Patent annual fee payment for non-residents (FAQs)

Japan revised its Patent Law making it possible for patent-right holders residing outside of Japan to make direct payments of the annual patent fees (renewal fees) to the JPO starting from April 1, 2016. The following are FAQs.

For more information, please refer to “Patent annual fee payment for non-residents”

1. Can I pay patent registration fees directly to the JPO?
2. How do I submit the payment form?
3. Can I submit a copy of the payment confirmation forms when paying into a Japanese government account?
4. Can I use a credit card or debit card to make a payment?
5. I received a notice stating that the amount of payment I made for the annual patent was insufficient. What should I do?
6. How can I know that the payment has been received by the JPO?
7. What should I do in case I paid more fees than necessary?
8. May I cancel the payment?
9. May I pay annual patent fees for two or more patents by using just one payment sheet?

1. Can I pay patent registration fees directly to the JPO?

No, the JPO does NOT accept the direct payment of patent registration fees (those for the 1st to 3rd years) directly from residents who do not reside in Japan. In addition, please note that the JPO also does NOT accept direct payments for neither registration fees nor annual renewal fees for utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, from residents who do not reside in Japan.

2. How do I submit the payment form?

You may submit the payment form only by postal mail services to the following address:

• Japan Patent Office
• 3-4-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8915, Japan

Please note that the JPO does not accept payment forms sent by e-mail or fax.

3. Can I submit a copy of the payment-confirmation forms when paying into a Japanese government account?

You are required to attach the original one, as copies are not accepted.

4. Can I use a credit card or debit card to make a payment?

No, you cannot use a credit card nor debit card to make a payment.

5. I received a notice stating that the amount of payment I made for the annual patent was insufficient. What should I do?

In this case, you will need to have a representative residing in Japan submit the insufficient amount within 30 days from the date on which you received the notice from the JPO. If you don’t pay the amount within the deadline, the JPO will deem that your payment was not made. Please make sure that the necessary amount that you need to pay is made by a representative residing in Japan.

6. How can I know that the payment has been received by the JPO?

The JPO will send you a payment receipt normally in about two months after the date on which the JPO received the payment form.

Please note that it may take more than two months for you to receive the receipt due to varying circumstances in postal services in each country.

7. What should I do in case I paid more fees than necessary?

You may request for a refund of the excess amount you paid by having your representative residing in Japan contact the JPO. The request for a refund must be made within 1 year from the date of payment.

8. May I cancel the payment?

No, once the payment has been made, you may not cancel it.

9. May I pay annual patent fees for two or more patents by using just one payment form?

No, you are unable to do this. You need to submit a separate payment form for each patent right.

[Last updated 13 April 2021]

Contact

Registration Office Customer Relations Policy Division Japan Patent Office E-mail:PA1300@jpo.go.jp