Japan Utility Model Cost and Procedure (2026): Official JPO Fees, Timeline and Filing Tips

"How much does a utility model cost in Japan?" "What happens after we file?" "Can we file in English or Chinese and translate later?"

A Japanese utility model is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to protect a product's shape or structure in Japan. But its fee structure is unusual — part of the registration fee is paid on the day you file — and foreign applicants face a few extra steps. In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains the official costs, the procedure from filing to registration, and what overseas applicants should prepare.

*Official fees are those listed on the JPO fee list (checked November 2026).

Foreign applicants must file through a Japanese patent attorney

An applicant with no domicile or business office in Japan cannot file a utility model application directly with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) or handle later procedures such as responding to formality orders or paying registration fees. A representative in Japan — in practice a licensed Japanese patent attorney (Benrishi) — is required.

The total cost therefore consists of official JPO fees, the Japanese translation of your specification, claims and drawings text, and attorney fees. Translation and attorney fees vary by case depending on length and technical content; ask us for a free quote. This article focuses on the official fees, which are the same for everyone.

Official JPO fees for a utility model

Unlike a patent, where the first annual fees are paid after grant, a utility model is registered without substantive examination, so the first three years of registration fees are paid together with the filing fee.

Official fees at filing, by number of claims

*Years 1–3 are shown as the total for three years. Translation and attorney fees are not included.

Each additional claim adds only JPY 300 to the amount due at filing, so at this stage the number of claims has little effect on official fees.

Total official fees over the 10-year term

A Japanese utility model lasts 10 years from the filing date. From year 4, a registration fee must be paid every year to keep it in force.

*10-year total = at filing + 3 years at the years 4–6 rate + 4 years at the years 7–10 rate. Technical evaluation, translation and attorney fees are not included.

Fees rise sharply from year 7. If a product is no longer sold in Japan, you can simply stop paying and let the right lapse — there is no need to keep a right you no longer use.

For comparison: a Japanese patent

A Japanese patent requires a filing fee (JPY 14,000), an examination request fee (JPY 138,000 + JPY 4,000 × claims) and annual fees for years 1–3 at grant (JPY 4,300 + JPY 300 × claims per year). With one claim, official fees up to grant total JPY 169,800 — roughly eight times the JPY 20,600 due at filing for a one-claim utility model — and Office Action responses usually add attorney costs. The trade-off is that a utility model covers only the shape, structure or combination of articles and is harder to enforce.

Procedure: from filing to registration

• 1. Review: we check that your invention is a device relating to the shape, structure or combination of an article. Methods, chemical compositions and software cannot be protected by a utility model.
• 2. Prior art check (optional): a utility model is not examined for novelty, but a right that overlaps with prior art can be invalidated later. A quick search helps you judge its value.
• 3. Japanese documents: the application consists of a request, description, claims, drawings (mandatory) and an abstract — all in Japanese.
• 4. Filing: the filing fee and the registration fees for years 1–3 are paid at the same time.
• 5. Formality and basic-requirement check: if something is defective, the JPO issues an order to amend, and we respond within the set period. There is no novelty or inventive-step examination.
• 6. Registration: the utility model is registered, a certificate is issued and the registration is published. This typically takes a few months from filing.

Paris priority, PCT and translation

• Paris Convention route: file in Japan within 12 months of your first filing (for example a Chinese utility model or patent application) and claim priority. A Japanese utility model application must be filed in Japanese, so the translation needs to be ready by the filing date — plan for this well before the 12-month deadline.
• PCT route: a PCT international application can also enter Japan as a utility model application by submitting a Japanese translation within 30 months of the priority date.

Because a utility model is never examined on its merits before registration, the Japanese claims and drawings you file are essentially the right you get. A careful translation, adapted to Japanese claim-drafting practice, is worth more here than in almost any other procedure.

Technical evaluation report: budget for it only if you will enforce

To send a warning or sue an infringer, the owner of a Japanese utility model must first obtain a technical evaluation report from the JPO and present it in a warning. The official fee is JPY 42,000 + JPY 1,000 × claims (JPY 43,000 for 1 claim; JPY 47,000 for 5 claims). For utility models that entered Japan through the PCT, a lower fee applies, depending on which office prepared the international search report. You do not need the report to register or maintain the right.

Tips to keep costs down

FAQ

• Q. What is the minimum official fee for a Japanese utility model?
  A. JPY 20,600 for one claim (filing fee plus registration fees for years 1–3), excluding translation and attorney fees.
• Q. How long does registration take?
  A. Typically a few months from filing, as there is no substantive examination. An order to amend can add time.
• Q. Can we file in English and submit the Japanese translation later?
  A. Not for a direct utility model filing — it must be filed in Japanese. For a PCT application, the Japanese translation is due within 30 months of the priority date.
• Q. What is the deadline to claim priority from our Chinese application?
  A. 12 months from the first filing date under the Paris Convention.
• Q. How do we communicate and pay?
  A. In English or Chinese, directly with the licensed Japanese patent attorney who handles every case personally. Payment by bank transfer or PayPal (in JPY) is available.

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• Utility Model vs Patent in Japan: Which Should Foreign Applicants Choose?
• Japan Utility Model Technical Evaluation Report: Enforcement Risks and Converting to a Patent
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