Brown & Michaels List of PCT Countries

The following countries have signed the Patent Cooperation Treaty:   For the latest changes, see our "PCT News" page. We also have a list of countries which are not in the PCT

The two letters before the country name are the WIPO "country code" used on PCT documents.
An explanation of the codes which follow some country names on this chart is given below.

 For specific information on each of these countries, see WIPO's PCT Applicant's Guide page.

We also have a web page giving details on countries not in the PCT

Codes for exceptions to the standard 30 month deadline - C2 / Nxx

C2 = This country has not yet changed its national law to conform to the post-April 2002 PCT 30-month national entry procedure. A Chapter II demand must still be filed before 19 months to get the benefit of the 30-month national entry timing in these countries. Note that all of these countries are available through regional patent systems which have accepted the uniform 30- or 31-month period. 

Nxx[/yy$] = This country has a national-phase entry deadline longer than the normal 30 months, where "xx" is the number of months for entry into national phase. If there is a second number followed by a "$" (N30/31$), the national phase date may be extended to "yy" months on payment of a late filing fee. 

Countries which are part of a "Regional Patent" system are shown by various symbols (see list, below). If a country is part of a regional system, you can enter the national phase in that country through the regional patent system instead of filing a national application in the individual member country. This allows you to file and prosecute one single application, which, when issued, could be effective in all of the member countries - note that you may need to designate which countries you want, file translations and pay additional fees per country, once you enter the regional phase and/or after the regional patent issues. 

<... only> = If the regional patent code is followed by "only", this means that you cannot enter National Stage to get a national patent through PCT - you must use regional patent to get patent coverage in this country.

European Patent Convention

<EPO> = Covered by European Patent Convention (EPC).

An EPC application may be filed in the European Patent Office (EPO) in English, French or German, and any or all of the 34 EPO member countries may be designated upon filing the regional application.  There is a 31 month deadline to apply for regional patent through the EPC - this is not separately noted in the chart, above.

Prosecution in the EPO will be in whichever language the application is filed. Once the EPC application is allowed, the claims (only) must be translated into the other two languages before the patent will be issued. 

After the EPC patent issues, it must be registered in any of the designated countries in which you want protection - this may require translation of the entire patent into other languages, depending on which countries are selected and what language the application was in. If the country has signed the London Agreement, some or all of the translation burden is eased - see below. 

Annual fees ("annuities") are charged by the EPO during the pendency of the application. After the patent issues, annuities are charged by most, if not all, EPO member countries from registration through the life of the patent.  

London Agreement to the EPC:

<EPO-L1> = This country has signed the London Agreement. The national patent office does not require translation for any EPO patent issued after May 1, 2008. Note that the EPO requirement for translation of the claims into English, German and French on allowance still applies.

<EPO-L2>= This country has signed the London Agreement in a partial form. For all EPO patents issued after May 1, 2008, an English version of the description and drawings is acceptable, but claims must be translated into the local language. If the original description and drawings were not in English, then they would need to be translated into either English or the local language. 

<EPO+> = Not a member of the EPC, but extension of European Patent is possible. 

Other Regional Patent Systems

<OAPI> = Covered by OAPI regional Patent (French-speaking African countries)

<ARIPO> = Covered by ARIPO Patent (English-speaking African countries)

<EU> = Covered by Eurasian Patent (former USSR states) 31 month deadline to enter regional phase.

Notes

YU - From the end of World War II through 1991, Serbia and Montenegro were part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (two-letter country code "YU"). After the post-Communist breakup of that country in 1991, the two states jointly maintained use of the name "Yugoslavia" (YU). Then, in 2003, the name was changed to "the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro", but the "YU" code was kept in effect. The two states separated in June 2006, and the designation "YU" was replaced by "RS" for Serbia and "ME" for Montenegro. 

As of September 19, 2006, the "Republic of Serbia" filed a declaration with WIPO stating that "the Republic of Serbia continues the state and legal identity of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro" and confirming its membership in the PCT (among other treaties). 

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