Download Our Free European Patent Application Timeline

March 25, 2025

European Patent Application Timeline

This is the first in a series of posts about Russell IP’s patent application timelines, which we are making available for free download!

The subject of this post is the European patent application timeline. This timeline sets out typical timescales for European patent applications, as well as providing a summary of key terms relating to European patent applications. To download your copy of the Russell IP European patent application timeline, just enter your details below.

For advice on applying for a European patent, please feel free to get in touch with Russell IP.

Disclaimer

The patent timeline in this post is heavily simplified and does not consider all possible scenarios. Some patent applications fall outside this timeline. For example, this patent timeline is based on a direct European patent application rather than a Euro-PCT application. The timescales for Euro-PCT applications are different. Various other factors, such as technology area, can also impact the time taken for a patent to be granted.

This patent timeline must therefore be seen as general guidance only and not a definitive explanation of timelines for all European patent applications.

Links and Further Information Relating to European Patent Application Timeline

More information about European patent applications and the process of applying for a European patent is available in Russell IP’s glossary of patent terms.

The European Patent Office (EPO) also maintains several resources to help patent applicants and others understand the process of applying for a European patent:

How to apply for a patent provides an overview of the process, with links to more detailed resources.
The European Patent Guide – How to get a European patent provides a comprehensive guide to the process, with links to the relevant Articles and Rules of the European Patent Convention, the law which defines and governs the EP patent application process.
New to patents? provides tips about things to consider before filing an EP patent application.

Several of the EPO resources above include e-learning modules, quizzes and other interactive elements to develop your understanding of European patents and how to get them.

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