PCT Applicant's Guide Belize - Valid as from 1 Apr 2025

Applicable as from 1 April 2025

(published on 13 March 2025)

Summary of latest changes in this version
RO: RO fees, incorporation by reference Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase: Restoration of the right of priority, Reinstatement of rights

Consult the full list of the changes

Previous version(s): You can consult previous versions of the document. The only applicable version is the current version.
15 Sep 2023, 1 Nov 2023, 1 Jan 2024, 1 Mar 2024, 1 Jul 2024, 1 Dec 2024, 1 Jan 2025, Current Version

Useful information

The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.

In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.

List of abbreviations used in this document:

Office: Belize Intellectual Property Office

PA: Patents Act (Cap. 253)

PR: Patents Regulations, 2002

List of currencies used in this document:

BZD (Belize dollar), USD (US dollar)

Countries and Offices information:

The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.

Office profile

For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.

PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities

The Office does not have any reservations, declarations, notifications or incompatibilities.
Refer to the full list.

Office Closed dates

The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday

Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

International Phase

Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

Contracting State:

Belize

Two-letter code:

Name of Office:

Belize Intellectual Property Office

Location:

23 Garbutt Creek Street
P.O. Box 592
Belmopan
Cayo District
Belize

Mailing address:

Same as above

Telephone:

(501-8) 22 13 81
(501-8) 22 20 73

E-mail:

belipo@btl.net
info@belipo.bz

Website:

http://www.belipo.bz

Facsimile:

None

Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?

Yes, by e-mail

Which kinds of documents may be so transmitted?

All kinds of documents

Must the original of the document be furnished in all cases?

Yes, within one month from the date of the transmission, if the transmitted document is the international application or a replacement sheet containing corrections or amendments of the international application

No, only upon invitation in the case of other documents

Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?

Yes, provided that the delivery service is:

DHL,

Federal Express

Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?

More information about WIPO DAS is available at: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das.

Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:

BZ,

Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?

Refer to the Office

Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:

Refer to corresponding National Phase.

Types of protection available via the PCT:

Patents,

Utility models

Payment methods accepted by the Office:

Refer to the Office

Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):

None

Provisional protection after international publication:

None

Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)

Time when the name and address of the inventor must be given:

Must be in the request. If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation.

Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?

Annex C - Receiving Office

Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:

Belize

Language in which international applications may be filed:

English

Language in which the request may be filed:

English

Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:

Does the receiving Office accept incorporation by reference (PCT Rule 20.6)?

Yes

Does the receiving Office accept the submission of color drawings on an informal basis and transmit them to the International Bureau?

Refer to the Office

Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?

Yes, the Office applies both the “unintentional” and the “due care” criteria to such requests

Competent International Searching Authority:

The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.

CA,

Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:

CA,

Fees payable to the RO:

Transmittal fee:

300 BZD

International filing fee:

This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).

1,456 USD

Fee per sheet in excess of 30:

This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).

16 USD

Search fee:

Refer to
Annex D(CA)
Annex D(EP)

Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):

20 BZD

Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3(d)):

150 BZD

Is an agent required by the receiving Office?

No, if the applicant resides in Belize
Yes, if the applicant is a non-resident

Who can act as agent?

Any patent attorney entitled to practice before the Office

Waiver of power of attorney:

Has the Office waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?

Refer to the Office

Has the Office waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?

Refer to the Office

National Phase

Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:

May be extended upon written request of the applicant.

Under PCT Article 22(1): 30 months from the priority date

Under PCT Article 39(1)(a): 30 months from the priority date

Does the Office permit reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6)?

Yes

Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):

English

Required contents of the translation for entry into the national phase:

Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).

Under PCT Article 22: Description, claims (if amended, both as originally filed and as amended), any text matter of drawings, abstract

Under PCT Article 39(1): Description, claims, any text matter of drawings, abstract (if any of those parts has been amended, both as originally filed and as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)

Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?

The applicant should only send a copy of the international application if he has not received Form PCT/IB/308 and the Office has not received a copy of the international application from the International Bureau under PCT Article 20. This may be the case where the applicant expressly requests an earlier start of the national phase under PCT Article 23(2).

Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?

Refer to the Office

National fees:

Patents

Filing fee

Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).

300 BZD

Annual fees for the first three years

600 BZD

Utility models

Filing fee/Grant fee

Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).

300 BZD

Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:

None

Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):

If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation.

This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.

Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application

Statement justifying the applicant’s right to the patent if he is not the inventor

Who can act as agent?

Any patent attorney entitled to practice before the Office

Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?

Yes

Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?

Yes, the Office applies both the “unintentional” and the “due care” criteria to such requests

The procedure in the national Phase

BZ.01 TRANSLATION (CORRECTION)

Errors in the translation of the international application can be corrected with reference to the text of the international application as filed (refer to National Phase, paragraphs 6.002 and 6.003).

