Fees & Terms
Japanese IP Associate Fees and Terms
Professional fees, translation options and engagement terms for Japanese IP work instructed by overseas counsel.
We confirm the scope and itemized costs before starting. Our estimates distinguish professional fees, official charges, translation and other agreed expenses, helping you prepare your client’s budget.
- Most professional fees
- JPYOfficial fees are shown separately.
- Routine maintenance and recordals
- USD unit pricesOnly for the specified JPO procedures.
- Time-based work
- JPY 40,000 / hourAggregated per matter; billed in 15-minute units.
Associate rates
Selected Professional Fees
These rates apply to standard work instructed by overseas IP professionals. Companies instructing us directly are welcome to request a separate quotation. The schedule was revised on 4 November 2026; existing matters remain subject to their agreed terms.
| Service and billing unit | Professional fee | Scope or conditions |
|---|---|---|
| PCT national phase entry — one patent application | 80,000 | Translation, examination and subsequent prosecution are separate. |
| Direct patent filing — one application | 80,000 | Japanese- or foreign-language filing; translation and later submission handling are separate where applicable. |
| Utility model filing or PCT entry — one application | 80,000 | Official fees include years 1–3; translation and other work are separate. |
| Request for patent examination | 10,000 | JPO fee depends on the claim count and applicable application or ISR category. |
| Patent Prosecution Highway request | 40,000 | Subject to eligibility and the agreed scope. |
| Accelerated patent examination request | 60,000 | Subject to eligibility and the agreed scope. |
| National trademark filing with basic clearance screening — first class per mark | 40,000 | Routine goods/services review and filing report included. |
| Each additional class in that national trademark application | 15,000 | Official class fees are additional. |
| National trademark registration — all classes in one registration | 30,000 | Official registration fees are additional, whether paid for ten years or by the first five-year installment. |
| National design filing — one design | 80,000 | Translation, new drawings and substantive revisions are separate. |
| National design registration — first-year payment certificate and docketing | 30,000 | JPO first-year fee is additional. |
| Madrid Japan local appointment — per international registration | 10,000 once | For the same appointment; routine POA handling included. |
| Hague Japan appointment filing | 10,000 | Refusal analysis and response work are separate. |
These are professional fees, not all-inclusive totals through grant. Official fees, applicable tax, translation and additional procedures are charged separately unless expressly included. Where a fee depends on claims, classes, designs or registrations, the quotation identifies the relevant units.
| Service | Unit price |
|---|---|
| Patent utility model or domestic design annuity payment and docketing | USD 20 per annuity year per right |
| National trademark renewal or second registration installment | USD 30 per registration, all classes |
| Routine JPO name change — first right | USD 60 |
| Routine JPO address change — first right | USD 30 |
| Standard assignment with ready-to-file documents — first right | USD 60 |
Additional-right rates, grace-period handling and the USD 30 per-case urgency surcharge are set out on our Maintenance & Recordals page. JPO official fees in JPY are additional. The routine USD rates do not cover central WIPO procedures.
Japanese and foreign-language documents
Translation Options
Both English-to-Japanese options include checking by a Japanese patent attorney. We agree the document version, terminology, translation scope and delivery schedule before starting.
| Option | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| AI-assisted English-to-Japanese translation | JPY 20 per English word | AI-assisted Japanese translation checked by a Japanese patent attorney. |
| Human English-to-Japanese translation | JPY 30 per English word | Prepared by a human translator and checked by a Japanese patent attorney. |
| Chinese-to-Japanese translation | JPY 20 per Chinese character | Source Chinese character count. |
| Japanese-to-English or Japanese-to-Chinese translation | JPY 20 per Japanese character | Source Japanese character count. |
For the same 5,000-English-word scope, the translation charge is JPY 100,000 using AI-assisted translation or JPY 150,000 using human translation. These are alternatives, not cumulative charges for the same work.
The examples cover translation only. Filing, any required later translation-submission handling, substantive amendments, drawing work and other services are separate. Review of a Japanese translation supplied by you is quoted according to the agreed review scope.
