1. The EPO will adjust its fee schedule with effect from April 1, 2026.
2.1 Notably, the following fees increase:
- European Search fee (1520€ to 1595€);
- the Designation fee (685€ to 720€);
- Renewal fees;
- Examination fee (1915€ to 2010€);
- Grant fee (1080€ to 1135€);
- Fee for petition for review (3400€ to 3570€);
- Fee for further processing (300€ to 315€);
- Fee for re-establishment of rights (750€ to 790€);
- Claims fee (275€ and 685€ to 290€ and 720€ respectively).
The increase of these fees is about 5%.
2.2 However, not all fees are concerned by the increase. In particular, the filing fee, the supplementary fee for divisional applications, the Opposition fee and the Appeal fee remain unchanged.
3. The fee increase is generally applicable to fee payments made on or after April 1, 2026.
If within six months of 1 April 2026 a fee is paid in due time but only in the amount due before 1 April 2026, that fee will be deemed to have been validly paid if the deficit is made good within two months of an invitation to that effect from the European Patent Office.
4. Generally speaking, the fees for the grant proceedings are increased, while the fees for post-grant proceedings remain predominantly stable.
It might thus be worthwhile to anticipate in particular payment of fees relating to the grant proceedings to before April 1, 2026.
5. More information is available at: https://www.epo.org/en/legal/official-journal/decision-administrative-council-11-december-2025.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal advice.