WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide QA - Qatar
Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)

Applicable as from 1 July 2024
(published on 31 October 2024)

Summary of latest changes in this version
RO: RO fees

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, Current Version
Advance notice: The Office has notified the IB of changes entering into force soon; you can already consult the changes that will be effective from 1 Dec 2024.

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: Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)
Law: Decree Law No 30, 2006
List of currencies used in this document:
QAR (Qatari riyal), 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
Article 64(5)
Refer to the full list.
Office Closed dates
The Office is closed weekly on Friday and Saturday
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:
Qatar
Two-letter code:
QA
Qatar - Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)
Name of Office:
Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)
Location:
Ministry of Economy and Commerce
P.O. Box 1968
Lusail City
Doha
Qatar
Mailing address:
Same as above
Telephone:
(974) 4042 3278
E-mail:
malnoaimi@moci.gov.qa
salobaidli@moci.gov.qa
walmkhlef@moci.gov.qa
Website:
None
Facsimile:
(974) 4429 4338
Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
No
Does the Office send notifications via e-mail in respect of international applications?
Yes
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)?
No
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)?
No
Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
IB
International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - International Bureau of WIPO
, 
QA
Qatar - Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)
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.
QA
Qatar - Intellectual Property Department (Qatar)
Types of protection available via the PCT:
Patents
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 of six months from the date of the invitation.
Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
Yes, refer to Annex L.

Annex C - Receiving Office

Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:
Qatar
Language in which international applications may be filed:
If the language in which the international application is filed is not accepted by the International Searching Authority (refer to Annex D), the applicant will have to furnish a translation (PCT Rule 12.3).
Arabic, 
English
Language accepted for language-dependent free text in the sequence listing:
Same as above
Language in which the request may be filed:
Arabic, 
English
Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:
1
Does the receiving Office accept the filing of international applications in electronic form?
Where the international application is filed in electronic form in accordance with and to the extent provided for in Part 7 and Annex F of the Administrative Instructions, the total amount of the international filing fee is reduced (refer to “Fees payable to the RO”).
Where the international application contains a sequence listing as a separate part of the description, this must be furnished in accordance with Annex C of the Administrative Instructions, that is, in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.26 XML format; no fees are due for sequence listings filed in this format.
For the relevant notifications by the Office, refer to Official Notices (PCT Gazette) dated 20 August 2015, pages 136 et seq. and 4 August 2022, pages 208 et seq.
Yes, the Office accepts electronic filing via ePCT-Filing
Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?
Yes, the Office applies the “due care” criterion to such requests
Competent International Searching Authority:
EG
Egypt - Egyptian Patent Office
, 
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)
, 
US
United States of America - United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:
EG
Egypt - Egyptian Patent Office
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)
, 
US
United States of America - United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.
Fees payable to the RO:
Transmittal fee:
400 QAR
International filing fee:
This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
Equivalent in QAR of 1,457 USD
Fee per sheet in excess of 30:
Equivalent in QAR of 16 USD
Reductions (under Schedule of Fees, item 4):
Electronic filing (the request in character coded format):
Equivalent in QAR of 219 USD
Electronic filing (the request, description, claims and abstract in character coded format):
Equivalent in QAR of 329 USD
Search fee:
Refer to
Annex D(EG)
Annex D(EP)
Annex D(US)
Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):
600 QAR
Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3(d)):
2,000 QAR
Is an agent required by the receiving Office?
No, if the applicant resides in Qatar
Yes, if the applicant is a non-resident
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney or lawyer registered in Qatar, any patent attorney holding a license to practice and registered before the Office or any natural or legal person resident in Qatar
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

Annex L - Deposits of Microorganisms and Other Biological Material

Requirements of designated and elected Offices
Only Offices whose applicable national law contains provisions concerning the deposits of microorganisms and other biological material are listed in Annex L. Unless otherwise indicated, deposits may be made for the purposes of patent procedure before these Offices with any depositary institution having acquired the status of international depositary authority under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.
For a list of these institutions refer to:
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/pdf/idalist.pdf (and the detailed requirements for each institution at: https://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/section_d/subsection_c.html)
Notifications related thereto may be consulted under:
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/
Further information concerning the requirements of international depository authorities under the Budapest Treaty is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/index.html
Time (if any) earlier than 16 months from priority date by which applicant must furnish:
— the indications prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii):
None
— any additional indications:
None
Additional indications (if any) which must be given besides those prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii) pursuant to notifications from the Office:
None

