PCT Newsletter

March 2026 | No. 03/2026

PCT Information Update

EG Egypt (Office name and email changes; fee changes)

The Egyptian Patent Office has notified the IB of changes in the name of the Office and its email addresses, as follows:

Name of Office:     Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority
Email:                      patinfo@egypo.gov.eg (for PCT matters) 
                                 egypa-info@egypo.gov.eg

The Office has also notified the IB that its national legislation does not restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (EG))
In addition, the Office has notified a new amount of the examination fee component of the national fee for patents payable to it as designated (or elected) Office. This amount, applicable since 18 June 2025, is EGP 50,000. Students are no longer exempt from paying the examination fee.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, National Chapter, Summary (EG))

ID Indonesia (institutions with which deposits of microorganisms and other biological material may be made)

The following depositary institution acquired the status of International Depositary Authority (IDA) under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, with effect since 24 February 2026:

Indonesian Culture Collection (InaCC)
Directorate of Scientific Collection Management
National Research and Innovation Agency
(Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, BRIN)
Kawasan Sains dan Teknologi Dr. (H.C.) Ir. H. Soekarno
Jl. Raya Bogor Km. 46
Cibinong 16911, West Java
Indonesia

The full text of Budapest Notification No. 378 is available at: 

JP Japan (fees)

From 1 May 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts in JPY of the international filing fee, the fee per sheet over 30, the electronic filing reduction (where applicable) listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees, and the handling fee payable to the Japan Patent Office, as indicated in the PCT Fee Tables. 
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (JP) and E (JP))

KR Republic of Korea (Office name change)

The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) (Republic of Korea) has notified the IB that the name of the Office is now as follows:

Name of Office:    Ministry of Intellectual Property of the 
                                Republic of Korea (MOIP)

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (KR))

MN Mongolia (email change)

The Intellectual Property Office of Mongolia has notified the IB of a change to its email address, which is now as follows:
Email:     ipinfo@ipom.gov.mn 
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (MN))

UY Uruguay (Office name change)

The National Directorate of Industrial Property (DNPI) (Uruguay) has notified the IB that the name of the Office is now as follows:

Name of Office:    National Directorate of Industrial Property and 
                                 Software Registry (DNPIRS) (Uruguay)

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B (UY))

Search fee and other fees relating to international search (various Offices)

The amount of the search fee and additional search fee for international searches carried out by the Nordic Patent Institute will change to DKK 14,080 from 1 April 2026.
The amount of the search fee and additional search fee for international searches carried out by the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) will change to SEK 19,950 from 1 April 2026.
From 1 March 2026 to 31 March 2026, there will be a new equivalent amount in Australian dollars (AUD) for the search fee for an international search carried out by the European Patent Office (EPO).
From 1 April 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the currencies specified below for international searches carried out by the following Offices:

Austrian Patent Office ................................................ CHF, KRW, SGD, USD, ZAR

Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)........... CHF, USD

Nordic Patent Institute................................................ CHF, EUR, ISK, NOK, SEK, USD

Spanish Patent and Trademark Office....................... CHF, USD

Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV)................ CHF, DKK, EUR, ISK, NOK, USD

Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI).................................... CHF, HUF, USD

From 1 May 2026, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the currencies specified below for international searches carried out by the following Offices:

Australian Patent Office............................................................................. KRW, USD
Indian Patent Office................................................................................... CHF 
Japan Patent Office (JPO)........................................................................... CHF
Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea (MOIP)....... AUD
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)............................ ZAR

The new amounts are indicated in Fee Table I(b). 

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex D (AT, AU, EP, ES, FI, JP, KR, SE, US, XN and XV))

Supplementary search fee (various Offices)

From 1 April 2026, the amount payable in CHF for a supplementary international search carried out by the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) will change to CHF 1,734.
From the same date, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the currencies specified below for the supplementary search fee for supplementary international searches carried out by the following Offices:

European Patent Office (EPO)........................................... CHF
Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)................. CHF
Nordic Patent Institute...................................................... CHF
Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT).... CHF
Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI)......................................... CHF

The new amounts are indicated in Fee Table I(c). 
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex SISA (EP, FI, TR, XN and XV))

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