Patent Registration in India: Provisional vs Complete & Timeline (2026)

1Provisional vs complete application

A provisional application secures your priority date with a basic description while your invention is still being developed — but you must file the complete specification within 12 months or the application lapses. A complete specification contains the full description and the claims that define the legal scope of protection.

2Step-by-step

• Do a patent search (IP India database and global sources) to check novelty.
• File the application with the specification (provisional or complete) on the IP India portal.
• File a Request for Examination — examination does not start automatically; it must be requested within the prescribed period.
• Respond to the examination report (objections) within the allowed time.
• On acceptance and after any opposition period, the patent is granted and published.

3Timeline, term & cost

Grant commonly takes a few years depending on objections. A patent lasts 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual renewal (maintenance) fees. Official fees are lower for individuals, startups and small entities than for large companies — verify the current fee schedule on ipindia.gov.in. A patent agent is optional but helpful for drafting strong claims.