PCT guide
PCT national phase deadlines by country
By Dharmik Patel, Co-founder, PatentAssist.ai
Updated
A PCT application has to enter the national or regional phase in each country where you want a patent, and each office sets its own deadline. Most allow 30 or 31 months from the priority date; a few allow longer for a fee. This page lists every office in WIPO's time-limit table, explains the exceptions, and works out your dates.
Quick answer
- Default: 30 months from the priority date (PCT Article 22(1)).
- 31 months: EPO, India, Korea, Australia, UK, Germany and 45 other offices.
- 30 months: US, China, Japan, Canada, Brazil and 71 other offices.
- Late entry for a fee: China and the Philippines (to 32 and 31 months), Türkiye (33), Singapore (up to 18 more months), Indonesia, Serbia.
- Countries without their own route: France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and others can only be reached through the EPO.
Deadlines at the main offices
| Office | Months | Note |
|---|---|---|
| United States of America (US) | 30 | - |
| European Patent Organisation (EP) | 31 | The only route for BE, CY, FR, GR, IE, LT, LV, MC, ME, MT, NL, SI and SM. |
| India (IN) | 31 | - |
| China (CN) | 30 (32) | The later limit in brackets applies if you pay a fee for late entry. |
| Japan (JP) | 30 | - |
| Republic of Korea (KR) | 31 | - |
| United Kingdom (GB) | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Canada (CA) | 30 | Reinstatement can be requested up to 12 months after the 30-month deadline, with a fee. |
| Australia (AU) | 31 | - |
| Brazil (BR) | 30 | - |
Office-specific guides: US national stage (30 months, 35 U.S.C. 371), Euro-PCT regional phase (31 months, Rule 159 EPC) and the Indian PCT national phase application (31 months).
National phase deadline calculator
Dates follow PCT Rule 80.2 (a missing day becomes the month's last day). The calculator does not move dates for office holidays (Rule 80.5). Confirm every date with your attorney or the office's national chapter.
Why it is 30 or 31 months
PCT Article 22(1) requires the copy, translation and national fee by 30 months from the priority date, and Article 22(3) lets any national law allow more time. Offices that want a cushion set 31 months. Under Chapter II, Article 39(1) sets the same 30 months for elected offices, again extendable by national law.
Before April 2002 the Chapter I limit was 20 months, and filing a Chapter II demand was the standard way to reach 30. Two offices in WIPO's table still apply a shorter Chapter I limit: Luxembourg (20 months) and Tanzania (21). For them, a demand filed before 19 months from priority still buys time. Everywhere else a demand no longer affects the deadline; see our PCT application guide for when Chapter II is still worth it, and our guide to the PCT search report and written opinion for how a demand compares with Article 19 amendments.
All 130 offices, from WIPO's table
Months from the priority date, from WIPO's time-limit table as published on 2 November 2026. "30 (32)" means 30 months, or 32 if you pay a late-entry fee. Offices change these limits from time to time; check WIPO's table before you rely on a date.
