Patent Registration Costs in Vietnam

Patent costs in Vietnam run across the life of the right, not just at filing. Foreign applicants should budget for prosecution and for annual maintenance over up to 20 years.

Filing and examination fees

Official fees under Circular 263/2016 include substantive examination charged per independent claim and a search fee per independent claim, alongside filing, publication and grant fees. Applications with many independent claims cost more to examine.

Annual maintenance (annuities)

A granted patent must be maintained by paying annual fees that increase over time — modest in the early years and rising substantially in later years. Missing a maintenance payment can cause the patent to lapse, so diarising annuities is essential.

Budgeting over 20 years

Because protection lasts up to 20 years from filing, the total cost is dominated by cumulative annuities and any translation and prosecution costs, not the initial filing alone. A realistic budget models the whole term.

Frequently asked questions

How is patent examination charged in Vietnam?

Per independent claim, so claim structure affects cost.

Are there ongoing fees after grant?

Yes — annual maintenance fees that rise over the patent's life; non-payment causes lapse.

What is the largest cost over time?

Usually the cumulative annual maintenance fees across the 20-year term.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law provides full-term cost estimates and manages prosecution and annuities for foreign applicants. See our patent guide or contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.