WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide XV - Visegrad Patent Institute
Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI)

    Applicable as from January 1, 2026
    (published on November 13, 2025)

    Summary of latest changes in this version
    ISA: ISA fees
    SISA: SISA fees
    IPEA: IPEA fees
    List of changes

    Advance notice: The Office has notified the IB of changes entering into force soon; you can already consult the changes that will be effective

    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: Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI)
    List of currencies used in this document:
    CHF (Swiss franc), EUR (Euro), HUF (Hungarian forint), 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

    Organization:
    Visegrad Patent Institute
    Two-letter code:
    XV
    Name of Office:
    Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI)
    Location:
    II. János Pál Pápa tér 7
    1081 Budapest
    Hungary
    Mailing address:
    P.O. Box 415
    1438 Budapest
    Hungary
    Telephone:
    (361) 951 57 70
    E-mail:
    secretariat@vpi.int
    Website:
    Facsimile:
    None
    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)?
    Yes
    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
    Types of protection available via the PCT:
    Refer to the Office
    Payment methods accepted by the Office:
    The Office accepts payments by bank transfer. Payments should be made to the following bank:
    Account holder’s name
    Visegrad Patent Institute
    Bank name
    Raiffeisen Bank Zrt.
    Bank address
    1133 Budapest
    Váci út 116-118
    IBAN
    HU66-12012204-01799099-00200000
    SWIFT
    UBRTHUHB
    For further details, refer to:
    https://vpi.int/en/08-fees-and-refunds/
    Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):
    Refer to the Office
    Provisional protection after international publication:
    Refer to the Office
    Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)
    Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
    No

    Annex D - International Searching Authority

    International Searching Authority competent for the following Receiving Offices:
    CZ,
    HU,
    LT,
    PL,
    RS,
    SK
    Fees payable to the ISA:
    Search fee (PCT Rule 16):
    This fee is payable to the receiving Office in the currency or one of the currencies accepted by it.
    1,719 CHF
    1,845 EUR
    717,900 HUF
    2,154 USD
    Additional search fee (PCT Rule 40.2):
    This fee is payable to the International Searching Authority and only in particular circumstances.
    1,845 EUR
    Fee for copies of documents cited in the international search report (PCT Rule 44.3):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Fee for copies of documents contained in the file of the international application (PCT Rule 94.1ter):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Protest fee (PCT Rule 40.2(e)):
    875 EUR
    Late furnishing fee (PCT Rule 13ter.1(c)):
    230 EUR
    Conditions for refund and amount of refund of the search fee:
    Money paid by mistake, without cause, or in excess, will be refunded
    Where the international application is withdrawn or is considered withdrawn, under PCT Article 14(1), (3) or (4), before the start of the international search:
    refund of 100%
    Where the Authority benefits from the results of an earlier search carried out by any of the national Offices of the Contracting States:
    refund of 40%
    Where the Authority benefits from the results of an earlier international search report or an international-type search report:
    refund of 50%
    Languages accepted for international search:
    Czech,
    English,
    Hungarian,
    Polish,
    Slovak
    Does the Authority accept informal comments on earlier search results where an international application claims priority from an earlier application already searched by this Authority?
    No
    Types of physical media accepted for the furnishing of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listings:
    CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM or DVD-R
    Subject matter that will not be searched:
    The subject matter specified in items (i) to (vi) of PCT Rule 39.1 with the exception of any subject matter searched under the patent grant procedure in accordance with the provisions of Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak patent laws
    Waiver of power of attorney:
    Waivers of powers of attorney do not apply (PCT Rule 90.4(e) and 90.5(d)) where the agent or common representative submits any notice of withdrawal during the international phase (PCT Rule 90bis.1 to 90bis.4, also refer to International Phase, paragraph IP 11.048).
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a separate power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated on the request form at the time of filing
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a copy of a general power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated on the request form at the time of filing

    Annex SISA - International Searching Authority (Supplementary Search)

