The following table shows the main official fees as of November 2026. Attorney fees, translation costs and foreign associates’ fees are not included. We quote these in advance for each matter.
German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Patent application, electronic, up to 10 claims | EUR 40 |
| Search request | EUR 300 |
| Request for examination (without / after search) | EUR 350 / EUR 150 |
| Renewal fee, 3rd / 10th / 20th year | EUR 70 / EUR 430 / EUR 2,030 |
| Opposition | EUR 200 |
| Utility model application, electronic | EUR 30 |
| Utility model cancellation request | EUR 300 |
European Patent Office (from 1 April 2026)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing fee (online) | EUR 135 |
| Search fee | EUR 1,595 |
| Examination fee | EUR 2,010 |
| Designation fee | EUR 720 |
| Fee for grant | EUR 1,135 |
| Renewal fee, 3rd year | EUR 725 |
| Opposition fee | EUR 880 |
| Appeal fee (standard / reduced) | EUR 2,925 / EUR 2,015 |
Micro-entities, natural persons, universities and non-profit organisations receive a 30 % reduction on key EPO fees, provided they filed fewer than five European applications in the previous five years.
PCT
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| International filing fee | CHF 1,330 (EUR 1,428 at the EPO as receiving office) |
| Search fee, EPO as International Searching Authority | EUR 1,885 |
All figures as of November 2026, without guarantee. The fee schedules of the DPMA, the EPO and WIPO on the date of payment are decisive.
Renewal fees in Germany and at the EPO
Renewal fees are the largest item of official fees over the life of a patent. Both the DPMA and the EPO charge them from the third year, calculated from the filing date.
German patents (DPMA), selected years:
- 4th year: EUR 70
- 5th year: EUR 100
- 6th year: EUR 150
- 8th year: EUR 280
- 12th year: EUR 680
- 15th year: EUR 1,130
- 18th year: EUR 1,670
If the 3rd to 5th year fees are paid together when the 3rd year fee falls due, the DPMA charges EUR 210. If the patentee declares a willingness to grant licences to anyone against reasonable remuneration (licence of right, § 23 PatG), the renewal fees falling due afterwards are halved. German utility models are maintained in blocks: EUR 210 for years 4 to 6, EUR 350 for years 7 and 8 and EUR 530 for years 9 and 10.
European patent applications (EPO): EUR 885 for the 4th year, EUR 1,050 for the 5th year and EUR 1,865 for the 10th and each subsequent year. Once the European patent is granted, renewal fees are paid to the national offices of the validation states, or to the EPO for a Unitary Patent.
Due dates and late payment of official fees
German renewal fees fall due on the last day of the month in which the anniversary of the filing date falls (§ 3(2) PatKostG). They can be paid without surcharge until the end of the second month after the due date, and with a surcharge of EUR 50 until the end of the sixth month (§ 7(1) PatKostG). If the fee is still unpaid, the patent lapses.
EPO renewal fees fall due on the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the filing date and cannot be paid more than three months in advance (Rule 51(1) EPC). Within six months of the due date they can still be paid with an additional fee of 50 % (Rule 51(2) EPC). For many other missed time limits in EPO proceedings, further processing is available on payment of a fee.
Further EPO and PCT fees to budget for
Several fees depend on the size of the application and are often overlooked in cost estimates:
- Claims fee at the EPO: EUR 290 for the 16th to 50th claim and EUR 720 for each claim from the 51st.
- Page fee at the EPO: EUR 17 for each page from the 36th.
- Examination fee for a Euro-PCT application without a supplementary European search report: EUR 2,240.
- PCT handling fee at the EPO: EUR 215; preliminary examination fee, EPO as International Preliminary Examining Authority: EUR 2,010.
- German patent application with more than 10 claims: EUR 20 for each further claim (electronic filing).
The micro-entity reduction at the EPO applies to micro-enterprises, natural persons, universities, public research organisations and non-profit organisations. If these applicants are based in an EPC state with an official language other than English, French or German, they can also obtain a reduction of the filing and examination fees by filing in that language.
Which route causes which fees is explained on our page on patent filing in Germany and Europe. For the fees in oppositions and appeals, see oppositions, appeals and nullity actions.
Frequently asked questions
How much are the official fees for a German patent application?
Electronic filing at the DPMA costs EUR 40 for up to 10 claims. The search request costs EUR 300 and the request for examination EUR 150 after a search, or EUR 350 without one. Renewal fees start at EUR 70 for the third year. Attorney fees and translation costs come on top.
What are the EPO official fees for a European patent in 2026?
Since 1 April 2026, an online filing costs EUR 135, the search fee EUR 1,595, the examination fee EUR 2,010, the designation fee EUR 720 and the fee for grant EUR 1,135. Claims fees apply from the 16th claim and page fees from the 36th page. Renewal fees for the application are payable from the third year.
What happens if I miss a renewal fee payment at the DPMA?
The fee can still be paid with a surcharge of EUR 50 until the end of the sixth month after the due date. After that, the patent lapses. Re-establishment is possible only if the deadline was missed despite all due care.
Are the official fees the same as the total costs of a patent?
No. Official fees are only part of the cost. Attorney fees for drafting and prosecution, translations and the fees of foreign associates are usually higher than the official fees, particularly for international filings.
Request a cost estimate
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