What are the main types of national applications under U.S. patent law?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The main types of national applications under U.S. patent law are:

• Original (non-provisional) applications
• Provisional applications
• Reissue applications
• Divisional applications
• Continuation applications
• Continuation-in-part applications

As stated in MPEP 201.01: National applications include original (non-provisional), provisional, plant, design, reissue, divisional, and continuation applications (which may be filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b)), as well as continuation-in-part applications (which may be filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b)).

For more information on patent law, visit: patent law.

For more information on USPTO, visit: USPTO.