apply online (£120 or £150 by post). It's commonly used as a cheap priority anchor before deciding on broader filings within the 12-month Paris Convention window.

Does the UK participate in the Unified Patent Court?

No. The UK withdrew from the UPC system after Brexit. Validated European patents in the UK are enforced through UK national courts only.

Can I file UK designs separately from EU designs?

Yes, and you usually should. Registered EU designs (called Community designs before May 2025) no longer cover the UK, so a separate UKIPO registered design filing is needed.

Patent filing · UKIPO

Secure a UK patent for your invention.

The UKIPO charges no office fee to get a filing date online. Examination starts only when you ask.

Start My Patent

Questions first? Ask our attorney.

Search and strategy first. Drafting and filing quoted in writing before any work.

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GTC patent attorney reviewing an invention for Intellectual Property Office filing

10+ years

Top IP Consultancy for E-Commerce, IIPLA 2026Upwork · Top Rated Plus

Trusted by founders and brands worldwide

Before you start

How are you filing?

Directly at the UKIPOA UK application, drafted from your invention. It can also set your priority date.Start My Patent
Through the EPOOne European patent can cover the UK and many other countries.See EPO Filing
Through the PCTOne international application first, then the UK at 31 months.See PCT Filing

What it costs

One engagement, two clear stages.

You start with a search and a filing strategy, then a flat drafting-and-filing fee, so you decide with the search in hand, never a surprise. Government fees are passed through at cost.

Step One

Strategy & Search

$500

Patentability search + a written opinion on how to file.

UKIPO patentability search and clearance assessment
Strategy: UK national vs EPO route vs GB1 priority-anchor first filing
Combined search & examination scheduling and compliance-period plan
Engagement letter & roadmap (Step Two only if you proceed)

Step Two

Drafting & Filing

From $2,800

Drafting and filing your United Kingdom application.

Full UK patent specification, claims & abstract
UKIPO-compliant drawings (up to 10 figures)
Filing with UKIPO and combined search & examination request
Coordinated handling by Chartered Patent Attorney (CIPA)

UKIPO official fees (~£405) are pass-through at cost.

Start My Patent

Intellectual Property Office government fees, translations, and any complexity surcharges are quoted separately and passed through at cost.

Know the rules

How patent filing works in the UK.

Office fees online for filing, search and examination: £405
Included. £27 for each claim above 25.: 25 claims
Faster processing: green channel or the PPH: Free
For service: UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Gibraltar: UK address

1

Get a filing date

File the description and any drawings. Online, this step has no office fee.
2

Claims and search

Add claims and request the search. The report usually follows within 6 months.
3

Publication, then examination

Published at about 18 months. Request examination within 6 months after that.
4

Put in order and grant

Meet every objection within the compliance period. The patent is then granted.

Key dates

12 months

Claims, abstract and search request
About 18 months

Application published
6 months after publication

Request substantive examination
31 months

PCT national phase entry
4 years 6 months

Earliest end of compliance period
4th anniversary

First renewal fee due

Your deadlines

Your situation

Filing date of your UK application

An estimate. We confirm your dates before any filing.

Pick a date to see your own deadlines.

What you need

A full description of the invention, with any drawings
Owner and inventor details
Priority application details, if any
An address for service in the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Gibraltar

Common mistake

Showing it too soon

Public disclosure before filing can destroy novelty. Use an NDA first.

Common mistake

Filing abroad first

UK residents with military or security-sensitive inventions must file in the UK first, or get permission.

Official sources (7)

The team on your file

A dedicated team, with you at every step.

We manage your application end to end. A registered patent attorney drafts and files it with the UKIPO, and your account team tracks every deadline.

Your Account Manager

Your day-to-day contact. Knows your file, so every conversation starts where the last one ended.
Your Senior Account Manager

Senior oversight on strategy and anything that escalates, so nothing important slips.

Our team

Attorneys and legal specialists supporting your matter.

Managed end to end by GTC

Meet our team

In their words

All your legal, in one place.

One accountable team for every service, operating since 2016.

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10+

Years since 2016

UK patent questions

What inventors ask before filing in the UK.

It is now more likely. In February 2026 the Supreme Court dropped the old Aerotel test in Emotional Perception. A claim that uses a computer now passes the first hurdle. Only features that help solve a technical problem count towards inventive step.