    Fees payable to the International Bureau:
    For further details on the payment of fees to the International Bureau, refer to the WIPO website at https://www.wipo.int/en/web/pct-system/fees/index.
    Supplementary search fee (PCT Rule 45bis.3):
    This fee is fixed by the Authority in EUR and will be revised from time to time to reflect currency fluctuations between EUR and CHF.
    — for a full search
    1,654 CHF
    — for a search of only the documentation in Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak
    512 CHF
    Supplementary search handling fee (PCT Rule 45bis.2):
    200 CHF
    Late payment fee (PCT Rule 45bis.4(c)):
    100 CHF
    Fees payable to the Authority:
    Fee for copies of documents cited in the supplementary international search report (PCT Rule 45bis.7(c)):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Review fee (PCT Rule 45bis.6(c)):
    875 EUR
    Fee for copies of documents contained in the file of the international application (PCT Rule 94.1ter):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Conditions for refund and amount of refund of the supplementary search fee:
    Money paid by mistake, without cause, or in excess, will be refunded
    The International Bureau shall refund this fee where the supplementary search request has not yet been transmitted to the Authority and the international application is withdrawn or considered withdrawn, or the supplementary search request is withdrawn or considered not to have been submitted (refer to PCT Rule 45bis.3(d)):
    refund of 100%
    The Authority shall refund this fee where work has not yet started and the supplementary search request is considered not to have been submitted (refer to PCT Rule 45bis.3(e)):
    refund of 100%
    Languages accepted for supplementary international search:
    Czech,
    English,
    Hungarian,
    Polish,
    Slovak
    Subject matter that will not be searched:
    The subject matter specified in items (i) to (vi) of PCT Rule 39.1 with the exception of any subject matter searched under the patent grant procedure in accordance with the provisions of Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak patent laws
    Scope of documentation included in the supplementary international search:
    In addition to the PCT minimum documentation, the Authority shall include at least the documents held in its search collection in:
    Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak
    Limitations on supplementary international search:
    None
    Types of physical media accepted for the furnishing of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listings:
    CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM or DVD-R
    Waiver of power of attorney:
    Waivers of powers of attorney do not apply (PCT Rule 90.4(e) and 90.5(d)) where the agent or common representative submits any notice of withdrawal during the international phase (PCT Rule 90bis.1 to 90bis.4, also refer to International Phase, paragraph IP 11.048).
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a separate power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated in the request form at the time of filing
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a copy of a general power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated in the request form at the time of filing

    Annex E - International Preliminary Examining Authority

    International Preliminary Examining Authority competent for the following Receiving Offices:
    CZ,
    HU,
    LT,
    PL,
    RS,
    SK
    Are there any restrictions with regard to the competence of the Authority acting as an International Preliminary Examining Authority ?
    Refer to the Office
    Fees payable to the IPEA:
    Preliminary examination fee (PCT Rule 58):
    This fee is payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority.
    900 EUR
    Additional preliminary examination fee (PCT Rule 68.3):
    This fee is payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority and only in particular circumstances.
    900 EUR
    Handling fee (PCT Rule 57.1):
    This fee is payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority. It is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
    The late payment fee, as set out in PCT Rule 58bis, is payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority
    215 EUR
    Fee for copies of documents cited in the international preliminary examination report (PCT Rule 71.2):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Fee for copies of documents contained in the file of the international application (PCT Rule 94.2):
    per page 0.80 EUR
    Protest fee (PCT Rule 68.3(e)):
    900 EUR
    Late furnishing fee (PCT Rule 13ter.2):
    230 EUR
    Conditions for refund and amount of refund of the preliminary examination fee:
    Money paid by mistake, without cause, or in excess, will be refunded
    In the cases provided for under PCT Rule 58.3:
    refund of 100%
    If the international application or the demand is withdrawn before the start of the international preliminary examination:
    refund of 100%
    Languages accepted for international preliminary examination:
    Czech,
    English,
    Hungarian,
    Polish,
    Slovak
    Subject matter that will not be examined:
    The subject matter specified in items (i) to (vi) of PCT Rule 67.1 with the exception of any subject matter examined under the patent grant procedure in accordance with the provisions of Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak patent laws
    Waiver of power of attorney:
    Waivers of powers of attorney do not apply (PCT Rule 90.4(e) and 90.5(d)) where the agent or common representative submits any notice of withdrawal during the international phase (PCT Rule 90bis.1 to 90bis.4, also refer to International Phase, paragraph IP 11.048).
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a separate power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated on the request form or on the demand form at the time of their filing
    Has the Authority waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
    Yes
    Particular instances in which a copy of a general power of attorney is required:
    Upon appointment of, or for any paper submitted by, an agent or a common representative who was not indicated on the request form or on the demand form at the time of their filing
    Current version applicable from January 1, 2026 , printed on February 17, 2026
    2.2 #71 - 2026-02-10T18:40:34.131+01:00