Entering Japan via PCT National Phase: Deadline, Official Fees and What You Need (2026)

"When do we have to enter Japan with our PCT application?" "Does it have to be translated into Japanese?" "How much are the official fees?"

These are the questions overseas applicants ask most often when they plan to protect an invention in Japan through the PCT. In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains how national phase entry into Japan works — the deadline, the translation, the official fees and how to keep costs down.

*Official fees are those in effect as of April 1, 2026 (last updated: November 2026).

What you will learn

The 30-month deadline for entering Japan
The Japanese translation and the special 2-month translation period
Why you need a Japanese patent attorney
Official fees, and how the search authority changes the examination fee
PPH and other ways to get a faster, cheaper grant

PCT basics: one international filing, then country by country

A PCT international application secures a filing date in all PCT member states with a single filing. During the international phase, an International Searching Authority (ISA) — for example the CNIPA, KIPO, the EPO or the JPO — issues an International Search Report (ISR) and a written opinion on patentability.

The PCT application itself does not become a patent. To obtain a Japanese patent, you must start the national phase in Japan before the deadline. From that point, the application is examined by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) under Japanese law, just like a domestic application.

Deadline: 30 months from the priority date

The national phase documents (the kokunai shomen) must be filed with the JPO within 30 months from the priority date. The priority date is the filing date of the earliest application whose priority you claim, or the international filing date if no priority is claimed.

Japanese translation and the special 2-month period

If your PCT application was filed in a language other than Japanese (Chinese, Korean, English, etc.), a Japanese translation of the description, claims, text in the drawings and abstract is required.
In principle, the translation must be filed within the same 30-month period.
However, if the national phase documents are filed within the last 2 months before the deadline, the translation may be filed within 2 months from that filing date.
If the translation is not filed in time, the application is deemed withdrawn.

The translation is the foundation of your Japanese patent: the scope of protection in Japan is judged on the Japanese text. A rushed or literal translation can create errors that are hard to fix later, so we recommend sending us the documents at least 2–3 months before the 30-month deadline.

Foreign applicants need a Japanese patent attorney

An applicant with no domicile or business office in Japan cannot carry out most procedures before the JPO directly. They must act through a representative in Japan — in practice, a licensed Japanese patent attorney (Benrishi). The attorney files the national phase documents, the translation and the examination request, receives Office Actions, and prepares the responses.

Official fees for national phase entry

The official fees for a PCT national phase application in Japan are paid at three stages.

Official JPO fees (as of April 1, 2026)

National fee (at entry): JPY 14,000
Examination request: depends on which office prepared the ISR (see the table below)
Patent fee for years 1–3 (paid at grant): JPY 4,300 + JPY 300 per claim, per year

The examination request fee depends on the search authority

In Japan, examination does not start automatically. You must file a request for examination within 3 years from the international filing date; otherwise the application is deemed withdrawn. For PCT applications, the fee is reduced when an ISR is already available.

Case	Fee formula	5 claims	10 claims
ISR prepared by the JPO	83,000 + 2,400 × claims	95,000	107,000
ISR prepared by another office (e.g. CNIPA, KIPO, EPO)	124,000 + 3,600 × claims	142,000	160,000
No ISR (regular rate)	138,000 + 4,000 × claims	158,000	178,000

*Amounts in JPY. Most PCT applications from China or Korea have an ISR prepared by the CNIPA or KIPO, so the second row usually applies.

Patent fees after grant

When the JPO decides to grant a patent, the patent fees for years 1–3 must be paid within 30 days of receiving the decision. From year 4, annual fees are paid each year to keep the patent alive. The fees increase over time:

Years	Annual fee (JPY)
1–3	4,300 + 300 × claims
4–6	10,300 + 800 × claims
7–9	24,800 + 1,900 × claims
10–25	59,400 + 4,600 × claims

A patent lasts up to 20 years from the international filing date (up to 25 years only where an extension is registered).

Translation and attorney fees

In addition to the official fees, you will need translation fees and attorney fees. These depend on the length of the specification, the number of claims, the technical field and how many Office Actions you receive, so we quote them case by case. Send us the PCT publication number and we will give you a free, itemized quote.

Ways to get a faster and cheaper grant

Practical tips

Use the PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway): if the written opinion or a granted patent in another office found your claims allowable, you may request accelerated examination in Japan under the PPH. Amending the Japanese claims to match the allowed claims often leads to a quicker grant with fewer Office Actions.
Review the claims before entry: the examination request fee and annual fees are charged per claim. Removing claims you do not need reduces costs for the entire life of the patent.
Check fee reductions: Japan offers reductions and exemptions of the examination request fee and patent fees for SMEs, universities and certain individuals. Non-resident applicants may also qualify if they meet the requirements.
Start early: giving the translator enough time is the best way to avoid translation errors that limit your rights.

What we need from you

The PCT application number or WO publication number
Applicant name and address in the original language and in English
Inventor names and addresses
Any Article 19 or Article 34 amendments you want to include
Whether you want the examination request filed at entry, and whether you want to use the PPH

We communicate in English and Chinese, and accept payment in JPY by PayPal or bank transfer.

FAQ

Q. What is the deadline for entering Japan?
A. 30 months from the priority date. If you file in the last 2 months of that period, the Japanese translation can be filed within 2 months afterwards.
Q. Can we enter the national phase in Japan without a Japanese attorney?
A. In practice, no. Applicants without a domicile or office in Japan must act through a representative in Japan for procedures before the JPO.
Q. Do we have to request examination at the same time?
A. No. The deadline is 3 years from the international filing date. However, filing it early helps you get a decision sooner.
Q. Our ISR was prepared by the CNIPA. Is there any fee reduction?
A. Yes. When the ISR was prepared by an office other than the JPO, the examination request fee is JPY 124,000 + JPY 3,600 per claim instead of the regular JPY 138,000 + JPY 4,000 per claim.

Summary

Key points

Enter Japan within 30 months from the priority date; a Japanese translation is required.
Foreign applicants must act through a Japanese patent attorney.
Official fees: JPY 14,000 at entry, the examination request fee (reduced when an ISR exists), and patent fees at grant.
Request examination within 3 years from the international filing date.
The PPH and a careful claim review can shorten examination and reduce costs.

Planning to enter Japan with your PCT application?
Send us your PCT number and deadline — we will reply with the next steps and an itemized quote, free of charge.

BrandAgent Patent Office (Kyoto, Japan)
Toru Kano, Japanese Patent Attorney

Free consultation — visit BrandAgent's English site