National Phase

Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:
Under PCT Article 22(1): 30 months from the priority date
Under PCT Article 39(1)(a): 30 months from the priority date
Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1). The applicant may still furnish the translation within six months after the expiration of the applicable time limit.
Arabic
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). The applicant may still furnish the translation within six months after the expiration of the applicable time limit.
Under PCT Article 22: Description, claims (if amended, both as originally filed and as amended, together with any statement under PCT Article 19), 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?
A copy is required only if the applicant expressly requests an earlier start of the national phase under PCT Article 23(2) at a time when the applicant 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.
National fees:
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1). The applicant may still furnish the translation within six months after the expiration of the applicable time limit.
Filing fee
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
2,000 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
1,000 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
0 QAR
Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
Reductions of the national fee are indicated above
Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application
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 of six months from the date of the invitation.
This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
Document evidencing a change of name of the applicant if the change occurred after the international filing date and has not been reflected in a notification from the International Bureau (Form PCT/IB/306)
Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not a resident of Qatar
Instrument of assignment of the international application if the applicant has changed after the international filing date
Translation of the international application to be furnished in two copies, one on paper and one in electronic form
Must be furnished within six months from the date of the invitation by the Office.
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney or lawyer registered in Qatar
Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?
Yes, the Office applies the “due care” criterion to such requests

The procedure in the national Phase

QA.01 LANGUAGE OF PROCEEDINGS
The language of proceedings is Arabic.
QA.02 TRANSLATION (CORRECTION)
Errors in the translation of the international application can be corrected with reference to the text of the international application as originally filed (refer to National Phase, paragraphs 6.002 and 6.003).
QA.03 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)
The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and in this Chapter is outlined in Annex QA.I.
QA.04 ANNUAL FEES
Annual fees are payable for the second and each subsequent year following the international filing date. Payment of annual fees may still be made within 12 months from the due date, subject to the payment of a 10% surcharge. The amounts of the annual fees are indicated in Annex QA.I.
QA.05 APPOINTMENT OF AN AGENT
If the applicant is not resident in Qatar, an agent shall be appointed.
QA.06 EXAMINATION
Law Art. 7
The Office shall examine patent applications. The applicant may appeal a decision by the Office to refuse grant of the patent within 15 days from the date of notification by the Office. The amount of the fee for examination is indicated in Annex QA.I.
QA.07 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION
The applicant may, at any time before the patent is granted, make amendments to his application, provided that the amendment does not go beyond the original disclosure. The amount of the fee for amendment is indicated in Annex QA.I.
QA.08 FEE FOR GRANT
A fee for grant and publication must be paid within three months from the notification of grant and publication.
QA.09 EXCUSE OF DELAYS IN MEETING TIME LIMITS
PCT Art. 24(2), PCT Art. 48(2), PCT Rule 82bis
Reference is made to paragraphs 6.022 to 6.027 of the National Phase.
QA.10 REVIEW UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE PCT
The applicable procedure is outlined in paragraphs 6.018 to 6.021 of the National Phase.
QA.11 RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT OF PRIORITY
PCT Rule 49ter.2
Where the international application was filed within two months from the end of the period for claiming priority of an earlier application, a request for restoration of the right of priority may be made to the Office in accordance with the national law (refer to National Phase, paragraphs 6.006 to 6.011). Such a request will be granted if the Office is satisfied that the failure to file the application within the 12-month priority period occurred in spite of due care required by the circumstances. The time limit for filing the request is one month from the date of entry into the national phase.

Annexes

Annex QA.I - Fees
Filing fee
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
2,000 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
1,000 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
0 QAR
Examination fee
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
5,000 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
2,500 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
Annual fees:
— for the 2nd year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
400 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
200 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 3rd year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
500 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
250 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 4th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
600 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
300 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 5th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
700 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
350 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 6th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
800 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
400 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 7th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
900 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
450 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 8th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,000 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
500 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 9th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,100 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
550 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 10th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,200 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
600 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 11th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,300 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
650 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 12th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,400 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
700 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 13th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,500 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
750 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 14th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,600 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
800 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 15th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,700 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
850 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 16th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,800 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
900 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 17th year
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
1,900 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
950 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
100 QAR
— for the 18th to the 20th years
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
per year 2,000 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
per year 1,000 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
per year 100 QAR
Additional fee for late payment of annual fee
10% of the annual fee
Fee for grant and publication
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
400 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
200 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
50 QAR
Fee for amendment
— in case of filing by a company, or an educational or research institution
200 QAR
— in case of filing by an individual
100 QAR
— in case of filing by a student
50 QAR
How can payment of fees be effected?
The payment of fees should be effected in Qatari riyal. 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
Payment of fees must be made at the Office
Forms
Please refer to the Office.
Current version applicable from 1 Jul 2024 , printed on 21 Nov 2024
2.0 #63 - 2024-11-04T12:26:35.870+01:00