IPOS announces initiatives to support applicants in using the Patent Prosecution Highway

12 June 2026

On 10 June 2026, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) issued Circular No. 2/2026 announcing the introduction of two new initiatives to better support applicants in using the Patent Prosecution Highway (“PPH”):

  • Accelerated first office action timelines
  • Simplified payment process when PPH is requested

These initiatives are introduced to promote uptake of the PPH.

Accelerated first office action timelines

For a request to use PPH filed on or after 1 July 2026, IPOS will endeavour to issue the first office action within six months from the date of the PPH request.

Simplified payment process when PPH is requested

 From 3 August 2026 to 31 December 2027 (both dates inclusive), applicants filing a PPH request together with a new request for a search and/or examination report need only pay 70% of the prevailing official fees for the latter. Under the current arrangement (announced in Circular No. 4/2025), applicants pay the full fees at the point of request and receive 30% of the fees back thereafter. The updated approach simplifies the process yet provides the same benefit upfront.

Under the updated approach, the following fees will be adjusted as set out below.

Request

Prevailing fee

Fee payable under updated approach

Request for a Search and Examination Report under Form PF11

S$2,050

S$1,435

Request for a Search and Examination Report under Form PF11 relating to an international application for a patent (Singapore) that has entered the national phase and an International Search Report or an International Preliminary Report on Patentability has been established in that application by the Office under the Patent Co-operation Treaty*

S$1,750

S$1,435

Request for an Examination Report under Form PF12

S$1,420

S$994

*  The refund for a request for search and examination report where the International Search Report/ International Preliminary Report has been established by IPOS (for PCT application entering national phase) is S$315.

Circular No. 4/2025 will continue to apply to applicants who make a request to use the PPH when filing a request for search and examination or a request for examination prior to 3 August 2026. For more on Circular No. 4/2025, see our article “IPOS announces enhancements to Patent Prosecution Highway programmes”.

Benefits of using a PPH

The PPH offers faster and more efficient patent examination through IPOS' global partnerships. Singapore has established a global network of more than 30 PPH partners including the intellectual property offices of China, Japan, Korea, the US, and the European Patent Office. Benefits of the PPH programme include:

  • Higher grant rate: Applicants experience increased likelihood of patent grant (94% in Singapore);
  • Faster office action: IPOS endeavours to issue a first office action in about six months from the date of PPH request filed on or after 1 July 2026 (improved from about 10 months for existing requests); and
  • Fewer office actions: About 70% of patents are granted at first office action in SIngapore.

Reference materials

The following materials are available on the IPOS website www.ipos.gov.sg:

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