Flowchart – Patent in Japan

Patent Filing & Prosecution before the Japan Patent Office

Flowchart & Estimated costs PCT National phase entry into japan.

stage 01 | filing

How to file patent application in Japan
deadline: 30 months from priority date

1. Please let us know your PCT publication number (ex. WO 2021/012345);
2. [Within 12 hours] We check the deadline and submit a quotation;
3. Upon receipt of your instructions, we submit a petition for entry and a Japanese translation.

Estimated Costs

Filing Fee: JPY 60,000
Official Fee: JPY 14,000
Translation Fee: JPY 25 (per English word)
request estimation

stage 02 | request for examination

How to initiate examination
deadline: 3 years from international filing date

1. [2 months before the deadline] We send a reminder with estimated costs;
2. Please provide us with your instructions and, if applicable, proposed claim amendments;
3. We file a request for examination, and if applicable, an amendment and a written statement.

Estimated Costs

Official Fee*: JPY 124,000 + JPY 3,600 x N (number of claims)
Attorney's Fee:
(i) Basic Fee: JPY 30,000
(ii) Service Fee for filing amendment and written statement (if applicable): JPY 45,000
*university, small enterprise, venture company etc. may file a request for 1/2 or 2/3 deduction

stage 03 | office action

How to respond to examiner's rejection
deadline: 3 months (extendable)

1. [10-12 months from examination request] We receive office action from the JPO;
2. [Within 1 month] We provide you with an English translation of office action and our analysis;
3. Upon receipt of your authorization, we file an amendment and an argument.

Estimated Costs

Official Fee: N/A
Attorney's Fee:
(i) reporting on office action along with English translation thereof: around JPY 70,000;
(ii) filing amendment and argument: around JPY 90,000

stage 04 | Appeal

How to respond to decision of rejection
deadline: 4 months (non-extendable)

1. If rejections raised in the office action are not overcome, we receive a decision of rejection;
2. [Within 1 month] We provide you with an English translation of the decision and our analysis;
3. Upon receipt of your authorization, we file an appeal together with an amendment.

Estimated Costs

Official Fee: JPY 49,500 + JPY 5,500 x N (number of claims)
Attorney's Fee:
(i) reporting on decision of rejection along with English translation thereof: around JPY 70,000
(ii) filing notice of appeal together with amendment: around JPY 60,000
(iii) filing appeal brief: around JPY 90,000

stage 05 | Registration

How to pay annuities
deadline: 30 days (extendable)

1. If the examiner considers that the application is in condition for allowance, we receive a decision to grant.
2. [Within 30 days] We have to pay the first three annuities ;
3. We send an original copy of your certificate of patent.

Estimated Costs

Official Fee: JPY 6,300 + JPY 600 x N (number of claims)
Attorney's Fee: JPY 30,000

I Am Hiroshi Higuchi.
Japanese patent attorney
managing partner of Allegro ip

With 20 years of Japanese patent expertise, I helped build and grow over 150 companies. In the constantly changing field of intellectual property, it is my mission to support overseas clients in obtaining strong and valuable patent protection in Japan that will drive their business growth.

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Quick Quote

We are pleased to receive your request for quotation.

If you consider filing a PCT national phase entry into Japan, please let us know the specific number (ex. WO2020/123456). 

We will let you know the filing deadline and submit a case-specific quotation within 10 hours.