Order a search service
The cost of a search conducted by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office on behalf of you or your IP advisor, to gather useful information for preparing a patent application.
NOK 5 000 – 30 000
How much does a patent application cost?
Obtaining a patent for your invention can be crucial for protecting the value of your innovation — but the process can also be expensive. Here, you will find an overview of the factors that affect the cost, along with an approximate estimate of what it might cost to apply for a patent in Norway and internationally.
What determines the cost?
Several factors influence the cost of applying for a patent:
- Application complexity – The more complex the invention, the more work is required to draft the application.
- Field of technology – In innovation-intensive industries like consumer electronics or medical technology, more thorough novelty searches and strategically worded claims may be needed to avoid conflicts with existing patents.
- Technical complexity – Inventions in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or artificial intelligence often require highly detailed descriptions, specific experimental data, and extensive legal review.
- Scope and geography – A national application is usually less expensive than regional or international applications. Translations and adapting to different national regulations add to the cost.
- Number of claims – A higher number of claims can increase costs due to additional filing fees and the extra work required to draft them.
Professional assistance
Patenting is a complex field, and it is easy to make mistakes without proper guidance. That is why many choose to work with a patent agency or an IP advisor. They can assist with drafting and wording the application, and with navigating strict requirements and deadlines throughout the examination process. They may also help with fee management, such as the payment of annual renewal fees.
Estimated costs of applying for a patent
Here is an approximate estimate of the costs involved in applying for a patent in Norway and continuing via the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty), which is the most common route to international patent protection.
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Before you apply
Applicant
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Submission of a Norwegian patent application
Applicant
Apply in Norway
The cost for work carried out by your IP advisor to draft and submit the patent application on your behalf.
NOK 40 000 – 100 000*
* The price includes fees to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. The price does not include costs for your IP advisor's follow-up on your application after submission, which is often required.
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Total cost of applying in Norway
NOK 45 000 - 130 000
The next step
If you plan to sell or manufacture your invention outside Norway, you should also apply for patent protection in the relevant countries. This decision is made after receiving a response to your Norwegian patent application.
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Submission of an international patent application
Applicant
Apply internationally via PCT
The cost of work carried out by your IP advisor to draft and submit the patent application on your behalf. This must be done within 12 months of submitting your Norwegian application.
From approx. NOK 50 000 – 60 000*
* The price includes fees to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, EPO, or WIPO. The price does not include costs for your IP advisor's follow-up on your application after submission, which is often required.
The next step
Once the PCT opinion is ready, you must decide which countries you want to extend your patent application to. The location of your market and where your competitors are active are two important factors to consider when choosing countries.
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Submission of an international patent application
Applicant
Extend your PCT application to countries outside Norway
The cost of work carried out by your IP advisor to draft and submit patent applications on your behalf. This must be done within 30 months of submitting your Norwegian application.
NOK 30 000 – 60 000 per country*
* The price includes fees to the selected countries. The price does not include costs for your IP advisor's follow-up on your applications after submission, which is often required.
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Total cost of applying in Norway and internationally
From NOK 200 000 – 600 000
There is no upper cost limit – costs will vary significantly depending on the complexity of the invention and the strategy you choose for protection.
Frequently asked questions
Advantages of international patent application (PCT)
- International protection of your invention with a single application
- More time to consider which markets are most relevant to your invention
- Valuable insights that can help you improve your application throughout the application process
- The costs are spread over a longer period of time
No, there are many different paths to take. But if you have not applied within 12 months, you will lose the opportunity.
An average patent application has 10-15 claims. However, how many claims you need depends on the complexity of your invention and how many countries you are applying in.
The number of patent claims included in the basic fee for a patent application varies between countries. Here is an overview for some countries:
- Norway - 10 claims
- EU (European patent via EPO) - 15 claims
- USA - 20 claims (maximum three independent claims)
- China - 10 claims
There are often additional fees for claims beyond what is included.
In certain cases, you may have knowledge that may not be — or is not — patentable. Another strategy is to choose to keep this knowledge secret. If this knowledge can be considered a trade secret, it may be protected. Trade secrets can be an alternative or supplement to other registrable rights.
To reduce costs, it is important that you do good groundwork. We recommend that you do the following before sending this on to an IP advisor:
- Write an easy-to-read explanation of what you have invented
- Describe what alternative solutions exist for what you have invented
- Create drawings
- Order a search service from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to see if your invention infringes on other people's patents
- Call the customer service center for free guidance
Yes, you can apply for a patent in Norway without an advisor. However, patenting is a demanding field and you need to be well-versed in the legislation and other people's inventions to get your application approved. The more complex your invention is, the more difficult it is to get it approved.
Only 1 in 10 applications submitted without the use of an IP advisor are approved.
Support schemes
It is common to have limited funds during the startup phase, and many finance development with their own savings. Therefore, it may be wise to explore which public and private organizations offer support schemes and grants.
See the list of support schemes at DNB (Norwegian only)Patent renewal fees
You can renew your patent in Norway annually for up to 20 years. The fee increases each year the patent is maintained. The first payment is due at the beginning of the third year after filing.
- Annual fees for the first three years (total): NOK 2 730
- Annual fees from the fourth year onwards:
We do not send invoices for renewal, but you will receive a reminder letter from us two months before the payment deadline, with information about what to pay and how.
If you have registered your patent internationally, you or your IP advisor must contact the national patent offices for information about renewal procedures and fees.
Other fees and charges
