Chinese invention patents require annual renewal fees to remain in force for a maximum of 20 years from the filing date. Renewal fees start from the second year after the grant year and increase biennially. All fees are payable before the expiration of the preceding year. For first-year fees, payment is due within two months from the grant date.
Example: For a patent granted on March 15, 2023, the renewal fee for the 2nd year (¥1,350) must be paid by March 14, 2025.
| Patent Year | Standard Fee (RMB) | Fee after 85% Reduction (RMB) | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | ¥1,350 | ¥135 | 1st anniversary of grant |
| Year 3 | ¥1,350 | ¥135 | Before the 2nd anniversary of grant |
| Year 4 | ¥1,800 | ¥180 | Before the 3rd anniversary of grant |
| Year 5 | ¥1,800 | ¥180 | Before the 4th anniversary of grant |
| Year 6 | ¥3,000 | ¥300 | Before the 5th anniversary of grant |
| Year 7 | ¥3,000 | ¥300 | Before the 6th anniversary of grant |
| Year 8 | ¥4,500 | ¥450 | Before the 7th anniversary of grant |
| Year 9 | ¥4,500 | ¥450 | Before the 8th anniversary of grant |
| Year 10 | ¥6,000 | ¥600 | Before the 9th anniversary of grant |
| Year 11 | ¥6,000 | ¥600 | Before the 10th anniversary of grant |
| Year 12 | ¥8,000 | ¥800 | Before the 11th anniversary of grant |
| Year 13 | ¥8,000 | ¥800 | Before the 12th anniversary of grant |
| Year 14 | ¥10,000 | ¥1,000 | Before the 13th anniversary of grant |
| Year 15 | ¥10,000 | ¥1,000 | Before the 14th anniversary of grant |
| Year 16 | ¥12,000 | ¥1,200 | Before the 15th anniversary of grant |
| Year 17 | ¥12,000 | ¥1,200 | Before the 16th anniversary of grant |
| Year 18 | ¥12,000 | ¥1,200 | Before the 17th anniversary of grant |
| Year 19 | ¥12,000 | ¥1,200 | Before the 18th anniversary of grant |
| Year 20 | ¥12,000 | ¥1,200 | Before the 19th anniversary of grant |
Total renewal fees for 20 years:
Standard: ¥99,200 | After 85% Reduction: ¥9,920
1. Fee Reductions: Significant fee reductions (up to 85%) are available for eligible applicants including individuals, SMEs, universities, and research institutions.
2. Grace Period: A six-month grace period is available for late payment with a 100% surcharge.
3. First Year Fees: The first year's annual fee is due within 2 months from the patent grant notification date.
Chinese utility model patents have a maximum protection period of 10 years from the filing date. Like invention patents, renewal fees start from the second year and must be paid before each anniversary of the grant date.
| Protection Year | Standard Fee (RMB) | Fee after 85% Reduction (RMB) | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | ¥600 | ¥60 | 1st anniversary of grant |
| Year 3 | ¥600 | ¥60 | Before the 2nd anniversary of grant |
| Year 4 | ¥900 | ¥90 | Before the 3rd anniversary of grant |
| Year 5 | ¥900 | ¥90 | Before the 4th anniversary of grant |
| Year 6 | ¥1,200 | ¥120 | Before the 5th anniversary of grant |
| Year 7 | ¥1,200 | ¥120 | Before the 6th anniversary of grant |
| Year 8 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 7th anniversary of grant |
| Year 9 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 8th anniversary of grant |
| Year 10 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 9th anniversary of grant |
Total renewal fees for 10 years:
Standard: ¥11,400 | After 85% Reduction: ¥1,140
1. Substantive Differences: Utility models protect product shapes/structures only and undergo preliminary examination only.
2. Same Fee Reduction Rules: The same 85% fee reduction policy applies to eligible utility model applicants.
3. Strategic Use: Often used for inventions with shorter commercial lifecycles.
Chinese design patents have a maximum protection period of 15 years from the filing date (extended from 10 years under the new Patent Law). Renewal fees follow the same pattern as other patent types.
| Protection Year | Standard Fee (RMB) | Fee after 85% Reduction (RMB) | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | ¥600 | ¥60 | 1st anniversary of grant |
| Year 3 | ¥600 | ¥60 | Before the 2nd anniversary of grant |
| Year 4 | ¥900 | ¥90 | Before the 3rd anniversary of grant |
| Year 5 | ¥900 | ¥90 | Before the 4th anniversary of grant |
| Year 6 | ¥1,200 | ¥120 | Before the 5th anniversary of grant |
| Year 7 | ¥1,200 | ¥120 | Before the 6th anniversary of grant |
| Year 8 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 7th anniversary of grant |
| Year 9 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 8th anniversary of grant |
| Year 10 | ¥2,000 | ¥200 | Before the 9th anniversary of grant |
| Year 11 | ¥3,000 | ¥300 | Before the 10th anniversary of grant |
| Year 12 | ¥3,000 | ¥300 | Before the 11th anniversary of grant |
| Year 13 | ¥4,500 | ¥450 | Before the 12th anniversary of grant |
| Year 14 | ¥4,500 | ¥450 | Before the 13th anniversary of grant |
| Year 15 | ¥6,000 | ¥600 | Before the 14th anniversary of grant |
Total renewal fees for 15 years:
Standard: ¥30,400 | After 85% Reduction: ¥3,040
1. Extended Term: The maximum protection term was extended from 10 to 15 years effective June 1, 2021.
2. Partial Design Protection: The new Patent Law also allows protection of partial designs.
3. Same Fee Structure: The fee payment schedule and reduction policies are identical to other patent types.
1. Apply for Fee Reductions Immediately: The 85% fee reduction represents enormous savings. File the reduction request with your initial application.
2. Calendar Based on GRANT Date: Chinese patent renewal fees are calculated from the grant date, not the filing date.
3. Utilize Grace Period Carefully: While a 6-month grace period exists with surcharge, it should be used as emergency backup only.
4. Consider Same-Day Applications: For important inventions, consider filing both invention and utility model applications on the same day.
5. Use CNIPA's Online Services: The CNIPA online portal provides official fee schedules, payment services, and deadline tracking.
Disclaimer: The fees and information are based on the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) fee schedule effective as of 2025. Fees are subject to change and are provided in Chinese Yuan (RMB). USD equivalents are approximate. Always verify the latest official rates and rules on the CNIPA website before making payments.
