How long does it take to apply for a patent?

Legal analysis: in the process of examination and approval, the invention patent needs to go through five stages: acceptance, preliminary examination, publication, timing and authorization. Generally speaking, it takes about 18 months from acceptance to publication, and it takes about one and a half to two years after the authorization of 10 provincial highway. Applicants who want to speed up the examination and approval cycle can apply for early disclosure, which can speed up the patent authorization cycle. For utility model patents and design patents, it is usually within six months.

Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law.

Article 34. After receiving an application for a patent for invention, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall publish it within 18 months after the expiration of the application date, if it is found to be in conformity with the provisions of this Law after preliminary examination. 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 3 years from the date of filing, the administrative department for patent in the State Council may, upon the request of the applicant at any time, make a substantive examination of the application; If the applicant fails to request substantive examination within the time limit without justifiable reasons, it shall be deemed to have withdrawn the patent in the State Council. When the administrative department deems it necessary, it may examine the application for a patent for invention on its own.