Bahrain updates its patent and utility model fees and introduces VAT
The Kingdom of Bahrain has recently announced a series of governmental decisions, which are aimed at updating the IPR fees and developing the taxation system in the country.
Accordingly, the Bahraini Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism has drastically increased the official fees related to patents and utility models. The new prices have been applied since December 14, 2018. The updated fee schedule stipulates the fees for filing a patent application almost 7 times higher than the previous one, i.e. 540 BHD and 270 BHD for legal entities and natural persons correspondingly. Besides, the fee for grant and publication of the patent has been increased by 3.2 times and the fee for substantive examination has been finally stipulated. The annual fees have risen as well, with some of them by almost 9 times.
Furthermore, the procedural fees concerning utility models have been established at a rate less by half than the one for the patents. The annuities for natural persons and legal entities start from 50 BHD and 100 BHD for the 2nd year and reach 150 BHD and 300 BHD for the 10th year of utility model validity accordingly.
In addition, value-added tax will be applied to all IPR types in Bahrain as of January 1, 2019. The standard VAT rate will be 5%, as it has been stipulated by the Common VAT Agreement of the States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain will become the third GCC country to introduce the VAT after Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have been imposing the VAT since the beginning of 2018.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has a fast-growing economy, which is attractive to foreigners due to oil and aluminium production. Consequently, it is believed that with the increased IPR fees and VAT the country will be able to pump up its budget further.
Increase in patent fees
|
Service
|
Old Fee (BHD)
|
New Fee (BHD)
|
Times higher
|
|
|
Legal entities
|
Natural persons
|
Legal entities
|
Natural persons
|
Legal entities
|
Natural persons
|
|
Filing fee
|
80
|
40
|
540
|
270
|
7
|
7
|
|
Publication and grant fee
|
100
|
50
|
320
|
160
|
3
|
3
|
|
Annual fee 2nd year
|
80
|
40
|
200
|
100
|
2,5
|
2,5
|
|
Annual fee 3rd year
|
84
|
42
|
220
|
110
|
3
|
3
|
|
Annual fee 4th year
|
88
|
44
|
260
|
130
|
3
|
3
|
|
Annual fee 5th year
|
92
|
46
|
300
|
150
|
3
|
3
|
|
Annual fee 6th year
|
96
|
58
|
360
|
180
|
4
|
4
|
|
Annual fee 7th year
|
100
|
50
|
480
|
240
|
5
|
5
|
|
Annual fee 8th year
|
104
|
52
|
520
|
260
|
5
|
5
|
|
Annual fee 9th year
|
108
|
54
|
560
|
280
|
5
|
5
|
|
Annual fee 10th year
|
112
|
56
|
600
|
300
|
5,5
|
5,5
|
|
Annual fee 11th year
|
116
|
58
|
699
|
350
|
6
|
6
|
|
Annual fee 12th year
|
120
|
60
|
720
|
360
|
6
|
6
|
|
Annual fee 13th year
|
124
|
62
|
760
|
380
|
6
|
6
|
|
Annual fee 14th year
|
128
|
64
|
800
|
400
|
6
|
6
|
|
Annual fee 15th year
|
132
|
66
|
900
|
450
|
7
|
7
|
|
Annual fee 16th year
|
136
|
68
|
1000
|
500
|
7
|
7
|
|
Annual fee 17th year
|
140
|
70
|
1100
|
550
|
8
|
8
|
|
Annual fee 18th year
|
144
|
72
|
1180
|
590
|
8
|
8
|
|
Annual fee 19th year
|
148
|
74
|
1260
|
630
|
8,5
|
8,5
|
|
Annual fee 20th year
|
152
|
76
|
1340
|
670
|
9
|
9
|
|
Additional fee for late payment of the annual fees
|
20
|
10
|
160
|
80
|
8
|
8
|
Utility models fees in Bahrain, as of January 1, 2019
|
Service
|
New Fess (BHD)
|
|
|
Legal entities
|
Natural persons
|
|
Filing fee
|
270
|
135
|
|
Publication and grant fee
|
160
|
80
|
|
Annual fee 2nd year
|
100
|
50
|
|
Annual fee 3rd year
|
110
|
55
|
|
Annual fee 4th year
|
130
|
65
|
|
Annual fee 5th year
|
150
|
75
|
|
Annual fee 6th year
|
180
|
90
|
|
Annual fee 7th year
|
240
|
120
|
|
Annual fee 8th year
|
260
|
130
|
|
Annual fee 9th year
|
280
|
140
|
|
Annual fee 10th year
|
300
|
150
|
|
Additional fee for late payment of the annual fees
|
80
|
40
|