The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that its official fees will change from 1 April 2020.

The fee changes for many frequently paid official fees are summarised in the table below.

Fee Type	Current fee (€)	New fee (€)	Increase (€)	Increase (%)
Filing fee – EP direct/EP-PCT entry – not filed online	250	260	10	4.00
Filing fee – EP direct/EP-PCT entry – filed online	120	125	5	4.17
Additional printing fee for 36th and each subsequent page	15	16	1	6.67
Designation fee – for all contracting states designated for applications filed on/after 1 April 2009	585	610	25	4.27
Renewal fee for the 3rd year	470	490	20	4.26
Examination fee – for applications filed before 1 July 2005 and for international applications filed on/after 1 July 2005 without supplementary search report	1,825	1,900	75	4.11
Examination fee – for applications filed on/after 1 July 2005	1,635	1,700	65	3.98
Fee for grant and printing (not more than 35 pages) or fee for grant including fee for publication	925	960	35	3.78
Opposition fee	785	815	30	3.82
Fee for appeal – for an appeal filed by an entity other than those referred to in Rule 6(4) and (5) EPC (normal rate)	2,255	2,705	450	19.96
Fee for appeal – for an appeal filed by a natural person or an entity referred to in Rule 6(4) and (5) EPC (reduced rate)	1,880	1,955	75	3.99
Fee for further processing (late performance of acts)	255	265	10	3.92
Fee for further processing (non-fee related cases)	255	265	10	3.92
Claims fee – for the 16th and each subsequent claim up to the 50th	235	245	10	4.26
Registration of transfer	100	105	5	5.00
Certified copy (application, priority document, patent certificate, other documents)	50	105	55	110.00
Communication of information from the files	40	105	65	162.50
Additional copy of documents cited in search report	40	105	65	162.50

Around half of the official fees will increase, at an average of about 4%. One notable exception is the appeal fee, which will increase by about 20%. However, the EPO will continue offering a reduced appeal fee to (i) small and medium-sized enterprises; (ii) natural persons; and (iii) non-profit organisations, universities and public research organisations. The appeal fee at the reduced rate will increase by about 4%.

All of the renewal fees will increase by about 4%. Third-year renewal fees may be paid up to six months in advance, and all subsequent renewal fees may be paid up to three months in advance. Accordingly, any renewal fees falling due in April, May or June 2020 can be paid ‘early’, before 1 April 2020, at the current lower rate.

By contrast, fees required by the EPO in relation to international (PCT) applications remain largely unchanged.

If you have any questions on the fee changes and how they may affect you, please contact a member of our team.