The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently announced that from 1 April 2023 the official fees payable to the EPO are set to increase for the second time in as many years.

Full details of the fee increases can be found here and here and as shown in the table below the official fees are set to increase by 4-6%.

EPA fee	Fee (€) before 1 April 2023	Fee (€) from 1 April 2023	EURO increase	% increase
1. Filing fee where documents are filed online, but any one of them is filed in a format other than character-coded format	130	135	5	4
1a. Additional page fee for each page over 35 pages	16	17	No change
1b. Additional fee in the case of a divisional application
– fee for a divisional application of second generation	225	235	10	4
– fee for a divisional application of third generation	455	480	25	5
– fee for a divisional application of fourth generation	680	715	35	5
– fee for a divisional application of fifth or any subsequent generation	910	955	45	5
2. Search fee in respect of
a European or supplementary European search on an application filed on or after 1 July 2005	1390	1460	70	5
a European or supplementary European search on an application filed before 1 July 2005	950	1000	50	5
an international search	1775	1775	No change
a supplementary international search	1775	1775	No change
3. Designation fee for one or more Contracting States	630	660	30	5
4. Renewal fees for the European patent application
– for the 3rd year	505	530	25	5
– for the 4th year	630	660	30	5
– for the 5th year	880	925	45	5
– for the 6th year	1125	1180	55	5
– for the 7th year	1245	1305	60	5
– for the 8th year	1370	1440	70	5
– for the 9th year	1495	1570	75	5
– for the 10th and each subsequent year	1690	1775	85	5
5. Additional fee for belated payment of a renewal fee for the European patent application (Rule 51, paragraph 2)	50% surcharge
6. Examination fee in respect of:
an application filed before 1 July 2005	1955	2055	100	5
an application filed on or after 1 July 2005	1750	1840	90	5
an international application filed on or after 1 July 2005 for which no supplementary European search report is drawn up	1955	2055	100	5
7. Fee for grant, including fee for publication of the European patent specification	990	1040	50	5
8. Fee for publishing a new specification of the European patent	80	85	5	6
9. Surcharge for late performance of the acts required to maintain the European patent in amended form	130	135	5	4
10. Opposition fee	840	880	40	5
10a. Limitation or revocation fee
– request for limitation	1245	1305	60	5
– request for revocation	560	590	30	5
11. Fee for appeal
– by a natural person or an entity specified by the EPO	2015	2015	0
– by any other entity	2785	2925	140	5
12. Fee for further processing
in the event of late payment of a fee	50% of the relevant fee
in the event of late performance of the acts required	275	290	15	5
other cases	275	290	15	5
13. Fee for re-establishment of rights/fee for requesting restoration/fee for reinstatement of rights	685	720	35	5
14. Registration of transfer	110	115	5	5
15. Fee for late furnishing of a sequence listing	245	225	10	4
16. Claims fee
– for the 16th and each subsequent claim up to the limit of 50	250	265	15	6
– for the 51st and each subsequent claim	630	660	30	5

Since the new amounts apply to payments made on or after 1 April 2023, applicants should review their patent portfolios to see whether any official fees can be paid early before the fee increase takes effect.

If you have any questions about the EPO fee increase or wish to discuss potential cost savings please contact a member of our patents team.