About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight
Logo of WIPO PCT, the international patent system

PCT – The International Patent System

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions, helps patent offices with their patent granting decisions, and facilitates public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions.

By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in a large number of countries.

Biotechnology Practice Area Update: Are You Ready for WIPO Standard ST.26?

Find out more: About the PCT | PCT Highlights | PCT Yearly Review

 

Do you have a PCT success story you would like to share?

PCT Success story

The PCT: Seeking Patent Protection Beyond Borders

Email updates

  • PCT Newsletter – News and information for users of the PCT System, including fee tables and seminars. Monthly.
Sign up | All WIPO newsletters
Warning – Requests for payment of fees

PCT Resources

Legal

States

Filing

PCT for Offices

How to

File your application 

 

Manage your application

ePCT with strong authentication provides online access to the file of your international application and a suite of functions to facilitate monitoring and management during the international phase.

Search published applications

Published international applications are available on PATENTSCOPE, one of WIPO's global databases.  This database also includes patent documents from 78 participating Offices providing public access, free of charge to over 112 million technology disclosures.

Contacts

For questions related to:

Your specific PCT application

Contact your “authorized officer”.

Online:
Through ePCT (WIPO IP Portal) (with or without strong authentication)

Through ePCT Business Continuity Service (FAQs)

As of 1 January 2020, limited fax services are available to: +41 22 338 8270 and +41 22 338 9090

PCT general or legal matters

E-mail: PCT Information Service
Tel: +41 22 338 8338

More about the PCT Information Service

Filing a PCT application at the receiving Office of the International Bureau

E-mail: PCT Receiving Office
Tel: +41 22 338 9222

As of 1 January 2020, limited fax services are available to: +41 22 338 8270 and +41 22 338 9090

More about filing a PCT application directly at the RO/IB; including through ePCT Business Continuity Service (FAQs)

E-filing with ePCT and PCT-SAFE and ePCT Business Continuity Service

E-mail: PCT eServices
Tel: +41 22 338 9523

More about PCT eServices, ePCT (WIPO IP Portal),  PCT-SAFE, ePCT Business Continuity Service (FAQs) and DAS

 

Available from Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 6.00 pm CET

More about the PCT

General information

Meetings and documents

Training

Reference

Related Links

Patents

Reference

Other IP Services

https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/area.jsp?area=pct https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/disclaim.html https://www.wipo.int/en/web/privacy-policy/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/accessibility/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/sitemap.html https://www3.wipo.int/newsletters/en/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/podcasts/ https://www.wipo.int/news/en/