Skip to main content
PortalContact

UKIPO announces increase in official fees from April 2026: What applicants and rights holders need to know

IP news & guidance
UKIPO

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has announced that official fees for patents, trade marks and designs will rise from 1 April 2026, pending parliamentary approval.

This marks the first fee increase for trade marks since 1998, for designs since 2016, and for patents since 2018.

The UKIPO has explained that fee increases are necessary to continue to provide high quality services, support continued investment in its digital transformation programme, and address inflationary pressures of around 32% since 2016. 

Overview of the fee increases

The UKIPO will implement an average increase of 25% across almost all services.

While some individual increases appear modest, the cumulative effect—particularly for large portfolios or applications with many pages or claims—may be significant.

A comprehensive list of intended changes can be found by referring to the fee schedules published by the UKIPO. 

Despite the increases, fees will remain comparatively low when measured against many other IP offices. Further, patent searches are typically issued within six months (often sooner), and trade mark applications are examined within two to three weeks—far faster than many other jurisdictions. The UKIPO therefore remains an efficient and cost-effective option for securing and maintaining IP rights. 

Strategic considerations for applicants and rights holders

With the new fees set to take effect from 1 April 2026, businesses and individuals may wish to review their IP strategies now. Key actions include:

  • Accelerating filings - new applications submitted before 1 April 2026 will benefit from current lower rates.
  • Auditing IP portfolios - this may help identify rights that may be allowed to lapse or renewed early for cost efficiency.
    • Trade marks and designs can be renewed up to six months early.
    • Patents can be renewed up to three months early.
  • Reassessing dispute strategies - higher opposition and invalidation fees may influence when and how to challenge third‑party rights.
  • Budget planning - businesses with large portfolios or high filing volumes may consider updating forecasts for the 2026–27 financial year.