• Patent fees

Fees associated with the Kuwaiti PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Deadline for the PCT national phase entry in Kuwait

The term for entry into the PCT national phase in Kuwait is 30 months from the priority date or 18 months from the international filing date (if the international application is not based on earlier filing).

• Filing requirements in Kuwait

The official language of the proceedings before the Kuwaiti Patent Office is Arabic. However, it is possible to file the specification and abstract in English and submit the translation  thereof into Arabic within 3 months from the filing date.

To obtain the filing date for a patent application in Kuwait, it is necessary to submit:
- specification and abstract in English;
- a copy of the simply signed Power of Attorney.

The original of a certified copy of the Priority Document can be filed within 3 months from the filing date.

The original Power of Attorney legalised up to the Kuwaiti Consulate can be filed within 3 months from the filing date.

The legalised up to the Kuwaiti Consulate Certificate of Incorporation or an extract from the commercial register must be filed within 3 months from the filing date.

If the applicant is not the inventor, the legalised up to the Kuwaiti Consulate original of the Assignment Deed must be submitted within 3 months from the filing date.

• Examination of a PCT national phase patent application in Kuwait

As of now, the Patent Office of Kuwait does not conduct examination of patent applications. However, applications filed in Kuwait are officially considered as evidence of ownership and priority and will be valid when the examination commences.

• Novelty grace period

No novelty grace period is stipulated in Kuwaiti legislation.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

The validity term of a patent in Kuwait is 20 years from the filing date. In view of the current situation, when patent applications are not examined by the patent office, applications are not published and no letters patents are issued. Therefore, the term for a grant fee payment is not set.

• Duration of registration procedure

Since applications are not examined, published and granted, the duration of registration procedure has not been established yet.

• Utility Model

Currently, the Kuwaiti Patent Office is not accepting utility model applications.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreign applicants, it is necessary to appoint a local representative for entering the PCT national phase.

• Note

There are no online search databases for patent search in Kuwait.

The above information was verified on 22.02.2023
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Kuwaiti IP Laws