Can foreigners apply for patents in China? What kinds of patents are there?

Foreigners, foreign enterprises and other foreign organizations who have their habitual residence or business offices in China can enjoy national treatment in patent protection, that is, they have the same right to apply for patents as their own nationals, thus obtaining patent protection. According to the provisions of the Patent Law, under any of the following three circumstances, you can apply for a patent in China in accordance with the Patent Law:

(1) The bilateral agreement signed between the foreigner's country and China stipulates that the patent protection shall be granted to the nationals of the other country;

(2) The international treaties concluded between the foreigner's country and China provide patent protection to the nationals of the other country;

(3) Although the foreigner's country and China have not signed bilateral agreements or acceded to international treaties, the other party has stipulated in the patent law or granted patent protection to our nationals in practice according to the principle of reciprocity.

There are three kinds of patents: invention patents, utility model patents and design patents.