Apply for a patent

Apply to us for a patent by post, or if you apply for patents frequently, you may find it useful to apply online.

An application for a patent should include a full description of your invention (including any drawings), a set of claims defining your invention, a short abstract summarising the technical features of your invention and a filled in form 1.

Fill in form 1

Fill in form 1 in capital letters using black ink, or type them. You must include a full description of your invention, including any drawings, and should include your claims and abstract.

You can also send your request for search and fee sheet with your application. If you decide not to do this now we will inform you of the date by which you must send them to ensure your application continues. This will be no later than 12 months from your filing date.

If you are not the inventor, there is more than 1 inventor or you are applying on behalf of a company, you must also send a statement of inventorship.

Send us the form

Please send your filled in application form, description, drawings, claims, abstract and statement of inventorship form, if necessary, to:

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

What happens next?

When we receive your completed application form, description and drawings we will send you a receipt, within 3 days, confirming the date we received your application and an application number.

Please note: Your application details including your name and address will appear on our records. We also include them in our searchable patents journal when we publish your application. Both are available to the public on our website and can be permanently searched using most standard search engines. If you do not want your home address published, please give us a different permanent address where you can be contacted, such as a business address or a suitable PO Box address.

All correspondence from yourself, the Office and any third parties will be open to public inspection, including on our website, once your application is published.