BZ.02 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)

PR Regulations 4,

PR Regulations 8

The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and in this Chapter is outlined in Annex BZ.I.

BZ.03 POWER OF ATTORNEY

An agent must be appointed by filing a notarized or apostilled power of attorney. A model is given in Annex BZ.II.

BZ.04 ANNUAL FEES

PA Sec. 28(2)

They are payable before the first and each subsequent anniversary of the international filing date. Where the applicant failed to pay by the due date, payment can still be made, together with a surcharge for late payment, within the six months following the due date. The amounts of the annual fees are indicated in Annex BZ.I.

BZ.05 FEE FOR GRANT

PA Sec. 55(11)

A fee for grant must be paid before the grant of the patent. The amount of the said fee is indicated in Annex BZ.I.

BZ.06 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION; TIME LIMITS

PCT Art. 28,

PCT Art. 41,

PA Sec. 19

Amendments may be made in the national phase up to the grant of the patent, provided that the scope of the subject matter of the application is not broadened thereby.

BZ.07 REVIEW UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE PCT

PCT Art. 25,

PCT Rule 51,

PA Sec. 62

The applicable procedure is outlined in paragraphs 6.018 to 6.021 of the National Phase. If, upon review under PCT Article 25, the Office denies an error or omission on the part of the receiving Office or the International Bureau, an appeal against this decision may be lodged to the Supreme Court by a notice of motion within two months from the date of the decision.

BZ.08 EXCUSE OF DELAYS IN MEETING TIME LIMITS

PCT Art. 24(2),

PCT Art. 48(2),

PR Regulation 44,

PA Sec. 59

Reference is made to paragraphs 6.022 to 6.027 of the National Phase. Where the applicant failed to comply with a time limit during the international phase or before the Office, he may request extension of the time limit. Such request must be addressed to the Office together with an affidavit setting forth the relevant facts and is subject to the payment of a special fee (refer to Annex BZ.I). Extension of time limits may be requested until the date of expiration of the time limit. The extension may be granted by the Office for such period as the Office thinks suitable in the circumstances of the case.

When the Registrar of Intellectual Property is satisfied that the circumstances justify it, he is empowered, under the Belize Patents Act, upon the written request of any interested person, to extend the time limit for any act or any proceeding under the Belize Act and Regulations. The extension may be granted even though the corresponding time limit has expired. The notice of any extension to the parties concerned shall be given in writing by the Registrar.

Annexes

Annex BZ.I - Fees

Patents

Filing fee

300 BZD

Fee for grant

300 BZD

Annual fees:

— before the 1^st anniversary of filing

100 BZD

— before the 2^nd anniversary of filing

200 BZD

— before the 3^rd anniversary of filing

300 BZD

— before the 4^th anniversary of filing

400 BZD

— before the 5^th anniversary of filing

500 BZD

— before the 6^th anniversary of filing

600 BZD

— before the 7^th anniversary of filing

700 BZD

— before the 8^th anniversary of filing

800 BZD

— before the 9^th anniversary of filing

900 BZD

— before the 10^th anniversary of filing

1,000 BZD

— before the 11^th anniversary of filing

1,100 BZD

— before the 12^th anniversary of filing

1,200 BZD

— before the 13^th anniversary of filing

1,300 BZD

— before the 14^th anniversary of filing

1,400 BZD

— before the 15^th anniversary of filing

1,500 BZD

— before the 16^th anniversary of filing

1,600 BZD

— before the 17^th anniversary of filing

1,700 BZD

— before the 18^th anniversary of filing

1,800 BZD

— before the 19^th anniversary of filing

1,900 BZD

Surcharge for late payment of annual fee

100 BZD

Fee for extension of time

50 BZD

Fee for recording an address for service of a patent, or a change of address for service of a patent or a licence

50 BZD

Fee for restoration of the right of priority

150 BZD

Utility models

Filing/Grant fee

300 BZD

How can payment of fees be effected?

Payment must be made in Belize dollars, but the equivalent amount in a foreign currency that is convertible in Belize may be accepted. All payments must indicate the application number (national, if already known; international, if the national application number is not yet known), the name of the applicant and the type of fee being paid

Fees may be paid by cheque, bank draft or money order to the Belize Intellectual Property Office (endorsed in the name of the Government of Belize) or by cash at the Office or by bank transfer (PR Regulations 4 and 8)

Forms

The following documents are maintained by the Office. Refer to the Office website (Annex B) for latest version and other languages.

Annex BZ.II - Power of Attorney (Form No. 2B)

Processing

WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide BZ - Belize
Belize Intellectual Property Office

Useful information

International Phase

Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

Annex C - Receiving Office

National Phase

Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

The procedure in the national Phase

Annexes

Processing

WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide BZ - Belize Belize Intellectual Property Office

Information

Error Information Warning Confirmation

WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide BZ - Belize
Belize Intellectual Property Office