Are provisional applications considered national applications?

Provisional applications are not explicitly mentioned as national applications in MPEP 201.01. The section states:

‘National applications include original (nonprovisional) applications, reissue applications, and reexamination proceedings.’

While provisional applications are filed with the USPTO, they are not considered complete patent applications and do not undergo examination. They serve as a placeholder to establish a priority date. For more information on provisional applications, refer to USPTO’s Provisional Application page.

For more information on USPTO, visit: USPTO.