International patents
PCT Applications: Preserve Options Without Inventing a Global Patent
The Patent Cooperation Treaty provides a unified international filing and search framework. It does not grant a worldwide patent. Patent rights arise only through the national or regional offices in which the application proceeds and is granted.
Reviewed 11 July 2026
Before the PCT deadline
A PCT application claiming priority is generally filed within 12 months of the earliest priority application. Confirm inventors, applicants, ownership, public disclosures, foreign-filing permission, technical support, and the commercial markets before the deadline.
International phase
The receiving Office and WIPO process the application, and an International Searching Authority issues a search report and written opinion. These materials can inform amendments and country selection, but they are not a grant or a binding guarantee of patentability.
National phase
National or regional phase entry is commonly required at 30 or 31 months from the priority date, depending on the office. Translation, fees, local agents, claim amendments, sequence listings, powers of attorney, and restoration options vary. Verify every office separately.
Preparation checklist
- Priority and disclosure timeline
- Inventor and applicant records
- Claims supported by the specification
- Country-by-country commercial case
- Translation and prosecution budget