Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office (IPOS) has announced a broad refresh of official fees across patents, trademarks, registered designs, plant varieties, copyright, and certain cross-IP procedures. Most revisions take effect on 1 September 2025 (Q3 2025), with a second phase slated for 1 April 2026. IPOS frames the update as a periodic review to support sustainable operations, encourage accurate submissions, and reduce unnecessary delay.

Key Changes at a Glance

Patents. Renewal fees will rise across the board from 1 September 2025. For example, years 5–7 increase from S$165 → S$176, years 8–10 from S$430 → S$460, and the 20th year from S$1,120 → S$1,200. PCT fees (when IPOS acts as ISA/IPEA) also increase (e.g., international search fee S$2,240 → S$2,350; preliminary examination S$830 → S$900). The excess claims framework is overhauled: the threshold drops from 20 to 15 claims, and the fee doubles to S$80 per claim above that threshold for PF11/PF12 requests filed on or after 1 September 2025. From 1 April 2026, for those filings the excess-claims payment point moves earlier—from grant stage (PF14) to the response to written opinion (PF13A). The fee for an examination review report (PF12B) rises to S$2,150 on 1 September 2025 and S$3,200 on 1 April 2026.

Trademarks. Application fees increase to S$410 per class when specifications are not fully adopted from IPOS’s pre-approved database (no change to the S$280 fee for fully adopted specifications). Renewal, late renewal, and restoration rise to S$480, S$700, and S$770 per class, respectively. Fees relating to Madrid designations of Singapore also increase (e.g., application/renewal S$410/S$480 per class), and the fee to transform an international registration into a national mark becomes S$410 per class. Many amendment fees (TM27) rise in two steps: S$50 from 1 September 2025 and S$60 from 1 April 2026.

Registered designs & plant varieties. The design amendment fee (D5) increases S$45 → S$60. In contrast, the plant varieties application (PVP3) sees a significant decrease from S$1,600 → S$750, supporting agri-innovation and breeders.

Hearings, mediation, and cross-IP timing. Extension-of-time (EOT) fees increase, including HC3 (patents/trade marks/designs/GIs) from S$120 → S$130 and trade marks HC3 from S$100 × classes → S$130 × classes. A cross-IP CM5 scale is introduced: S$25 (first request), S$50 (second), and S$75 (third and subsequent). These changes aim to discourage unnecessary prolongation of proceedings.

Copyright. The fee to designate a representative to receive take-down notices increases to S$56.

Why IP owners should care

The most material budget impacts fall on patent portfolios (renewals, excess claims, examination reviews) and trademark pipelines that do not fully adopt IPOS’s pre-approved specifications. Strategically, applicants may wish to tighten claim sets (≤15 where possible) to avoid higher excess-claim charges, and stage filings so that key actions (e.g., PF11/PF12) align with internal budgets ahead of the April 2026 timing shift. For trade marks, adopting pre-approved descriptions can keep filing fees at S$280 per class and reduce objections, saving both time and cost.

Practical next steps

1. Audit upcoming deadlines. Map all renewals, examination requests, and trade mark filings that will fall on or after 1 September 2025; re-forecast budgets accordingly.
2. Consider patent claims early. Aim for concise, defensible claim sets before requesting search/examination, and anticipate paying excess-claim fees at PF13A for requests filed on/after 1 September 2025 once the 1 April 2026 shift kicks in.
3. Use IPOS’s pre-approved TM classification to access the lower S$280 filing fee and minimise specification-based objections.
4. Watch EOT costs. Build in adequate lead time to avoid new cross-IP extension charges accumulating.

For the full schedule and phase-in dates, consult IPOS’s circular and Annex A (tables by IP right and form), and the Forms & Fees page, which reiterates the effective dates. If you have a filing or renewal straddling Q3 2025, consider whether advancing action into August or deferring beyond September materially changes the total fees payable.