How long does it take to apply for a patent?

The processing time of patent application is: three years. According to the relevant laws and regulations, after receiving the application for a patent for invention, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall examine it according to law. If it meets the requirements, it shall publish the patent registration within 18 months from the date of application. If an application for a patent for invention passes the substantive examination within three years from the date of filing, a patent certificate shall be issued.

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substantive examination within the time limit without justifiable reasons, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.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.