Detailed scope and requirements
Find Fees for Your Service
| Service | Documents scope and fees |
|---|---|
| Patents | PCT entry, direct filing, prosecution and examination |
| Utility Models | Filing, translation and technical opinions |
| National Trademarks | Searches, filing, prosecution and contentious matters |
| Madrid Japan Representation | Local appointment, provisional refusals and WIPO procedures |
| National Designs | Direct Japanese design applications and prosecution |
| Hague Japan Designations | Japan refusals and required submissions |
| Maintenance and Recordals | Annuities, national renewals and routine register changes |
| IP Support | Searches, opinions and strategic advice |
The full schedule contains additional prosecution, grant, appeal, opposition, trial and exceptional-procedure items. A summary fee is not a fixed package covering every possible step in a matter.
How estimates are prepared
Included Services and Time Based Work
Included in the Stated Scope
Ordinary electronic correspondence, routine docketing within the agreed mandate and electronic filing or completion reports are included in the stated professional fee. There is no separate routine foreign-correspondence fee or trademark success fee.
Translation, courier, certified copies, paid database charges, notarisation or attestation and other third-party costs are additional where needed and identified in advance. Drafting, investigations, negotiations or other work outside the stated item are separately estimated.
Hourly Work and Budget Ranges
Time-based work is charged at JPY 40,000 per hour, aggregated per matter and billed in 15-minute units of JPY 10,000. We confirm the scope and estimate before starting and agree additional work in advance.
Trademark response ranges are indicative budgets, not caps. Opposition and invalidation estimates cover the initial phase stated in the schedule. A standard non-use cancellation proceeding is quoted as a fixed fee for the agreed JPO work through decision; exceptional work, translation and disbursements are separate.
Analysis and Response Fees
For national trademark office actions and Madrid provisional refusals, a separately paid JPY 20,000 analysis fee is credited toward our response fee for the same notice. Hague and patent analysis and response items are separate components unless otherwise agreed. Our combined quotation identifies the work and any applicable credit.
JPY USD and CHF
Currency and Official Fees
Professional Fees and Settlement
JPY is our default invoice and settlement currency. Most professional fees are priced in JPY. Routine maintenance and recordal items expressly priced in USD retain their stated USD unit prices.
If USD-priced work is included on a JPY invoice, our quotation states the USD/JPY conversion basis and date for written agreement. Settlement in another currency requires prior agreement.
Professional fees, official fees and expenses are shown separately. We do not combine USD professional fees and JPY official costs into a single total without an agreed conversion basis.
JPO and WIPO Official Fees
JPO fees are payable in JPY and WIPO fees in CHF, at cost at the rates applicable to the transaction. Claim, class, design and registration counts can affect the official total. Legacy payment histories may require different amounts.
For WIPO procedures, you may pay WIPO directly or pre-fund our payment. If a WIPO payment is converted to JPY, the actual bank or settlement conversion rate is identified on the invoice. If no conversion occurs, CHF settlement or a written conversion basis is agreed in advance.
WIPO official fees are charged without an exchange-rate markup. Transfer costs are separately disclosed.
Billing conditions
Payment Terms and Charges
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Payment method | Bank transfer to the account shown on our invoice. Card, PayPal or another method requires separate agreement. |
| Payment due date | 30 days for approved credit accounts. New relationships and material official-fee outlays may require advance payment. |
| Bank/administration charge | JPY 4,000 once per incoming remittance, including a consolidated remittance covering several invoices. |
| Sending and intermediary bank charges | Borne by the payer. |
| Japanese consumption tax | Professional fees exclude consumption tax. Qualifying export services to non-resident clients are exempt; any applicable tax is shown on the quotation and invoice. |
The JPY 4,000 charge is per incoming remittance, not per case or invoice. Several invoices may be paid together; please identify the invoices and your references in the remittance advice.
Acceptance and scope
Instructions and Deadline Responsibility
Please send instructions at least five business days before the deadline, and earlier where translation, evidence or supporting documents are needed. State the exact date, time and time zone. We confirm acceptance and the applicable deadline for each matter.
