The European Patent Office’s (EPO) biennial fee increase is approaching. The EPO has officially announced adjustments to multiple official fees effective April 1, 2026. Most core fees will rise by approximately 5%, while certain fees remain unchanged.
For applicants preparing to file European applications or planning their annual fee strategies, these adjustments will directly impact costs during the application phase, budgets for the examination phase, and long-term maintenance expenses.
1. Key Features of This Price Adjustment
Most key procedural fees increase by approximately 5%;
Certain fees (e.g., online filing fees, opposition fees, appeal fees) remain unchanged;
All renewal fees (starting from the third year) have been systematically increased;
Fees paid before April 1, 2026, remain subject to the old rates. Under EPO regulations, annual fees may be paid up to three months in advance. This means any annual fee due by the end of June 2026 can be paid at the current rates before the end of March.
2. Key Official Fee Adjustment Comparison (Before vs. After April 1, 2026)
1) Fees for Application and Examination Stages
| Item | Before Adjustment (€) | After Adjustment (€) | Change |
| Online Application Fee | 135 | 135 | Unchanged |
| Europe/Supplementary Search Fee | 1,520 | 1,595 | ↑Approx. 5% |
| Designation Fee | 685 | 720 | ↑Approx. 5% |
| Substantive Examination Fee | 1,915 | 2,010 | ↑Approx. 5% |
| Grant and Publication Fee | 1,080 | 1,135 | ↑Approx. 5% |
(Source: EPO published fee schedule)
2) Claim surcharge
| Item | Before Adjustment (€) | After Adjustment (€) | Change |
| Claims beyond the scope fee (Claims 16–50) | 275 /claim | 290 /claim | ↑Approx. 5% |
3) Opposition and Appeal Fees (Remain Unchanged)
Fees for oppositions and appeals remain unchanged.
4) Annual Fees (Increase effective from the 3rd year)
| Annual | Before adjustment (€) | Adjusted (€) |
| Year 3 | 690 | 725 |
| Year 4 | 845 | 885 |
| Year 5 | 1,000 | 1,050 |
| Year 6 | 1,155 | 1,215 |
| Year 7 | 1,310 | 1,375 |
| Year 8 | 1,465 | 1,540 |
| Year 9 | 1,620 | 1,700 |
| Year 10-20 (annual) | 1,775 | 1,865 |
3. Practical Impact on Applicants
The total cost of European applications will increase, with rises in search fees, examination fees, and authorization fees. This means that the official costs for a single standard European application will increase by approximately €200–300 (excluding agent fees).
4. Clear “Early Payment Strategy Window” Emerges
The EPO has clarified that paying due fees before April 1, 2026, will avoid the increases.
Therefore, in Q1 2026, it is recommended to prioritize evaluating:
- Whether to prepay examination fees
- Whether to prepay annual fees
- Whether to enter the European phase early
For applications where a decision has been made to enter the European phase, it is advisable to complete the entry procedures before April 1. This can save between two hundred and three hundred euros in official fees.