Paris Convention Filing
Filing Japanese-language applications claiming foreign priority, with review of the supplied instructions, document versions and priority arrangements.
Utility Models
Utility Model Protection in Japan
Japanese utility model filing, translation and technical opinion support for overseas counsel and their clients.
We assist with Paris Convention applications and PCT national phase entry, coordinate Japanese translations, and advise on the scope and practical use of utility model rights.
- Standard filing professional fee
- JPY 80,000Translation and JPO official fees are additional.
- English-to-Japanese translation
- JPY 20 or 30 / wordBoth options include a Japanese patent attorney’s check.
- Protection period
- 10 years from filingSubject to payment of the required registration fees.
Choosing the right protection
Is a Japanese Utility Model Suitable?
A Japanese utility model protects technical ideas relating to the shape or structure of an article, or a combination of articles. It may be relevant to mechanical components, tools, fixtures and product assemblies.
Applications undergo formality and basic-requirement checks rather than substantive examination of novelty and inventive step before registration. Registration therefore does not establish that the right is valid or enforceable.
Points to Consider
- The claimed subject matter must fall within the utility model system’s article-based scope.
- Drawings and a clear description of the structure are important filing materials.
- The term is ten years from the filing date.
- A JPO technical opinion and a warning presenting that report are required before exercising the right against an alleged infringer.
We can review the proposed subject matter and discuss whether a utility model or patent route better fits your client’s objectives.
How we can assist
Japanese Utility Model Services
PCT National Phase Entry
Entry into Japan as a utility model application, with confirmation of the documents, applicable dates and Japanese translation plan.
Translation and Filing Materials
AI-assisted or human English-to-Japanese translation, patent attorney checking, and coordination of descriptions, claims and drawings.
Formalities and Registration
Responses to invitations to correct formalities, registration reporting and delivery of the registration certificate.
Technical Opinions
Requests for a Report of Utility Model Technical Opinion, followed by analysis and English comments when instructed.
Subsequent Procedures
Annuities, recordals and assessment of a patent application based on a utility model registration, subject to the applicable conditions.
Filing fees
Clear Fees for Japanese Filing
Associate rates for standard work instructed by overseas IP professionals. Professional fees and official fees are shown separately.
| Service | Professional fee | JPO official fee |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Convention application in Japanese, including official registration fees for years 1–3 | 80,000 | 20,600 for one claim; +300 for each additional claim |
| PCT national phase entry as a utility model, including official registration fees for years 1–3 | 80,000 | 20,600 for one claim; +300 for each additional claim |
| Later submission of a Japanese translation of a PCT application, where applicable | 40,000 | No fee |
| Standard priority claim, including DAS retrieval where available | No additional fee | No fee |
| Voluntary amendment | 20,000–60,000* | No fee |
| Response to an invitation to correct formalities | 20,000–60,000* | No fee |
| Registration report and forwarding of the certificate | No additional fee | No additional fee for the report |
On smaller screens, scroll the tables horizontally. The official filing amount includes the first claim and registration fees for years 1–3. Additional claims increase the official fee; there is no additional professional filing fee per claim.
Paris Convention utility model applications must be filed in Japanese. For PCT matters, we confirm the translation-submission procedure and whether the separate JPY 40,000 handling fee applies. This handling fee is separate from preparation of the translation.
Standard Filing Scope
- Review of complete filing instructions and bibliographic information.
- Preparation and electronic filing of the agreed application or national phase documents.
- Standard priority handling and an English filing report.
- Routine correspondence and registration reporting.
Separately Estimated Work
Translation or supplied-translation review, new drafting, substantive claim revisions, necessary drawing work, technical opinions and responses to formality objections are separate.
* Time-based items are charged at JPY 40,000 per hour, aggregated per matter and billed in 15-minute units. We confirm the scope and estimate before starting.
Japanese translation
Two Translation Options
Both English-to-Japanese options include checking by a Japanese patent attorney. We confirm the source documents, terminology, word count and delivery schedule before starting.
| Option | Rate | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| AI-assisted translation | JPY 20 / English word | AI-assisted Japanese translation checked by a Japanese patent attorney. |
| Human translation | JPY 30 / English word | Translation prepared by a human translator and checked by a Japanese patent attorney. |
Illustrative Filing and Translation Costs
One Paris Convention utility model application, five claims, a 5,000-English-word translation scope and complete supplied documents. The Japanese translation is filed with the application.
| Item | AI-assisted | Human |
|---|---|---|
| Filing professional fee | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| JPO filing and years 1–3 fees: 20,600 + (4 × 300) | 21,800 | 21,800 |
| Translation: 5,000 English words | 100,000 | 150,000 |
| Illustrative total | 201,800 | 251,800 |
These are examples, not fixed packages or guarantees of registration. They exclude additional drafting, amendments, drawing work, formality responses, technical opinion requests, later annuities, applicable tax, disbursements and the JPY 4,000 per-remittance bank/administration charge. The examples assume the professional services qualify for Japanese consumption-tax exemption. A later PCT translation-submission handling fee is not included in this direct-filing example.
For Chinese-to-Japanese translation, the rate is JPY 20 per Chinese character. Review of a supplied Japanese translation is quoted separately.
Technical assessment
Report of Utility Model Technical Opinion
The JPO report assesses matters such as novelty and inventive step using a prior art search. It is a separate procedure from registration and is not a guarantee of validity or a decision on infringement.
