What is an ‘allowed’ patent application?

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.

An ‘allowed’ patent application is one that has been examined and determined to meet all statutory requirements. According to MPEP 203.04:

An ‘allowed’ nonprovisional application or an application ‘in issue’ is one which has been examined and determined to meet all statutory requirements, and in which a notice of allowance has been sent to the applicant.

The status of ‘allowed’ continues from the date of the notice of allowance until it issues as a patent, unless it is withdrawn from issue or becomes abandoned for failure to pay the issue fee and any required publication fee.

For more information on allowed application, visit: allowed application.

For more information on notice of allowance, visit: notice of allowance.

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