WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide ZA - South Africa
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) (South Africa)

    Applicable à partir de 1 janvier 2026
    (publié le 13 novembre 2025)

    Résumé des dernières modifications de cette version
    RO: RO fees
    Liste des changements

    Informations utiles

    Le Guide du déposant du PCT est mis à jour environ chaque semaine grâce aux informations reçues par le Bureau international.
    In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.
    Liste des abréviations utilisées dans ce document :
    Office: Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) (South Africa)
    PA: Patents Acts 1978
    Reg.: Patent Regulations 1978
    Liste des monnaies utilisées dans ce document :
    ZAR (South African rand)
    Information sur les Pays et Offices :
    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.
    Profil de l'Office
    For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.
    Réserves, déclarations, notifications et incompatibilités relatives au PCT
    Article 64(5)
    Refer to the full list.
    Dates de fermeture de l'Office
    The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday
    Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

    Phase Internationale

    Annexe B - Informations sur les États contractants ou sur les organisations intergouvernementales

    Contracting State:
    South Africa
    Code à deux lettres :
    ZA
    Nom de l’office :
    Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) (South Africa)
    Siège :
    77 Meintjies Street
    Block F
    Sunnyside
    Pretoria 0002
    South Africa
    Adresse postale :
    Intellectual Property:
    Private Bag X400
    Pretoria 0001
    South Africa
    Téléphone :
    (27-12) 394 50 01
    (27-12) 394 50 84
    Courrier électronique :
    epct@cipc.co.za
    Internet :
    Télécopieur :
    Néant
    L’office accepte-t-il le dépôt de documents par télécopie ou par des moyens analogues (règle 92.4 du PCT) ?
    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 14 days from the date of the transmission, if the transmitted document is the international application, a replacement sheet containing corrections or amendments of the international application, or a power of attorney
    No, only upon invitation in the case of other documents
    L’office accepterait-il que soit produite, en cas de perte ou de retard du courrier, la preuve qu’un document a été expédié lorsque l’expédition a été faite par une entreprise d’acheminement autre que l’administration postale (règle 82.1 du PCT) ?
    Oui
    L’office est-il disposé à permettre aux déposants de rendre les demandes disponibles auprès du service d’accès numérique aux documents de priorité de l’OMPI (règle 17.1.b-bis) du PCT) ?
    More information about WIPO DAS is available at: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das.
    Non
    Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
    IB,
    ZA
    La législation nationale impose-t-elle des restrictions s’agissant du dépôt de demandes internationales auprès de l'un des offices étrangers?
    Refer to the Office
    Office(s) désigné(s) (ou élu(s)) compétent(s) pour ce pays :
    Refer to corresponding National Phase.
    ZA
    Types de protection disponibles par la voie PCT :
    Patents,
    Patents of addition
    Payment methods accepted by the Office:
    Refer to the Office
    Disponibilité en vertu de la législation nationale relative à une recherche de type international (Article 15 du PCT) :
    Néant
    Protection provisoire à la suite de la publication internationale :
    Néant
    Informations utiles si cet État contractant est désigné (ou élu)
    Délai dans lequel le nom et l’adresse de l’inventeur doivent être communiqués :
    May be in the request or may be furnished later. 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.
    Existe-t-il des dispositions particulières relatives au dépôt de micro-organismes et autre matériel biologique ?
    Yes, refer to Annex L.

    Annexe C - Office récepteur

    Office(s) récepteur(s) compétent(s) pour les demandes internationales déposées par les nationaux et les personnes domiciliées des pays suivants:
    South Africa
    Langue dans laquelle la demande internationale peut être déposée :
    English
    Langue acceptée pour le texte libre dépendant de la langue dans le listage des séquences :
    The Office has not specifically notified the International Bureau of the language that it accepts under PCT Rule 12.1(d).
    Same as above
    Langue dans laquelle la requête peut être déposée :
    English
    Number of copies required by the receiving Office if the international application is filed on paper:
    3
    L’office récepteur accepte-t-il le dépôt de demandes internationales sous forme électronique ?
    For the relevant notifications by the Office, see Official Notices (PCT Gazette) dated 4 June 2015, pages 92 et seq. and 1 December 2022, pages 322 et seq.
    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. If the receiving Office does not accept international applications in electronic form in such format, the international application will be transmitted to the International Bureau as receiving Office (PCT Rule 19.4(a)(ii-bis)).
    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)?
    Oui
    Does the receiving Office accept the submission of color drawings on an informal basis and transmit them to the International Bureau?
    Oui
    L’office récepteur accepte-t-il les requêtes en restauration du droit de priorité (règle 26bis.3 du PCT) ?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests
    Administration compétente chargée de la recherche internationale :
    AT,
    AU,
    EP,
    US
    Administration compétente chargée de l’examen préliminaire international :
    AT,
    AU

