How long does it take for domestic patent applications to be accepted?

Under normal circumstances, as long as the acceptance conditions are met, the Patent Office will accept the patent application. If it passes the preliminary examination from the date of receiving the application for a patent for invention, it will be published within 18 months, and the application will be substantially examined according to the applicant's request within three years from the date of receiving the application for a patent for invention.

legal ground

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 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substantive examination within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. The patent administrative department of the State Council may, when it deems it necessary, examine the application for a patent for invention on its own.

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.