What changes on 1 April 2027?

Electronic filing becomes mandatory

Filing of applications

All applications with the EPO, whether European patent applications or international (PCT) applications, must be filed electronically. The Online Filing 2.0 (OLF 2.0) tool is the EPO’s secure, web-based service for doing so. Users filing international applications may also use WIPO's ePCT portal. 

Full information on filing applications and how to use Online Filing 2.0 is available on the "File with us" page.

Filing of subsequent documents

After filing a patent application, all further documents (including replies) during proceedings before the EPO are to be filed electronically using Online Filing 2.0. Subsequent documents may also be filed using MyEPO, where applicable.   

What if I cannot file electronically?

A patent application or subsequent documents may still be submitted on paper, e.g. in order to secure a filing date or meet a time limit, but this option should be relied on in exceptional circumstances only. These may be submitted by post to the EPO filing office in Munich, The Hague or Berlin. Hand delivery to EPO locations and the use of automated mailboxes (in Berlin and Munich) will no longer be possible.

The user will subsequently be invited by the EPO to resubmit the application / document electronically within two months of receiving the invitation.

The filing date will remain the date on which the paper application was received if an identical electronic resubmission is received within the time limit. 

Fee reductions for filing applications electronically do not apply to paper applications which are resubmitted electronically.  

What happens if I do not submit the required electronic version?

If a paper European patent application or request for unitary effect (within the Unitary Patent process) is not refiled electronically in due time, it will be refused. Other paper documents that are not refiled electronically in due time will be treated as not having been received. 

Are there any exceptions to mandatory electronic filing?

Unless otherwise specified, the requirement to (re-)file electronically does not apply to certified paper copies, physical objects or submissions by individuals who are not party to the proceedings (other than third-party observations which must be filed electronically). Exceptions may also apply in individual cases when required by special circumstances.  

 

Filing of the third-party observations

Third-party observations must be filed electronically. Unlike other submissions by individuals who are not party to the proceedings, third-party observations submitted on paper will not be accepted anymore. The dedicated third-party observation form is available both in MyEPO and on the EPO’s public webpage.  No invitations for electronic refiling of third-party observation forms submitted on paper will be issued.  

 

Notification becomes fully digital

As a rule, all official notifications and communications from the EPO will be delivered electronically to the Mailbox in MyEPO, the core of the EPO’s online services. No paper copies will be sent in parallel.

Documents notified electronically are deemed to be delivered on the date they bear. Users should check their Mailboxes regularly. Users can activate email alerts for new communications received in their Mailbox.

Where electronic notification is not possible for reasons attributable to the addressee, notification will be effected by public notice.  

  

Fee payments remain digital

EPO fees continue to be paid electronically via the Central Fee Payment application or, where available, by submission of a debit order. 

Full information can be found on our "Fee payment and refunds" webpage.