    EP
    The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office or by the Austrian Patent Office.
    US
    The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.
    Fees payable to the RO:
    Taxe de transmission :
    525 ZAR
    Taxe internationale de dépôt :
    This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
    28,760 ZAR
    Taxe par feuille à compter de la 31e :
    320 ZAR
    Réductions (selon le barème de taxes, point 4) :
    Dépôt électronique (la requête étant en format à codage de caractères) :
    4,320 ZAR
    Dépôt électronique (la requête, la description, les revendications et l’abrégé étant en format à codage de caractères) :
    6,490 ZAR
    Taxe de recherche :
    Refer to
    Annex D(AT)
    Annex D(AU)
    Annex D(EP)
    Annex D(US)
    Taxe pour le document de priorité (règle 17.1.b) du PCT) :
    210 ZAR
    L’office récepteur exige-t-il un mandataire ?
    No, if the applicant resides in South Africa
    Yes, if the applicant is a non-resident
    Qui peut agir en qualité de mandataire?
    Any patent attorney or partnership registered before the Office
    Renonciation au pouvoir :
    Has the Office waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
    Refer to the Office
    L’office a-t-il renoncé à l’exigence selon laquelle une copie d’un pouvoir général doit lui être remise ?
    Refer to the Office

    Annexe L - Dépôts de micro-organismes et autre matériel biologique

    Exigences des offices désignés et élus
    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
    Délai (éventuel) inférieur à 16 mois à compter de la date de priorité, dans lequel le déposant doit fournir :
    — Les indications exigées dans la règle 13bis.3.a)i) à iii) :
    Néant
    — toute indication supplémentaire :
    Néant
    Indications (éventuelles) qui doivent figurer outre celles exigées dans la règle 13bis.3.a)i) à iii) selon les notifications des offices :
    To the extent available to the applicant, relevant information on the characteristics of the microorganism
    Information additionnelle
    Deposits may also be made for the purposes of patent procedure before the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) (South Africa) with any depositary institution.

    Phase Nationale

    Résumé des exigences pour l’ouverture de la phase nationale

    Délais applicables pour l’ouverture de la phase nationale :
    Under PCT Article 22(3): 31 months from the priority date
    Under PCT Article 39(1)(b): 31 months from the priority date
    L'office autorise-t-il le rétablissement des droits (règle 49.6 du PCT) ?
    Oui
    Traduction de la demande internationale requise dans l’une des langues suivantes:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    English
    Éléments que doit comporter la traduction pour l’ouverture de la phase nationale :
    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, 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, only as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
    Une copie de la demande internationale est-elle requise dans des circonstances particulières?
    Non
    Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
    Refer to the Office
    Taxes nationales :
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Filing fee
    590 ZAR
    First annual fee
    The first annual fee is due within three years from the international filing date.
    130 ZAR
    Exemption, réduction ou remboursement de la taxe nationale :
    Néant
    Exigences particulières de l’office (règle 51bis du PCT) :
    Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not resident in South Africa
    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.
    Proof of assignment or transfer of rights where the applicant is not the inventor
    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 two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Proof by the applicant concerning his right to claim priority of the earlier application, if he did not apply himself for that earlier 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 two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Verified translation of the international application to be furnished in duplicate
    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 two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
    Qui peut agir en qualité de mandataire?
    Any patent attorney registered before the Office
    Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?
    Oui
    L’office accepte-t-il les requêtes en restauration du droit de priorité (règle 49ter.2 du PCT) ?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests

