WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide TN - Tunisia
National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI) (Tunisia)

    Applicable as from 20 March 2025
    (published on 20 March 2025)

    Summary of latest changes in this version
    RO: Electronic filing, Incorporation by reference, Color drawings 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, 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: National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI) (Tunisia)
    LPI: Law No. 2000-84 of 24 August 2000, on patents
    D836: Decree n° 2001-836 of April 10, 2001, fixing the amount of royalties related to patents
    List of currencies used in this document:
    CHF (Swiss franc), TND (Tunisian dinar)
    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 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:
    Tunisia
    Two-letter code:
    TN
    Name of Office:
    National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI) (Tunisia)
    Location:
    Rue de l’assistance n° 8 par la rue Alain Savary
    Cité El Khadra
    1003 Tunis
    Tunisia
    Mailing address:
    B. P. 57
    Cité El Khadra
    1003 Tunis
    Tunisia
    Telephone:
    (216-71) 80 67 58
    E-mail:
    innorpi@planet.tn
    Website:
    Facsimile:
    (216-71) 80 70 71
    Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
    No
    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)?
    More information about WIPO DAS is available at: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das.
    No
    Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
    IB, 
    TN
    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.
    TN
    Types of protection available via the PCT:
    National:
    Patents
    European:
    Validation of European patents
    For international applications filed on or after 1 December 2017 (refer to OJ EPO 10/2017, A85).
    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:
    May be in the request. If the data concerning the inventor are missing at the expiry of the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1)(a), 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?
    No

    Annex C - Receiving Office

    Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:
    Tunisia
    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, 
    French
    Language accepted for language-dependent free text in the sequence listing:
    Same language as the international application (Arabic, English or French)
    Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:
    3
    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 should 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 the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) dated 21 November 2019, pages 182 et seq. and 21 July 2022, pages 189 et seq.
    Yes, the Office accepts electronic filing via ePCT-Filing
    Does the receiving Office accept the submission of pre-conversion documents and, if yes, in which format (Section 706 of the PCT Administrative Instructions)?
    Yes, any format
    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?
    Yes
    Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests
    Competent International Searching Authority:
    EP
    Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:
    EP
    Fees payable to the RO:
    Transmittal fee:
    100 TND
    International filing fee:
    This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
    1,330 CHF
    Fee per sheet in excess of 30:
    15 CHF
    Reductions (under Schedule of Fees, item 4):
    Electronic filing (the request in character coded format):
    200 CHF
    Electronic filing (the request, description, claims and abstract in character coded format):
    300 CHF
    Search fee:
    Refer to
    Annex D(EP)
    Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):
    30 TND
    Is an agent required by the receiving Office?
    No, if the applicant resides in Tunisia
    Yes, if the applicant is a non-resident
    Who can act as agent?
    Any natural or legal person resident in Tunisia
    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:
    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):
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Arabic, 
    English, 
    French
    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, as amended only, 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, only as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
    Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?
    No
    Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
    Refer to the Office
    National fees:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Fees are subject to value added tax (VAT) of 19%.
    Filing fee and 1st annual fee
    140 TND
    Claim fee for each claim in excess of 10
    per claim 30 TND
    Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
    None
    Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
    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)
    Representation by an agent if the applicant is not resident in Tunisia
    Instrument appointing the agent (authorization or power of attorney)
    Who can act as agent?
    Any natural or legal person resident in Tunisa
    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, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests

    The procedure in the national Phase

    TN.01 FORM FOR ENTERING THE NATIONAL PHASE
    The Office has available a form for a patent application and its annexes, which can be downloaded from its website (refer to Annex TN.II).
    TN.02 TRANSLATION (CORRECTION)
    PCT Art. 46
    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).
    TN.03 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)
    The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and in this Chapter is outlined in Annex TN.I.
    TN.04 APPOINTMENT OF AN AGENT
    LPI Art. 20
    If the applicant is not resident in Tunisia, an agent resident in Tunisia shall be appointed. A power of attorney is required.
    TN.05 EXAMINATION
    LPI Art. 29, 
    LPI Art. 30

    The Office carries out formal and substantive examination on patent applications. In the event of non-compliance, the Office shall invite the applicant to amend his application or to make observations within a period of three months from the notification. If, within that period, the applicant brings his application into conformity in accordance with the notification of the Office, the examination of the application shall be resumed subject to the payment of a fee, the amount of which shall be fixed by decree. Failing this, the Office shall reject the application.
    TN.06 DIVISIONAL APPLICATIONS
    LPI Art. 27
    Until publication of the application, the applicant may file divisional applications which will have the same filing date and, where applicable, the same priority date as the international application which has entered the national phase.
    TN.07 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION
    PCT Art. 28, 
    PCT Art. 41, 
    LPI Art. 26, 
    LPI Art. 28, 
    D836 Annex

    Until publication, the applicant may amend the application, including the formulation of new claims, provided that they do not go beyond the disclosure made in the initial application. Until the date of grant of the patent, the applicant may, upon justified request, ask for the rectification of errors of expression or transcription, as well as errors in the filed documents.
    TN.08 ANNUAL FEES
    LPI Art. 52
    An annual fee for the maintenance of the patent application and patent is due for each year of the patent term. It shall be paid annually and shall fall due on the last day of the month of the anniversary of the filing date of the patent application. Where payment of an annual fee has not been made by the due date, the applicant shall have a period of six months in which to make payment of the said fee, subject to payment of a late fee.

    Annexes

    Annex TN.I - Fees
    Fees are subjected to a value added tax (VAT) of 19%.
    Filing fee and first annual fee
    140 TND
    Claim fee for each claim in excess of 10
    30 TND
    Annual fees:
    — from the 2nd to the 5th year
    per year 50 TND
    — from the 6th to the 10th year
    per year 130 TND
    — from the 11th to the 15th year
    per year 265 TND
    — from the 16th to the 20th year
    per year 500 TND
    How can payment of fees be effected?
    The payment of fees must be effected in Tunisian dinar. All payments must indicate the national application number, the name of the applicant and the category of fee being paid
    The payment of fees may be effected by cash or check
    Forms
    The following documents are maintained by the Office. Refer to the Office website (Annex B) for latest version and other languages.
    Annex TN.II - Form for request for filing of patent application for a patent of invention
    Current version applicable from 20 Mar 2025 , printed on 1 Jun 2025
    2.1 #17 - 2025-05-27T18:23:47.944+02:00