| Office | Chapter I | Chapter II | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (AE) | 30 | 30 | |
| Antigua and Barbuda (AG) | 30 | 30 | |
| Albania (AL) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Armenia (AM) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Angola (AO) | 30 | 30 | |
| African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (AP) | 31 | 31 | ARIPO also acts for Eswatini (SZ). |
| Austria (AT) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Australia (AU) | 31 | 31 | |
| Azerbaijan (AZ) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA) | 34 | 34 | |
| Barbados (BB) | 30 | 30 | |
| Bulgaria (BG) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Bahrain (BH) | 30 | 30 | |
| Brunei Darussalam (BN) | 30 | 30 | |
| Brazil (BR) | 30 | 30 | |
| Botswana (BW) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Belarus (BY) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Belize (BZ) | 30 | 30 | May be extended on written request. |
| Canada (CA) | 30 | 30 | Reinstatement can be requested up to 12 months after the 30-month deadline, with a fee. |
| Switzerland (CH) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). Also acts for Liechtenstein (LI). |
| Chile (CL) | 30 | 30 | |
| China (CN) | 30 (32) | 30 (32) | The later limit in brackets applies if you pay a fee for late entry. |
| Colombia (CO) | 31 | 31 | |
| Costa Rica (CR) | 31 | 31 | |
| Cuba (CU) | 30 | 30 | |
| Cabo Verde (CV) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Czechia (CZ) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Germany (DE) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Djibouti (DJ) | 30 | 30 | |
| Denmark (DK) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Dominica (DM) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. |
| Dominican Republic (DO) | 30 | 30 | |
| Algeria (DZ) | 31 | 31 | |
| Eurasian Patent Organization (EA) | 31 | 31 | |
| Ecuador (EC) | 31 | 31 | |
| Estonia (EE) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Egypt (EG) | 30 | 30 | |
| European Patent Organisation (EP) | 31 | 31 | The only route for BE, CY, FR, GR, IE, LT, LV, MC, ME, MT, NL, SI and SM. |
| Spain (ES) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Finland (FI) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| United Kingdom (GB) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Grenada (GD) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. |
| Georgia (GE) | 31 | 31 | |
| Ghana (GH) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Gambia (GM) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Guatemala (GT) | 30 | 30 | |
| Honduras (HN) | 30 | 30 | |
| Croatia (HR) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Hungary (HU) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Indonesia (ID) | 31 | 31 | Extendable on payment of a fee for late entry. |
| Israel (IL) | 30 | 30 | |
| India (IN) | 31 | 31 | |
| Iraq (IQ) | 31 | 31 | |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) (IR) | 30 | 30 | |
| Iceland (IS) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Italy (IT) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Jamaica (JM) | 30 | 30 | |
| Jordan (JO) | 30 | 30 | |
| Japan (JP) | 30 | 30 | |
| Kenya (KE) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Kyrgyzstan (KG) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Cambodia (KH) | 30 | 30 | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis (KN) | 30 | 30 | |
| Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (KP) | 30 | 30 | |
| Republic of Korea (KR) | 31 | 31 | |
| Kuwait (KW) | 30 | 30 | |
| Kazakhstan (KZ) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LA) | 30 | 30 | |
| Saint Lucia (LC) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. |
| Sri Lanka (LK) | 30 | 30 | |
| Liberia (LR) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Lesotho (LS) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Luxembourg (LU) | 20 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). Has not adopted the 30-month Chapter I limit; file a Chapter II demand before 19 months to get the Chapter II limit. |
| Libya (LY) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. |
| Morocco (MA) | 31 | 31 | |
| Republic of Moldova (MD) | 31 | 31 | |
| Madagascar (MG) | 30 | 30 | |
| North Macedonia (MK) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Mongolia (MN) | 31 | 31 | |
| Mauritius (MU) | 30 | 30 | |
| Malawi (MW) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Mexico (MX) | 30 | 30 | |
| Malaysia (MY) | 30 | 30 | |
| Mozambique (MZ) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Namibia (NA) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Nigeria (NG) | 30 | 30 | |
| Nicaragua (NI) | 30 | 30 | |
| Norway (NO) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| New Zealand (NZ) | 31 | 31 | |
| African Intellectual Property Organization (OA) | 30 | 30 | The only route for BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD and TG. |
| Oman (OM) | 30 | 30 | |
| Panama (PA) | 30 | 30 | |
| Peru (PE) | 30 | 30 | |
| Papua New Guinea (PG) | 31 | 31 | |
| Philippines (PH) | 30 (31) | 30 (31) | The later limit in brackets applies if you pay a fee for late entry. |
| Poland (PL) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Portugal (PT) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Qatar (QA) | 30 | 30 | |
