Online patent filing services

If you have not applied for a patent before, or are unfamiliar with the process, please refer to the relevant guides for details of the requirements, forms, fees and time limits before using any of the following online services.

Intellectual Property Office web filing system

Our web filing service offers a step-by-step process that takes you through the filing of a number of patent forms and documents. With this service you can:

  • Apply for a UK patent
  • Request entry of an International application (UK) into the national phase
  • File certain patent forms and/or documents for a pending UK patent application
  • Request an electronic uncertified office copy from a published UK patent or patent application

EPO online services

EPO online services is the European Patent Office's (EPO) package of software for secure online services. With this software you can electronically file:

  • UK national patent applications and associated forms
  • European patent applications
  • International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications
  • UK national patent forms and other documents

PCT-Safe

PCT-Safe is the World Intellectual Property Office's (WIPO) secure online service for filing:

  • International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications

WIPO Priority Document Access Service (PDAS)

World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Priority Document Access Service enables GB applicants to:

  • Electronically file a GB application and request that an electronic copy be held in a secure database.
  • Substantiate a claim to priority from an earlier application by utilising a copy of the priority document held in or accessible via a secure database at WIPO.

Fee reductions for electronic filing

Fee reductions apply to UK patent applications, search or examination requests which are filed using our online patent filing services.

  • A £10 reduction applies to the application fee when the patent application and Form 1 are filed electronically and the fee is paid at the same time.
  • A £20 reduction applies to each of the search and examination fees, when the requests are filed electronically (using the Form 9A and Form 10 respectively).