What is the time limit for applying for a patent for invention?

Legal analysis: Except for some invention patents that need to be kept secret, general invention patents need to go through the stages of acceptance, preliminary examination, publication, actual examination and authorization announcement. In general, it will be announced 18 months after admission, and then the actual examination stage. It usually takes about 3 years to get authorization, but it does not rule out a longer time.

Legal basis: Article 39 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). If the application for a patent for invention is not found to be 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.