• Patent fees

Fees associated with filing patent applications in Singapore, as well as other patent fees, are available in the fee calculator.

• The term for filing a patent application in Singapore

The term for filing a patent application claiming conventional priority is 12 months from the priority date. This term may be extended by up to two months upon payment of an additional fee.

• Filing requirements in Singapore

The official language of the Singaporean patent application is English. Filing an application in any other foreign language is not possible. A verification statement is required and can be submitted after filing.

To obtain the date of filing a Singaporean patent application should contain:
- a request to grant a patent with applicant's and inventor's details such as name, nationality, address and country of incorporation (for a company), priority date and number (if any);
- a description of the invention;
- any drawing(s) referred to in the description or any claim(s);
- an abstract.

Claims are not required to be furnished at the time of filing a patent application to obtain a date of filing, but should be provided within 12 months to complete the application.

Submission of the Priority Document as well as the Power of Attorney is not required for filing patent applications in Singapore.

• Examination of a Singaporean patent application

The patent application in Singapore undergoes the formal and substantive examination.

An applicant of the Singaporean patent application has several options of patent registration (timeframe for filing corresponding requests is indicated in brackets and counted from the date of filing, or if priority is claimed from the date of priority):
- to file a request for a search (13 months, extendable by 18 months) and examination (36 months, extendable by 18 months);
- to file a combined request for search and examination (36 months, extendable by 18 months);
- to file a request for examination (36 months, extendable for 18 months) based on foreign search report.

It is possible to file a request for use of the search and examination results from the ASPEC member-country, and thus expedite the examination process. 

• Novelty grace period

The novelty of the invention is not disproved if the information about the invention was disclosed by the inventor at an International Exhibition or before a learned society, or as a result of a breach of confidence, within 12 months before filing the application, or, if priority is claimed before the priority date.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

The official granting fees should be paid within 2 months from the date of issuance of the Notice of Allowance. The validity term of a patent in Singapore is 20 years from the filing date. The annual fees should be paid starting from the 5th year counting from the filing date and become payable within the three months before the deadline. Late payment is possible within the 6-month grace period upon payment of a corresponding surcharge.

• Duration of registration procedure

It takes an average of 2-4 years from filing up to grant of a patent in Singapore in case of smooth procedure.

• Utility model

Protection of the inventions as utility models is not possible in Singapore.

• Representation by a patent attorney

Foreigners must perform the patent prosecution through an agent, a Singaporean-registered patent attorney.

• Notes

1. Online database for Singaporean Patents.
2. Patents filed in Singapore on or after January 22, 2003 may be reregistered in Cambodia and obtain effect without examination.
3. Patents granted in Singapore may be reregistered in Lao People's Democratic Republic. The patent must be in force at the time of lodgement of reregistration request.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by Soroker, Agmon, Nordman on 28.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Singaporean IP Laws.