Calendar (planned, date-driven)

IPO fee increases from April 2026: what your business needs to know

The Intellectual Property Office is raising fees by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026. Trade mark applications rise from £170 to £205 and patent search fees from £150 to £200. Businesses planning IP registrations or with renewals due should consider acting before the deadline.

Change event: Intellectual Property Office fees to increase from April 2026 Effective 1 April 2026

What is changing

From 1 April 2026, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is increasing fees across all IP rights by an average of 25%. The increase applies to patents, trade marks, and registered and unregistered designs.

This is the first fee increase for trade marks since 1998, for designs since 2016, and for patents since 2018. The IPO states the increase addresses a 32% rise in inflation since 2016 and future cost pressures that cannot be fully offset through efficiency savings or reserves.

A Statutory Instrument allowing the fee change has been laid in Parliament.

Effective date
1 April 2026
Average increase
25% across all IP rights
Trade mark application (online)
£170 to £205
Patent search fee
£150 to £200
Last trade mark fee increase
1998
Last patent fee increase
2018
Last design fee increase
2016

Which fees are affected

The increase applies across five fee schedules:

  • Patents — filing, search, examination, and annual renewal fees
  • Trade marks — application, renewal, and opposition fees
  • Registered designs — application and renewal fees
  • Unregistered designs — related procedural fees

The IPO has published detailed CSV fee schedules showing current and new fees for each category on their website.

Impact on trade mark registration

The online trade mark application fee rises from £170 to £205 per class. For businesses registering trade marks across multiple Nice Classification classes, the total increase is significant.

Trade mark renewal fees (due every 10 years) will also increase. If your trade mark renewal falls shortly after 1 April 2026, check whether you can renew early at the current rate.

The IPO has published guidance for customers with fees due near the implementation date.

Impact on patent applications

Patent fees are increasing across the application lifecycle:

  • Search fee: £150 to £200
  • Filing, examination, and grant fees will also increase proportionally
  • Annual renewal fees (from year 5 onwards) will rise, increasing the long-term cost of maintaining a patent

For businesses already in the patent application process, check which fees are still outstanding and whether any can be paid before 1 April 2026 at the current rate.

Impact on design registration

Registered design fees are increasing for the first time since 2016. This affects both initial registration and five-yearly renewal fees.

If you have designs due for renewal in early 2026, consider renewing before the fee increase takes effect.

❗ What you need to do before 1 April 2026

Consider these actions to manage the impact of the fee increase:

  • File pending applications now: If you have been planning to register a trade mark, patent, or design, filing before 1 April 2026 locks in the current fee
  • Check renewal dates: If any IP renewals fall shortly after 1 April, check whether early renewal is possible at current rates
  • Review your IP portfolio: Assess which registrations are still commercially valuable and worth renewing at the higher rate
  • Budget for higher costs: Update your IP budget to reflect the 25% average increase for future applications and renewals
  • Check IPO guidance: The IPO has published specific guidance for customers with fees due near the changeover date

⚠️ Budget impact for patent holders

Patent annual renewal fees apply from year 5 onwards and increase each year. The 25% uplift compounds over the 20-year life of a patent, significantly increasing the total cost of maintaining patent protection.

Review your patent portfolio to ensure each patent still justifies the ongoing renewal cost. Letting lapsed patents expire rather than renewing at the higher rate may be appropriate for commercially unviable patents.

ℹ️ Why fees are increasing

The IPO has absorbed cost increases through efficiency improvements and digital investment for several years. The 25% increase addresses a 32% rise in inflation since 2016 and future cost pressures that the IPO states cannot be fully offset through further efficiencies or reserves.

UK IPO fees remain competitive internationally. Trade mark registration in the UK (£205 from April 2026) compares favourably with EU trade mark registration at the EUIPO (from €850).