Examination of GB Patent Applications
When can you expect your first examination report?
If your application has been published and you have requested examination the calculator below gives an indication of when you might expect to receive your first examination report. If you are not the applicant or are unsure of the status of an application them please use the Patent Status Enquiry.
Information is only available for:
- Published Applications: Information is only available for published applications. Please contact the IPO for information if your application has not yet been published.
- Requested Examinations: Information is only available for applications where examination has been requested (a Form 10 has been filed).
- First Examination reports: If you have filed a reply to an examination report you should receive a response from us within two months. If you need further information please contact the Examiner named on the report.
- Application Numbers: This calculator is based on the Application Number in the format shown in the blue box below. Entering the publication number will produce an "Invalid application number format" response.
If you need your examination sooner then you can ask for it to be accelerated
(see Patents fast grant guidance 
(94Kb) for further details)
If you decide you do not wish to proceed with your application then you can ask for it to be withdrawn. You are then likely to get a refund of the examination fee (see Withdrawing patent applications for further details). The recommended way to withdraw a patent application is to email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk
This information was last updated on 9 January 2012
Availability
Our Examination Report search service is usually available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you notice a problem with this service, please contact us using the form below. Maintenance staff are available 08:30 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. Problems outside these times may not be rectified until maintenance staff are next available.