Is citizenship information required for patent applications?

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.

For applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, citizenship information is no longer required. The MPEP states:

“For applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, the citizenship of the inventor is no longer required by 35 U.S.C. 115 or 37 CFR 1.63.”

However, for applications filed before September 16, 2012, citizenship information was required under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 115.