Guidance

Patent Cooperation Treaty for private applicants

Basic introduction for private applicants on filing international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 1 January 2014
• Last updated: 1 April 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 1 April 2026

     The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) fee structure changed on 1 April 2026 and HTML updated accordingly.

  2. 1 January 2026

     The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) fee structure changed on 1 January 2026.

  3. 20 March 2025

     Payment details for EPO updated in the Patent Cooperation Treaty for private applicants document.

  4. 1 January 2025

     Patent Cooperation Treaty for Private Applicants PDF updated.

  5. 1 April 2024

     PCT Private Applicants Booklet with new fees updated.

  6. 1 January 2024

     PCT Private Applicants Booklet with new fees updated.

  7. 1 January 2023

     Private applicant booklet with revised fees updated.

  8. 1 September 2022

     Private applicant booklet updated and in effect from today 1 September 2022 added.

  9. 1 January 2022

     Private applicant booklet with revised fees updated.

  10. 1 June 2021

      Private applicant booklet updated and in effect from today 1 June 2021.

  11. 1 May 2021

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 May 2021.

  12. 1 January 2021

      Private applicant booklet updated and in effect from today 1 January 2021.

  13. 1 July 2020

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 July 2020.

  14. 1 May 2020

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 May 2020.

  15. 1 January 2020

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 January 2020.

  16. 1 November 2019

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 November 2019.

  17. 1 January 2019

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 January 2019.

  18. 6 April 2018

      Patent Cooperation Treaty for private applicants updated.

  19. 1 April 2018

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 April 2018.

  20. 1 January 2018

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 January 2018.

  21. 1 January 2017

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 January 2017.

  22. 1 November 2016

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 November 2016.

  23. 1 July 2016

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 July 2016.

  24. 1 January 2016

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 January 2016.

  25. 1 November 2015

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 November 2015.

  26. 1 June 2015

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 June 2015.

  27. 1 April 2015

      PCT Fee changes take effect 1 April 2015.

  28. 1 October 2014

      Updated document published to show new PCT fees for 1 October 2014.

  29. 1 January 2014

      First published.

Documents

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for Private Applicants

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Details

The PCT system allows applicants seeking patent protection, in a number of countries, to file a single international application in English with the Intellectual Property Office.