From 1 April 2026, the European Patent Office (EPO) will introduce broad fee increases across procedural patent filing fees. The average increase is approximately 5%. Only a limited number of fees will remain unchanged.
Context
While unwelcome for patent applicants, these increases follow a familiar pattern. The EPO has implemented annual fee rises in 2022, 2023, and 2024. This update marks the first increase since 2024 and reflects the EPO’s return to a biennial fee review cycle.
Key Details
The EPO appears to have protected early-stage filing costs. Fees for filing a European patent application, excess page fees (beyond 35 pages), opposition filings, and appeals will remain unchanged. This mirrors the approach taken in the 2024 fee adjustments and limits cost pressure at the entry point of the system.
A summary of the changed fees is provided below:
|
Fee Type
|
Fee as of 01 April 2024 (€)
|
Fee as of 01 April 2026 (€)
|
|
European or supplementary search fee
|
1520
|
1595
|
|
International search / supplementary international search by EPO
|
1845
|
1885
|
|
Designation
|
685
|
720
|
|
Excess claims (16-50th claim) |
275
|
290
|
|
Excess claims (>51)
|
685
|
720
|
|
Examination of EP app
|
1915
|
2010
|
|
Examination of international application (no supplementary EP search report)
|
2135
|
2240
|
|
Grant
|
1080
|
1135
|
|
3rd year renewal
|
690
|
725
|
|
4th year renewal
|
845
|
885
|
|
5th year renewal
|
1000
|
1050
|
|
6th year renewal
|
1155
|
1215
|
|
7th year renewal
|
1310
|
1375
|
|
8th year renewal
|
1465
|
1540
|
|
9th year renewal
|
1620
|
1700
|
|
10-20th year renewals
|
1775
|
1865
|
A complete list of updated fees can be found on the EPO website.
https://www.epo.org/en/legal/official-journal/2026/01/a2
What This Means for You
Advance planning can reduce exposure to higher costs. Where possible, we recommend completing fee-bearing actions before 1 April 2026. For organisations managing large portfolios of pending European patent applications, early payment of eligible renewal (annuity) fees may deliver meaningful savings.
Our Support
We can assess how these changes will affect your patent portfolio and advise on practical steps to take now. Wynne Jones provides strategic guidance and proactive portfolio management, including through our bespoke renewals service—working quietly in the background to protect value and control risk.
Ashleigh Kirs (European Patent Attorney)
Ian Lambert (Director and UK Chartered and European Patent Attorney)
