How long does it take to get a patent granted?

Patent offices usually take 3 to 4 years to grant a patent from the filing date, but this can vary depending on the country, the type of patent, and how complex your invention is. In some cases, especially when the patent office requests changes or the application faces objections, the process can stretch to 5 years or more.

Here’s what can influence how long it takes:

• Jurisdiction: Different patent offices (like the USPTO, EPO, or JPO) follow different timelines.
• Patent type: Patents often take longer to process than industrial designs or utility models.
• Examination options: Some countries offer accelerated examination programs that can speed things up.
• Complexity and backlog: More technical inventions or busier offices may slow the process.
  

While you wait for the grant, you can call the application a pending application. In most jurisdictions, you don’t need to pay official patent renewal fees until the patent is granted, but you may still gain provisional rights starting from the publication date, depending on local laws.