Before exercising a utility model right against an alleged infringer, the right holder must give a warning presenting the report. We can request the report and, when instructed, explain its findings and implications in English.
| Service or route | Professional fee | JPO official fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard technical opinion request | 50,000 | 43,000 for one claim; +1,000 per additional claim |
| Eligible PCT application with an ISR established by the JPO | 50,000 | 8,600 for one claim; +200 per additional claim |
| Eligible PCT application with an ISR established by another ISA | 50,000 | 34,400 for one claim; +800 per additional claim |
| Analysis and reporting of the technical opinion with comments | 30,000 | No fee |
ISR: International Search Report. ISA: International Searching Authority. We confirm eligibility for the PCT-related official fee and the number of claims covered by the request. The analysis fee is separate from the request fee. Extensive translation or additional opinions are separately estimated.
Considering a Patent Application Later?
A patent application based on a utility model registration may be available within three years of the original filing date, subject to statutory conditions and exclusions. Technical opinion requests can affect that option. Please discuss the intended route with us before requesting a technical opinion.
Our professional fee for a patent application based on a utility model registration is JPY 80,000, plus the JPO filing fee of JPY 14,000. Examination, translation, additional drafting and prosecution are separate. The utility model right must be relinquished for this route; we review the consequences and eligibility before proceeding.
After registration
Annuities and Recordals
Official registration fees for years 1–3 are included in the filing amounts above. Later annual payments and register changes are handled on instruction.
| Payment year | Professional fee | JPO official fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| Each year from year 4 to year 6 | USD 20 per annuity year | JPY 6,400 for one claim; +JPY 300 per additional claim |
| Each year from year 7 to year 10 | USD 20 per annuity year | JPY 19,000 for one claim; +JPY 900 per additional claim |
Paying several years together does not change the per-year professional fee. For example, years 4–6 for one right carry a professional fee of USD 60, plus the applicable JPO fees. Late payments and urgent instructions carry the separate rates stated in our schedule.
Routine name changes, address changes and assignments are available under our Maintenance & Recordals rates. Payments require instructions and cleared funds; our agreed mandate defines which deadlines we docket and report.
Getting started
Documents and Instructions
For an initial quotation, send the filing route, available application number, word count, claim count and exact deadline. We will confirm the documents required for the particular matter.
Paris Convention Applications
- Priority country or office, application number and filing date.
- Description, claims, abstract and drawings, with editable source files where available.
- Applicant and inventor names and addresses, including changes in entitlement.
- Priority documents or DAS access details, where available.
- Any existing Japanese translation and preferred terminology.
- Details of any publication, sale or other disclosure.
PCT National Phase Entry
- PCT application and publication numbers and earliest priority date.
- Published application and the document version to be used in Japan.
- Any Article 19 or Article 34 amendments and replacement pages.
- International search report and available written opinions.
- Applicant and inventor details and any international-phase changes.
- Japanese translation availability, requested work and intended filing date.
From Instructions to Registration
-
Review
We check the requested route, supplied documents, priority details and deadline.
-
Confirm
We agree the translation method, scope, itemized estimate and filing instructions.
-
File
We prepare and submit the agreed documents and report the Japanese filing.
-
Report
We report registration and handle any technical opinion or later payments separately as instructed.
Please send instructions at least five business days before the deadline, and earlier where translation is needed. State the exact date, time and time zone. An inquiry does not establish an engagement or transfer deadline responsibility. Send confidential materials only after we confirm acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Utility Model Filing in Japan
Does a utility model undergo substantive examination before registration?
No. The JPO checks formalities and basic requirements before registration. Novelty and inventive step are not substantively examined at that stage, and registration does not establish validity.
Can we file a Paris Convention application in English first?
A Japanese utility model application claiming Paris Convention priority must be filed in Japanese. Send us the complete documents and deadline early enough to arrange translation. We separately confirm the available procedure for PCT national phase matters.
Are the first three years of registration fees included?
Yes. The official filing amounts shown above include years 1–3. For five claims, the total JPO filing and initial registration fees are JPY 21,800. Our standard filing professional fee is JPY 80,000. Translation and other separately instructed work are additional.
Is there a separate registration reporting fee?
No additional professional fee is charged for reporting registration and forwarding the certificate under the standard utility model filing service. Technical opinion requests and later annuities are separate.
Do both translation options include patent attorney checking?
Yes. 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 confirm the source documents, terminology, scope and delivery schedule before starting.
Is a technical opinion included in the filing fee?
No. A technical opinion request is a separate procedure. Our request professional fee is JPY 50,000, plus the applicable official fee. Analysis and an English report with comments carry a separate professional fee of JPY 30,000.
Can we use the utility model right immediately against a competitor?
Registration alone is insufficient. Before exercising the right against an alleged infringer, the holder must give a warning presenting a JPO Report of Utility Model Technical Opinion. We can review the report, claim scope and intended action before you proceed.
Can a patent application be pursued after utility model registration?
A patent application based on the registration may be possible within three years of the original filing date, subject to statutory conditions and exclusions. A technical opinion request can affect availability, and the utility model right must be relinquished for that route. Please ask us to review the facts before taking either step.
Fee schedule revised 4 November 2026. Professional fees exclude applicable Japanese consumption tax. Qualifying export services to non-resident clients are exempt; any applicable tax is shown in the quotation. JPY is the default invoice currency; USD maintenance unit prices retain their stated basis, with any conversion agreed in advance. A JPY 4,000 bank/administration charge applies once per incoming remittance. Official fees are charged at the rates applicable when paid.
Official guidance: JPO utility model FAQs · JPO utility model procedures · JPO fee schedule. We confirm the applicable requirements and fees for each matter.
Related Japanese IP Services
Discuss Your Japanese Utility Model Filing
Send the application details, translation requirements and relevant deadline. We will confirm the available route, required documents and estimated costs.
Email: info@cita2ip.com · Japan Standard Time: UTC+9