Maintenance instructions received within five business days of the due date carry the USD 30 per-case urgency surcharge stated in the maintenance schedule. Other urgent work is subject to availability and an agreed quotation.
Maintenance and renewal payments require instructions and cleared funds. We agree which rights and deadlines we docket and report. Appointment as representative alone does not instruct payment, renewal or worldwide monitoring.
An initial inquiry does not establish an engagement or transfer responsibility for a deadline. Please send a non-confidential outline first and wait for our written acceptance before sending confidential materials.
Procedure-specific authority
Powers of Attorney and Supporting Documents
We provide a checklist for the particular procedure. The documents required depend on the right, procedural stage, proposed act and transaction history.
| Procedure | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Initial national filing and ordinary prosecution | A POA is not normally filed with the initial application. Later appointment or a special act may require proof of authority. |
| Madrid Japan local appointment | A POA or applicable general POA with Japanese translation. Routine handling is included in the local appointment fee. |
| Oppositions appeals and inter partes trials | We obtain appropriate authority and file a POA or general-POA reference as required for the proceeding and special acts. |
| National renewals and installment payments | Ordinary payment or renewal generally does not require a new POA. Deleting classes, surrender or another special act may require express authority. |
| JPO assignments holder changes and licences | The POA and supporting documents depend on the request. Signed original deeds and evidence of identity or authority may be needed. |
| WIPO transactions | The authorized holder or representative must sign or approve the request. A Japanese local POA does not automatically confer WIPO representation. |
We do not request blanket notarisation or legalisation. Supporting assignment or licence documents can have different evidentiary requirements from the POA itself; we confirm what is needed before filing.
Revised 4 November 2026
Complete Schedule of Fees
Our complete associate fee schedule covers patents, utility models, designs, Hague Japan designations, national trademarks, Madrid matters, maintenance and recordals. It includes detailed professional fees, official-fee references and conditions.
Download the complete schedule below, or contact us for a quotation identifying the service, application or registration number, requested scope and relevant deadline.
The published schedule is a reference for standard associate work. Your agreed quotation and scope govern the engagement. We verify the applicable official tariff and individual notice before filing or payment.
Frequently asked questions
Fee and Engagement Questions
Are the published fees all inclusive?
Each fee covers the stated item. Official fees, translation, applicable tax and other agreed expenses are additional unless expressly included. We identify the components in your quotation.
Can we choose AI-assisted or human translation?
Yes. English-to-Japanese AI-assisted translation is JPY 20 per English word, and human translation is JPY 30 per English word. Both include checking by a Japanese patent attorney. We agree the source documents, scope and schedule before starting.
Do you invoice all services in USD?
No. JPY is our default invoice and settlement currency. The specified maintenance items retain their USD unit prices, with any JPY conversion basis and date agreed in writing. Another settlement currency requires prior agreement.
Can we consolidate payment for several invoices?
Yes. The JPY 4,000 bank/administration charge applies once per incoming remittance, including a consolidated payment. Please identify the invoices in the remittance advice.
Do the routine USD renewal fees apply to Madrid and Hague registrations?
No. The USD rates apply to the specified Japanese national procedures. Madrid and Hague renewals are handled through WIPO and require separate arrangements.
Do we pay a separate fee for ordinary foreign correspondence?
No separate routine foreign-correspondence fee is added. Ordinary electronic correspondence and the stated reports are included. Additional substantive work, translation and necessary third-party costs are separately identified.
Does appointing you automatically instruct future maintenance?
No. Payments require instructions and cleared funds. Our agreed mandate identifies which rights and deadlines we docket and report.
What fees apply to a matter already accepted?
The fees and scope agreed for that engagement govern the matter. Please contact us if a published revision raises a question about an existing instruction.
Request an Itemized Japanese IP Estimate
Tell us the action required, relevant application or registration number and deadline. We will confirm the scope, documents and estimated costs.
Cita-Cita Patent Attorney Corporation · info@cita2ip.com · Japan Standard Time: UTC+9