How to submit an application before applying for a British invention patent?

British patent applications can be filed online or by mail, but the online application fee is lower.

The patent application documents to be submitted include the application, specification, claims, necessary drawings and abstract (Article 14). Where the applicant is not the inventor or the sole inventor, a declaration of invention identity and a declaration of patent application right shall be submitted at the same time (Article 7). Eligible patent applications will receive a receipt from the British Intellectual Property Office and the designated application number. Applicants who wish to obtain a patent quickly can submit a patent application and a request for retrieval and substantive examination at the same time.