How long does it take to apply for a patent?

Legal analysis: Invention patents need to go through five stages: acceptance, preliminary examination, publication, actual examination and authorization. It takes about 18 months from acceptance to publication, and about 1.5 to 2 years from actual review to authorization. For utility model patents and design patents, the examination and approval only need to go through three stages: acceptance, preliminary examination and authorization, generally within 6 months.

Legal basis: Article 34 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). After receiving an application for a patent for invention, the administrative department for patent in the State Council, after preliminary examination, finds that it conforms to the provisions of this Law, and shall publish it within 18 months from the date of application. The patent administration department of the State Council may publish its application at an early date upon the request of the applicant.