Guidance and notes: filing patent applications by electronic means
Updated 31 March 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/filing-patent-applications-by-electronic-means--2/guidance-and-notes-filing-patent-applications-by-electronic-means
1. Introductory notes
(a) These notes are not part of the directions. They are intended to provide background and additional information.
(b) The Interpretation Act 1978 applies to these directions. Therefore, all the definitions set out in that Act apply to these directions. Further, amongst other things, generally any words indicating the masculine gender include the feminine and words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.
(c) Section 124A of the Patents Act allows the Comptroller to direct the form and manner in which electronic documents are to be delivered to the Intellectual Property Office. Such directions may be used to open and close channels of electronic communication.
The Intellectual Property Office has operated a filing channel which uses the European Patent Office’s desktop-based online filing software known as eOLF. That software is no longer supported and so the IPO is closing the channel with effect from 1 April 2026. For the avoidance of any doubt, the last day of operation of eOLF is Tuesday 31 March 2026.
(e) Where any document is submitted in a form or manner which does not comply with the directions, the comptroller may treat the document as not having been delivered (see section 124A(3) of the Act).
2. Applications under the the Patents Act 1977
(f) From 1 April 2026, applications for a patent should preferably be made using the Apply for a patent online service provided through GOV.UK
(g) For a transitional period, the pre-existing web-filing service will continue, www.gov.uk/patent-your-invention.
3. Applications under the European Patent Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
(h) Applications for European Patents may be filed directly to the European Patent Office by using their “Online Filing 2.0” service.
(i) Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty may be filed using the ePCT service operated by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The UK may be selected as the receiving office.
4. Payment of fees
(j) The web interface requires the user to give an account name and number if paying by deposit account, or the full card details (name, number, expiry date and the like) if paying by credit or debit card.
(k) Where a fee has not been paid, or has been paid only in part, then the applicant will be notified by the office of this fact.
5. Enquires and service availability
(l) Helpdesk support for online filing is available between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
(m) Advance notice of any planned unavailability of online filing due to maintenance is given on the office website and by email to registered users.
(n) Any queries about these directions should be addressed to:
Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(0)30 0300 2000