    La procédure lors de la phase nationale

    ZA.01 FORM FOR ENTERING THE NATIONAL PHASE
    PA Sec. 42E(1),
    Reg. 67B

    The Office has available a special form for entering the national phase (refer to Annex ZA.II).
    ZA.02 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION: TIME LIMITS
    PA Sec. 43F(3) (k)
    The applicant may amend or correct the claims, description and drawings in the international application at any time before the grant of the patent provided that:
    — the amendment does not introduce any new matter in the disclosure of the invention; and
    — the specification as amended does not include any claim which is not fairly based on matter disclosed in the specification prior to the amendments.
    ZA.03 CONDONATION OR CORRECTION OF IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE
    PA Sec. 89
    The Registrar or Commissioner of Patents may authorize the condonation or correction of any irregularity in procedure in any proceedings before him, provided that such condonation or correction is not detrimental to the interests of any person.
    ZA.04 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)
    The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and this chapter is outlined in Annex ZA.I.
    ZA.05 POWER OF ATTORNEY
    PA Sec. 30,
    Reg. 8,
    Reg. 22(1),
    Reg. 33

    An agent must be appointed by filing a power of attorney if the applicant is not resident in South Africa. If a power of attorney is not filed at the time of entry into the national phase, it may be filed within six months from the date of filing of the application. The Registrar may, upon request of the applicant, extend the time for filing the power of attorney.
    ZA.06 RENEWAL FEES
    Sec. 46(1),
    Reg. 48(1)

    The first renewal fee is payable before the expiry of the third year from the international filing date and thereafter, annually, till the expiry of the patent. The amounts of the renewal fees are indicated in Annex ZA.I. A special form is to be used for the payment of these fees (refer to Annex ZA.III). The Office does not issue a reminder to the applicant for the payment of the renewal fees.

    Annexes

    Annex ZA.I - Fees
    National fee:
    — application accompanied by a complete specification (Section 30(1))
    590 ZAR
    Fee for late claiming of priority, per month or part thereof (Section 31(1)(i))
    50 ZAR
    Application to the Registrar:
    — to claim priority (Section 30(7))
    50 ZAR
    — to amend or to lodge a fresh application (Section 37)
    50 ZAR
    — for correction of clerical errors and amendment of documents (Section 50)
    90 ZAR
    Fee for late filing of documents (Sections 30(6) and 32)
    50 ZAR
    Renewal fees (Section 46(1)):
    — before expiration of the 3rd year
    130 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 4th year
    130 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 5th year
    130 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 6th year
    85 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 7th year
    85 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 8th year
    100 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 9th year
    100 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 10th year
    120 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 11th year
    120 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 12th year
    145 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 13th year
    145 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 14th year
    164 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 15th year
    164 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 16th year
    181 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 17th year
    181 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 18th year
    206 ZAR
    — before expiration of the 19th year
    206 ZAR
    Extension fee for payment of renewal fees (Section 46(2)
    90 ZAR
    — thereafter for each month or part thereof (not exceeding five months)
    50 ZAR
    Application to restore lapsed patent (Section 47(1))
    286 ZAR
    Application to amend a provisional specification (Section 51(1))
    70 ZAR
    Application to amend a complete specification:
    — before it is open to public inspection (Section 51(1))
    70 ZAR
    — after it is open to public inspection (Section 51(1))
    242 ZAR
    Fee for opposition in proceedings before the Registrar
    90 ZAR
    Fee for inspection of any file, document or register
    4 ZAR
    Comment le paiement des taxes peut-il être effectué ?
    The payment of fees should be effected in South African rand using the Office’s customer account. All payments must indicate the application number (national, if already known; international, if the national number is not yet known), the name of the applicant and the type of fee being paid, as well as the CIPC customer code
    For further details on how to create an account, please refer to:
    http://www.cipc.co.za/index.php/register-your-business/banking-details/
    Formulaires
    The following documents are maintained by the Office. Refer to the Office website (Annex B) for latest version and other languages.
    Annex ZA.II - National Processing Form
    Annex ZA.III - Payment and Certificate of Renewal
    Version actuelle applicable à partir du 1 janvier 2026 , imprimée le 15 février 2026
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