How long does it take to apply for a patent?

It takes 18 months or 3 years to apply for a patent. According to the relevant laws and regulations, the process of invention application is: if an application is filed, after 18 months of preliminary examination and 3 years of substantive examination, and a patent certificate is obtained, the substantive examination part is removed on the basis of the above procedures.

legal ground

Article 26 of the patent law

To apply for a patent for invention or utility model, a written request, a specification, an abstract thereof, a patent claim and other documents shall be submitted.

Article 34

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 immediately after 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.

Article 35

Within three years from the date of filing, the patent administration department of the State Council may conduct substantive examination according to the request made by the applicant at any time; If the applicant fails to request substantive examination within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Article 39

If the application for a patent for invention is rejected after substantive examination, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall make a decision to grant the patent right for invention, issue a patent certificate for invention, and register and announce it at the same time. The invention patent right shall take effect as of the date of announcement.