Government fees to file a patent in India and request examination total ₹5,600 for individuals, startups, small entities and educational institutions (₹1,600 + ₹4,000), and ₹28,000 for other applicants (₹8,000 + ₹20,000), for up to 30 pages and 10 claims. Professional fees for search, drafting and filing are extra, and renewal fees are due every year from the third year.
Patent costs in India come in three parts: government fees paid to the Indian Patent Office, professional fees paid to the patent agent who searches, drafts and files, and renewal fees that keep the patent alive for up to 20 years. Government fees depend on who the applicant is; professional fees depend mostly on how complex the invention is.
Which fee category are you in?
The Patents Rules have two fee columns. The lower column applies to natural persons, DPIIT-recognised startups, small entities (MSMEs) and educational institutions. Everyone else, such as larger companies and foreign corporations, pays the higher column, which is five times as much. If even one joint applicant falls in the higher category, the higher fee applies. You claim the lower rate by filing Form 28 with proof, such as a DPIIT certificate or Udyam registration.
Read more about eligibility in our guide to patent fee concessions for startups, MSMEs and universities.
Government fees: filing to grant
| Fee | Form | Individual / startup / small entity / educational institution | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patent application (up to 30 pages, 10 claims) | Form 1 | ₹1,600 | ₹8,000 |
| Each page over 30 | Form 1 / 2 | ₹160 | ₹800 |
| Each claim over 10 | Form 1 / 2 | ₹320 | ₹1,600 |
| Complete specification after a provisional | Form 2 | No base fee (extra pages and claims only) | No base fee (extra pages and claims only) |
| Early publication | Form 9 | ₹2,500 | ₹12,500 |
| Request for examination | Form 18 | ₹4,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Expedited examination | Form 18A | ₹8,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Amendment of application before grant | Form 13 | ₹800 | ₹4,000 |
| Foreign filing statement | Form 3 | No fee | No fee |
| Claim to startup / small entity status | Form 28 | No fee | No fee |
Paper filing costs about 10% more, so almost everyone files online. Government fees are paid directly to the Patent Office and don't attract GST.
Worked examples
A startup filing a complete application
A DPIIT-recognised startup files a complete specification of 28 pages with 12 claims and requests examination.
- Form 1: ₹1,600
- 2 extra claims × ₹320: ₹640
- Form 18: ₹4,000
- Total government fees: ₹6,240
A company filing provisional first
A large company files a provisional specification, then a complete specification of 40 pages with 15 claims, and requests examination.
- Form 1 with the provisional: ₹8,000
- 10 extra pages × ₹800: ₹8,000
- 5 extra claims × ₹1,600: ₹8,000
- Form 18: ₹20,000
- Total government fees: ₹44,000
Filing a provisional application doesn't add a second filing fee: the Form 1 fee is paid once, and the complete specification only attracts charges for extra pages and claims. Try your own numbers in the patent fee calculator.
Renewal fees: years 3 to 20
Renewal fees are due every year from the third year after filing, counted from the filing date. If the patent is granted later, the fees for years already passed are paid together after grant. Renewal fees rise as the patent ages, so owners often let patents lapse when they're no longer commercially useful.
| Years | Individual / startup / small entity / educational institution | Others |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd to 6th year | ₹800 a year | ₹4,000 a year |
| 7th to 10th year | ₹2,400 a year | ₹12,000 a year |
| 11th to 15th year | ₹4,800 a year | ₹24,000 a year |
| 16th to 20th year | ₹8,000 a year | ₹40,000 a year |
| Total for all 18 renewals | ₹76,800 | ₹3,84,000 |
Since the 2024 amendment to the Patents Rules, paying renewal fees in advance for at least four years online gets a 10% reduction. If you miss a renewal date, you have six months to pay with an extension fee; after that the patent lapses, and restoration is possible only on limited grounds.
Professional fees
Professional fees vary more than government fees, because drafting a patent for a new chemical process takes far more work than one for a simple mechanical device. Be wary of very low quotes for drafting: the specification can't be improved after filing, and weak claims are expensive later.
| Service | CorpBridge fee (plus GST) |
|---|---|
| Patentability search | ₹7,999 |
| Provisional application | ₹9,999 |
| Complete specification drafting | ₹24,999 |
| Patent filing | ₹14,999 |
| FER reply | ₹14,999 |
| Renewal (per payment) | ₹1,999 |
Typical total to get a patent granted
For an individual or startup that does a search, files a provisional, follows it with a complete specification and answers one examination report, a realistic budget is roughly ₹70,000 to ₹1,00,000 in total, of which government fees are usually under ₹10,000. For larger companies, government fees are higher, at ₹28,000 or more. Hearings, oppositions and very long specifications add to the cost.
Ways to reduce the cost
- Claim startup or small entity status with Form 28 if you qualify. It cuts government fees by 80%.
- Keep the specification focused. Every page over 30 and every claim over 10 costs extra.
- Run a search before drafting, so you don't spend on an invention that's already known.
- Pay renewals four or more years in advance for the 10% reduction.
- File online. Paper filing costs more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the government fee for filing a patent in India?
₹1,600 for individuals, startups, small entities and educational institutions, and ₹8,000 for other applicants, for online filing of up to 30 pages and 10 claims.
What does the request for examination cost?
Form 18 costs ₹4,000 for individuals, startups, small entities and educational institutions, and ₹20,000 for others. Expedited examination (Form 18A) costs ₹8,000 and ₹60,000 respectively.
Do I pay the filing fee twice if I file a provisional first?
No. The Form 1 fee is paid once, with the provisional. When you file the complete specification, you pay only for pages over 30 and claims over 10.
Is GST charged on patent fees?
Government fees paid to the Patent Office don't attract GST. Professional fees charged by patent agents and firms attract 18% GST.
How much does it cost to keep a patent for 20 years?
Renewal fees for years 3 to 20 total ₹76,800 for individuals, startups, small entities and educational institutions, and ₹3,84,000 for others, before any advance-payment reduction.
What happens if I don't pay the renewal fee?
You get a six-month grace period to pay with an extension fee. After that, the patent lapses. An application for restoration can be filed within 18 months of the lapse, but only if the failure was unintentional.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and thresholds change; speak to an expert about your situation.