Patent Cost by Country

Q: How much does a utility patent cost?

A utility patent in the U.S. typically costs between $5,000 and $15,000, including attorney and filing fees.

Q: Are maintenance fees required after getting a patent?

Yes, maintenance fees are required at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after the patent is granted.

How much does it cost to file a patent internationally? It depends on the country, type of patent, and whether you're using local agents or filing through a global treaty like the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty). Below is a country-by-country guide to help inventors, startups, and patent professionals plan smarter.

United States (USPTO)

**Provisional Patent**: $75–$300 (filing fees only)
**Utility Patent**: $5,000–$15,000 (total, including attorney fees)
**Design Patent**: $1,500–$3,500
**Maintenance Fees**: $400–$7,400 over the life of the patent

European Union (EPO)

**Filing**: €4,000–€7,000+
**Translation Costs**: Can add €1,000–€3,000+
**Validation in Each Country**: Additional €500–€1,500 per country
**Maintenance**: Paid annually in each validated country

China (CNIPA)

**Filing Fee**: ~¥900 (~$130)
**Agent Fees**: ¥8,000–¥20,000 (~$1,000–$3,000)
**Renewals**: Start at ¥900 and increase with time
**Note**: Fast-growing patent market, cost-effective for manufacturing IP

Japan (JPO)

**Filing Fee**: ¥14,000 (~$130)
**Examination Request**: ¥138,000 (~$1,200)
**Attorney Fees**: ¥300,000–¥800,000 (~$2,000–$6,000)
**Annual Maintenance Fees**: Increase significantly each year

South Korea (KIPO)

**Filing Fee**: ₩47,000 (~$35)
**Attorney Fees**: ₩2M–₩6M (~$1,500–$4,500)
**Annual Fees**: Start low and scale annually

Canada (CIPO)

**Filing Fee**: CAD 400
**Agent Fees**: CAD 4,000–CAD 8,000
**Maintenance Fees**: CAD 100–CAD 450 depending on the year

Australia (IP Australia)

**Filing Fee**: AUD 370–AUD 480
**Professional Fees**: AUD 4,000–AUD 10,000
**Renewal Fees**: Begin at AUD 300 per year

India (IP India)

**Filing Fee**: ₹1,600–₹8,000
**Examination Fee**: ₹4,000–₹20,000
**Attorney Fees**: ₹40,000–₹100,000 (~$500–$1,200)
**Renewal Fees**: Start at ₹2,000 per year

International (PCT Filing)

**Base Filing Fee**: ~$1,500–$4,000
**Agent Fees**: $5,000–$10,000+
**National Phase Entry**: Varies by country (see above)
Ideal for securing early filing in **150+ countries** at once

Key Factors Affecting Cost

Attorney or agent fees (especially for translations or prosecution)
Technology complexity (e.g. biotech vs. software)
Claim count and drawing complexity
Number of countries you wish to protect your invention in

CPC Notes

Patent costs can often relate to the complexity of the technology. For example:

– Digital computing systems and methods
– Pharmaceuticals
– App-based security and authentication