Is it necessary to have an agent to apply for a patent?

Not necessarily. Article 19 of China's Patent Law stipulates: "Foreigners, foreign enterprises or other foreign organizations that have no habitual residence or business office in China shall entrust a legally established patent agency to apply for patents and handle other patent affairs in China. If a unit or individual in China applies for a patent and handles other patent affairs in China, it may entrust a legally established patent agency to handle it. " Units or individuals in Chinese mainland may apply for patents and handle other patent affairs in China by entrusting a patent agency or by the applicant himself. Foreigners, foreign enterprises or other foreign organizations that have no habitual residence or business office in Chinese mainland apply for patents and handle other patent affairs in Chinese mainland, or apply for patents and handle other patent affairs with the applicant from Chinese mainland as the first applicant, they shall entrust a patent agency to handle them; Applicants from Hongkong, Macau and Taiwan Province who have no habitual residence or business office in Chinese mainland apply to the Patent Office for patents and handle other patent affairs, or apply for patents and handle other patent affairs with Chinese mainland as the first applicant, they shall entrust a patent agency to handle them.