How long will the patent automatically expire without paying the patent protection fee?

If the patentee fails to pay the annual fee according to law (excluding the annual fee of the year when the patent right was granted) or the amount paid is insufficient, it may pay it within six months from the date of expiration of the annual fee. If the annual patent fee is not paid or the annual patent fee and late payment fee are not paid in full, the patent administration authority will issue a notice of patent termination within two months (not earlier than one month) from the date of expiration of the annual patent fee. If the patentee fails to start the recovery procedure or the recovery procedure is not approved, the patent administration authority will register and announce it in the patent register and patent bulletin respectively within four months after the termination notice is issued. Where the patent right is terminated due to failure to pay the annual fee, the termination date shall be the expiration date of the previous year.