IP India guide
How to check Indian patent application status
You can check the status of any Indian patent application for free with its application number. This guide shows where to look and explains what each status on the IP India portal means, including what you have to do next and by when.
Quick answer: 3 steps
- Open the Application Status tab on IP India's public search portal.
-
Enter the application number (for example
202541000123) and the captcha. - Click Search. The result shows the filing date, the applicant, and the current status.
PatentAssist.ai shows the application with its full text, claims, drawings, and status, and lets you pull up every other application from the same applicant. Free, no signup.
What each Indian patent status means
The wording on the portal varies slightly between offices and over time, but every status maps to one of these stages.
| Status | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Filed / awaiting publication | The application is on record but still confidential. It is published 18 months from the priority or filing date, whichever is earlier. | Nothing is due. File Form 9 if you want early publication (it then happens within about a month). |
| Published | The application has appeared in the weekly Official Journal of the Patent Office under Section 11A and is now public. | Third parties can now file a pre-grant opposition. Make sure the request for examination is filed in time. |
| Awaiting request for examination | The application will not be examined until the applicant files Form 18 (or Form 18A for expedited examination). | File Form 18 within 31 months of the priority date (48 months for applications filed before 15 March 2024), or the application is treated as withdrawn. |
| Awaiting examination | The request for examination is on file and the application is in the queue to be taken up by an examiner. | Nothing is due. Use the wait to review prior art the examiner is likely to cite. |
| Under examination / FER issued | The examiner has issued the First Examination Report (FER) listing objections on novelty, inventive step, clarity, or formalities. | Put the application in order within 6 months of the FER. A 3-month extension is available on Form 4. |
| Reply filed / hearing | The FER reply is on file. If objections remain, the Controller issues a hearing notice before deciding. | Attend the hearing and file written submissions within 15 days after it. |
| In opposition | Someone has filed a pre-grant opposition under Section 25(1), or a post-grant opposition under Section 25(2) after the grant. | Respond to the notice of opposition within the time the Controller sets. |
| Granted | The patent has been granted and the grant is published in the Official Journal under Section 43(2). | Pay renewal fees from the 3rd year onwards. A post-grant opposition can be filed within one year of the grant publication. |
| Refused | The Controller has refused the application under Section 15, usually after a hearing. | An appeal lies to the High Court (the IPAB was abolished in 2021). |
| Deemed abandoned | The applicant did not put the application in order within the FER deadline, so it is treated as abandoned under Section 21. | Revival is exceptional. Speak to a patent agent about your options quickly. |
| Withdrawn | The applicant withdrew the application, or it is deemed withdrawn because no request for examination was filed in time. | A deemed withdrawal for a missed Form 18 cannot be undone. |
| Ceased | A granted patent has lapsed because a renewal fee was not paid. | Apply for restoration under Section 60 within 18 months of the lapse. |
Key Indian patent deadlines
- Complete specification: within 12 months of a provisional application.
- Publication: 18 months from the priority date, or about a month after an early publication request (Form 9).
- Request for examination (Form 18): 31 months from the priority date for applications filed on or after 15 March 2024, and 48 months for older ones.
- Reply to the FER: 6 months, extendable by 3 months on Form 4.
- Renewal fees: due every year from the 3rd year after filing. A lapsed patent can be restored within 18 months.
Publications and grants appear every Friday in the Indian Patent Journal. To research the prior art an examiner is likely to cite, run a free Indian patent search.
Indian patent status: frequently asked questions
How do I check Indian patent application status by application number?
Open the Application Status tab on IP India's public search portal (iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/PublicSearch), enter the application number and the captcha, and click Search. To see the application together with its full text, claims, and other applications from the same applicant, search the same number in PatentAssist.ai's free Indian patent search.
What does the Indian patent application number format look like?
Applications filed since 2016 use a 12-digit number such as 202541000123: the filing year (2025), the office code (1 Delhi, 2 Mumbai, 3 Kolkata, 4 Chennai), the application type (for example 1 for ordinary), and a 6-digit serial number. Older applications look like 1234/DEL/2010.
How long does it take to get a patent granted in India?
Publication happens 18 months from the priority date unless you request early publication. After the request for examination, the first examination report typically arrives within one to two years under normal examination, and faster under expedited examination. From filing to grant usually takes several years, and depends heavily on how quickly FER objections are resolved.
What is the deadline to file the request for examination (Form 18)?
31 months from the priority date or filing date, whichever is earlier, for applications filed on or after 15 March 2024, when the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 took effect. Applications filed before that date keep the earlier 48-month deadline.
How long do I have to reply to a First Examination Report?
Six months from the date the FER is issued, extendable by up to three months by filing Form 4 before the deadline expires. If the application is not put in order in time, it is deemed abandoned under Section 21.
Why is my patent application status not updating?
The status on the portal changes only when the Patent Office records an action, such as publication, issue of the FER, or a hearing notice. Long gaps are normal while an application waits in the examination queue. Check the application's documents and the weekly Official Journal for the latest actions.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines depend on your application's facts, so confirm them with a registered patent agent.