PCT international patent applications: content and drafting, filing via UK IPO/EPO, international search, preliminary examination, national/regional phase and fees

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Practice notes

Instead of, or alongside, submitting a national patent application to a national patent office (eg a GB application at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO)), or a regional application to a regional patent office (eg a European application at the European Patent Office (EPO)), an applicant may file an international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This Practice Note outlines the principal provisions of the PCT and summarises the steps for filing an international patent application. For guidance on applying for a GB patent at the UK IPO, see Practice Note: Patent applications—how to obtain patent protection in the UK. For a directory of regional patent offices, see here, and for further details on European patent applications at the EPO, see Practice Note: European patent—application procedure.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

Established in 1970, the PCT helps applicants pursue international patent protection for their inventions. The PCT has been ratified by over 150 countries, including the UK. For a list of the countries that have ratified the PCT (the PCT contracting states), see here. It is worth noting that there is no such...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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