Planned Fee Increases at the UK IPO

Written By Sam Bird

The UK IPO has announced planned fee increases for patents, trade marks and designs. If approved by parliament, the fee increases will take effect from 1st April 2026. This is the first fee increase since 2018.

Even with the fee increase, the UK IPO fees are still low in comparison to other IP offices. Filing a patent, trade mark, or design at the UK IPO can still be a cost-effective option for obtaining a degree of IP protection in Europe.

Here are some examples of how the fee changes will impact filing costs:

Filing a UK patent application online with a request for search and examination

  • Current cost: £310

  • April 2026 cost: £405

Filing a UK trade mark application online covering two classes

  • Current cost: £220

  • April 2026 cost: £265

Filing a UK design application online covering up to 10 designs

  • Current cost: £70

  • April 2026 cost: £85

The fee increases are not limited to filing costs and apply across the board from filing through to renewals after grant. A full list of the fee increases can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-office-fees-to-increase-from-april-2026.

Sam Bird
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