What are the main differences between a national application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and a national stage application submitted under 35 U.S.C. 371?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-27 4 Related FAQs 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 differences between a national application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and a national stage application submitted under 35 U.S.C. 371 include: Filing Date Priority Requirements Unity of Invention Filing Fees As stated in MPEP 1896 : “The differences between a national application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and a national application submitted under 35 U.S.C. 371 are often subtle, but the differences are important.” Other Related FAQs 4 FAQs Collapse How is the filing date determined for a national application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) compared to a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371? What are the differences in filing fees between national applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371? What are the priority claim requirements for a national application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) versus a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371? How does unity of invention practice differ between national applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371?