The EPO has announced an increase in their official fees, which will be effective from 1 April 2026. Most fees will increase by roughly 5%, including the search, examination, designation and grant fees. Filling fees (including the excess pages and additional fee for multi-generation divisionals), opposition, and appeal fees have not changed.
The main fees being changed, and the new amounts, are as follows:
|
Fee |
Current Amount (€) |
Increased Amount (€) |
Percentage Increase |
|
Search fee |
1520 |
1595 |
4.9 |
|
Examination fee |
1915 |
2,010 |
5.0 |
|
Designation fee |
685 |
720 |
5.1 |
|
3rd year renewal fee |
690 |
725 |
5.1 |
|
4th year renewal fee |
845 |
885 |
4.7 |
|
5th year renewal fee |
1000 |
1,050 |
5.0 |
|
6th year renewal fee |
1155 |
1,215 |
5.2 |
|
7th year renewal fee |
1310 |
1,375 |
5.0 |
|
8th year renewal fee |
1465 |
1,540 |
5.1 |
|
9th year renewal fee |
1620 |
1595 |
4.9 |
|
10th+ year renewal fee |
1775 |
2,010 |
5.1 |
Renewal fees can be paid up to three months in advance, with the exception of the third‑year renewal fee, which can be paid up to six months in advance. Applicants can take advantage of the current fee rates by attending to the payment of any fees in advance of April 2026.
Similarly, cost savings could be made by entering applications into the EPO regional phase early, or by attending to payment of examination and designation fees for any pending divisional applications in advance of April 2026.
Please speak to one of our experienced attorneys if you wish to know more about this cost saving.
The list of the revised fee rates can be found here.