Overview (entry to grant)
Enter Japan within 30 months from the earliest priority date. To make a valid entry, submit the national transmittal (Form 53) and a full Japanese translation (description, claims, any text in drawings, abstract). If Form 53 is filed during months 29–30, the translation may be filed within two months from the Form 53 filing date. A Japanese patent attorney/agent is required if the applicant has no Japanese address. After entry, publication follows PCT timing; substantive examination begins only when a separate request for examination is filed (deadline: three years from the international filing date). Amendments are permitted under Japanese practice provided no new matter is added. A limited reinstatement route exists if certain 30-month actions were missed, but it is exceptional and time-sensitive.
Essentials
| Topic | Japan practice (concise) |
|---|---|
| National phase deadline | 30 months from earliest priority |
| To be on file at entry | Form 53 and Japanese translation (description, claims, text in drawings, abstract). If Form 53 filed in months 29–30, translation may follow within two months from that filing |
| Language | Japanese (full translation required if IA is not in Japanese). Translate any Art. 19/34 amendments as well |
| Copy of international application | Normally retrieved by JPO from WIPO; applicant copy not required in ordinary cases |
| Representation | Local agent required where no Japanese address; appointment is ordinarily made at entry |
| Examination trigger | Separate request for examination; deadline is three years from international filing date |
| Amendments | Permitted during national phase (no added matter); corrections to translation allowed to fix mistranslations but not to broaden beyond the original disclosure |
| Missed steps | JPO offers limited reinstatement for certain failures around the 30-month acts under an “unintentional” standard; strict windows apply |
What your Japanese agent will need (send at instruction)
- PCT details: international application and publication numbers; earliest priority date
- Latest text set: specification, claims, abstract, drawings (source files if available); any Article 19/34 amendments
- Translation inputs: clean Word/PDF, marked-up changes if any, glossary or terminology preferences
- Applicant and inventor particulars; assignment status if relevant
- Claim strategy on entry: whether to streamline claim dependencies or align with JA practice
- Timing preference for the later request for examination (early vs. standard within 3 years)
- Any PPH intent (if relying on allowed claims elsewhere)
Tip for accurate quotes: include estimated English-word count for translation, total pages, total and independent claim counts, and whether drawings contain text that needs translation.
Government fees payable at entry only
Amounts are JPY and current; these are the fees that can be payable to commence the Japanese national phase. Later fees (request for examination, annuities, etc.) are intentionally excluded.
| Fee item (JPO) | Amount (JPY) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| National phase filing fee (patent) | 14,000 | Payable for national-phase filing; if not paid at entry, JPO will invite payment within a set period |
| Digitization fee (paper submissions only): base + per page | 2,400 + 800 per page | Only if translations or other entry documents are filed on paper instead of electronically |
Notes
• Translation preparation is a vendor cost, not a JPO fee.
• Sequence listings filed in ST.26 XML are handled under separate technical rules; discuss with your agent if applicable.
Process steps (practical view)
- File Form 53 and provide the Japanese translation (or use the two-month translation window if Form 53 is filed during months 29–30).
- Appoint a Japanese patent attorney/agent if the applicant has no Japanese address; set the correspondence address.
- Attend to any JPO invitation to pay the national fee if it was not remitted at entry; cure minor formalities.
- Decide when to file the request for examination (any time within three years from the international filing date).
- During prosecution, respond to reasons for refusal with argument and amendment; interviews with the examiner may be arranged where helpful.
- After allowance, complete grant formalities; renewal and working-statement matters are outside this entry-stage guide.
Professional fees (planning guidance)
These ranges reflect typical Japanese practice for straightforward cases; actual quotes vary with technical field, document condition, translation volume, and urgency.
- National-phase commencement (Form 53 package, agent appointment, filing formalities): JPY 90,000–180,000
- Translation management by counsel (oversight/QA; excludes vendor translation): JPY 20,000–60,000
- Translation vendor costs (EN→JA technical): ~JPY 20–35 per English word (wide variation by domain)
- Optional claim cleanup on entry: JPY 40,000–120,000
What to include with your quote request
- PCT/IB numbers and earliest priority date
- English word count (or page count) for translation scoping, plus any text in drawings
- Total and independent claim counts; whether any multiple-dependent claims should be retained or converted
- Any Article 19/34 amendments to be reflected in the Japanese set
- Desired timing for request for examination; whether PPH will be pursued
- Any special terminology or prior consistency requirements across jurisdictions
References
- JPO: PCT national phase guidance; translation timing and Form 53; 30-month rule
- JPO: Schedule of fees (entry fee 14,000 JPY; digitization fee 2,400 JPY + 800 JPY per page)
- WIPO PCT Applicant’s Guide — Japan (national phase chapter; special translation time limit; agent and copy requirements)
- JPO: Digitization fee policy for paper submissions
- JPO: Relief measures and reinstatement framework (unintentional standard windows)