What to do depends on whether you are already using MyEPO services or not. Users who are new to MyEPO services should start by creating an EPO account and completing the necessary preparations in good time before 1 April 2027. Once you are registered and have arranged for the corresponding access rights, you can use all MyEPO services.
Understanding "companies", "organisations" and administrators
Many patent applications are managed collaboratively by several people. To support this, the EPO's online services organise users into groups that can work together and access the services they need.
In MyEPO, users who work together on the same patent applications are grouped in a what is called a "company". Members of the same "company" can share access to the Mailbox and other information. Each "company" is managed by one or more MyEPO administrators, who are responsible for granting access rights, managing users and configuring the Mailbox.
Similarly, in Online Filing 2.0, users are grouped in what is called an "organisation". Members of the same "organisation" can prepare, submit and manage patent filings together. Each "organisation" is managed by one or more Online Filing 2.0 administrators, who are responsible for managing members and filing-related access rights.
When creating an EPO account, you can either join an existing "company" and/or "organisation" or create a new one. If you create a new "company" or "organisation", you will normally be assigned an administrator role and can manage users and access rights yourself.
If you are new to MyEPO services
If you already have an EPO account or have used one of our online services before, you may already have completed some of the steps below.
Before April 2027, ensure that you:
Create your personal EPO account | How to |
- Set up the account and select a method for two-factor authentication. We recommend setting up a second two-factor authentication method as a back-up.
- Complete your “setup in MyEPO” by identifying the “company” you want to associate your EPO account with. If you don’t want to be associated with an existing “company”, you can create a new one. Self-representing applicants acting on their own behalf and not for an entity can simply enter their own name. (1)
- If you have opted to create a new “company” you have the choice to create the corresponding “organisation” for the Online Filing 2.0. tool at the same time. This will allow you to manage your members of MyEPO and Online Filing 2.0 in one place.
- Once you have completed the setup of your account for an existing "company", request access to the functions you need with your "company's"(MyEPO administrator. If you created a new “company”, you are automatically the administrator and can set up access rights for yourself.
- Please see the full information under “How to”.
| Website: creating and setting up an EPO account FAQ about EPO account |
Arrange your access rights | How to |
For Online Filing 2.0 |
- If your “company” already uses Online Filing 2.0, ask your Online Filing 2.0 administrator to add you to the “organisation” and grant you the required access rights.
- If you registered a new “organisation” for Online Filing 2.0 when creating your EPO account, you will be assigned an administrator role, as the first person to complete the registration for that organisation.
- If you did not create the Online Filing 2.0 “organisation when setting up your EPO account, then complete the dedicated registration form and the EPO will get back to you (see “How to”).
- Please see the full information under “How to”.
| Registration form for access to Online Filing 2.0 Video: Quick guide to getting started with Online Filing 2.0 Feature guide: Online Filing 2.0 |
For MyEPO and its Mailbox |
- Ask your MyEPO administrator to grant you access to the relevant application portfolios and other information in MyEPO. If you are a self-representing applicant, you can manage the available access rights in the Admin area of MyEPO yourself.
- To receive EPO communications in the Mailbox of MyEPO, your MyEPO administrator must add you as Mailbox recipient. If this has not yet been done, your MyEPO administrator must also activate the Mailbox itself.
- If you are a self-representing applicant (1), use the Admin area in MyEPO to activate the Mailbox and then request that you be added as Mailbox recipient. Once the request has been validated by the EPO (which may take several working days), enable electronic communications for yourself and ensure that you have access to the Mailbox.
- Please see the full information under “How to”.
| Feature guide: managing user access in MyEPO Feature guide: accessing your portfolios and documents Feature guide: handling Mailbox communication Video: how to receive EPO communication electronically |
For Central Fee Payment |
- To use Central Fee Payment, you need a personal EPO account.
- No additional access rights are required to pay by credit card or prepare a bank transfer.
- Alternatively, if you wish to pay by debit order from an EPO deposit account, the deposit account must be linked to your EPO account, and you must have the necessary fee-payment rights.
- Contact the EPO via the support form to request that the deposit account be linked to your EPO account. If you are associated with a company, ask your MyEPO administrator to grant you the appropriate fee-payment rights. If you are a self-representing applicant (1), you can assign the relevant rights to yourself in the Admin area of MyEPO.
- Please see the full information under “How to”.
| Feature guide: Central Fee Payment – getting started FAQs – Central Fee Payment access and set-up |
(1) Applicants who do not have their residence or principal place of business in an EPC contracting state must appoint a professional representative and act through that representative in proceedings before the EPO. (see Do I need to be represented before the EPO?)
If you already use MyEPO services
Before April 2027, you should:
- Check that your contact details are up-to-date
- Ensure that access rights and information on associations are up-to-date
- Review your internal procedures to ensure your staff can access the applications they manage
- If you have not already done so, activate your Mailbox in MyEPO and ensure that all intended recipients have access. If your Mailbox is activated and recipients are already assigned to it, we invite you to set up the reception of electronic communications per recipient.
