What are international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?

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.

International applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) are a type of patent application that provides a unified procedure for filing patent applications in its contracting states. According to MPEP 201:

‘An international application is a national application for patent which is filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).’

Key aspects of PCT applications:

• Allow seeking patent protection in multiple countries simultaneously
• Provide a streamlined filing process for international patent protection
• Include an international search and optional international preliminary examination
• Must enter the national phase in desired countries within specified timeframes
• Do not result in an ‘international patent’ but facilitate national/regional patent grants

PCT applications are particularly useful for inventors seeking broad international patent protection.

For more information on Patent Cooperation Treaty, visit: Patent Cooperation Treaty.