| Romania (RO) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Serbia (RS) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). Extendable by 30 days on payment of a fee for late entry. |
| Russian Federation (RU) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Rwanda (RW) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Saudi Arabia (SA) | 30 | 30 | |
| Seychelles (SC) | 31 | 31 | |
| Sudan (SD) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Sweden (SE) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Singapore (SG) | 30 | 30 | Extendable by up to 18 months on payment of the prescribed fee. |
| Slovakia (SK) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). |
| Sierra Leone (SL) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Sao Tome and Principe (ST) | 30 | 30 | The office has not notified its time limits; WIPO shows the default PCT time limits. Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| El Salvador (SV) | 30 | 30 | |
| Syrian Arab Republic (SY) | 31 | 31 | |
| Thailand (TH) | 30 | 30 | |
| Tajikistan (TJ) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Turkmenistan (TM) | 31 | 31 | Also reachable through a Eurasian patent (EA). |
| Tunisia (TN) | 30 | 30 | |
| Türkiye (TR) | 30 (33) | 30 (33) | Also reachable through a European patent (EP). The later limit in brackets applies if you pay a fee for late entry. |
| Trinidad and Tobago (TT) | 30 | 31 | |
| United Republic of Tanzania (TZ) | 21 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). Has not adopted the 30-month Chapter I limit; file a Chapter II demand before 19 months to get the Chapter II limit. |
| Ukraine (UA) | 31 | 31 | |
| Uganda (UG) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| United States of America (US) | 30 | 30 | |
| Uruguay (UY) | 30 | Not applicable | Not bound by Chapter II of the PCT. |
| Uzbekistan (UZ) | 31 | 31 | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (VC) | 31 | 31 | |
| Viet Nam (VN) | 31 | 31 | |
| Samoa (WS) | 31 | 31 | |
| South Africa (ZA) | 31 | 31 | |
| Zambia (ZM) | 30 | 30 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
| Zimbabwe (ZW) | 30 | 31 | Also reachable through an ARIPO patent (AP). |
If you miss a deadline
The application stops having effect in that country. PCT Rule 49.6 asks designated offices to reinstate rights if the delay was unintentional or, at the office's choice, happened despite due care. The request and the missed acts are due within 2 months of the cause being removed or 12 months after the deadline, whichever comes first, unless national law allows longer. Some offices have declared the rule incompatible with their law and use their own remedy or none. The national chapters of WIPO's PCT Applicant's Guide say which remedy each office offers. Treat a missed deadline as urgent.
Prepare the national phase texts
Each office you enter examines the same disclosure with its own claim rules and fees. PatentAssist.ai drafts claims and specifications in USPTO, EPO and IP India formats, and searches all three offices' records, so you can check the art before you decide where to enter. It does not file national phase applications for you.
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PCT national phase deadlines: frequently asked questions
What is the PCT national phase deadline?
30 months from the priority date under PCT Article 22(1), unless the office allows longer. Many offices, including the EPO, India, Korea, Australia and the UK, allow 31 months. The priority date is the filing date of your earliest application, or the PCT filing date if you claim no priority.
Which countries allow 31 months for PCT national phase entry?
51 of the 130 offices in WIPO's table allow 31 months under Chapter I, among them the EPO, India, Korea, Australia, the UK, Germany and the Eurasian Patent Office. 76 allow 30 months, including the US, China, Japan, Canada and Brazil.
Does filing a Chapter II demand extend the deadline?
Almost never any more. Since 2002 the Chapter I limit is 30 months too, so a demand gains time only at the few offices that kept the old 20-month Chapter I limit, such as Luxembourg and Tanzania, and only if it is filed before 19 months from priority (PCT Article 39(1)(a)).
What happens if I miss the national phase deadline?
The international application loses its effect in that country. Many offices can reinstate your rights under PCT Rule 49.6 if the delay was unintentional or occurred despite due care, on a request filed within 2 months of the cause being removed and at the latest 12 months after the deadline. Some offices have opted out of that rule or apply their own remedy, so check the office's national chapter in the PCT Applicant's Guide straight away.
Is the PCT national phase deadline 30 months from the filing date?
No, from the priority date. If your PCT application claims priority from an earlier application filed 12 months before, the 30-month deadline falls 18 months after the PCT filing date.
Sources: WIPO, Time Limits for Entering National/Regional Phase under PCT Chapters I and II (fetched 2 November 2026); PCT Article 22 and 39 ; PCT Rules 49.6 and 80.2 ; WIPO PCT Applicant's Guide . This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with a patent attorney or agent in the country concerned.