3.1 General
3.1.6.What are the conditions for a reduction of the search fee?
3.1.024The search fee50 to be paid if the EPO acts as ISA is reduced by 75% where the applicant or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural person who is a national and resident of a state not party to the EPC which on the date of filing of the application is classified as a low-income or lower-middle-income economy by the World Bank. A table listing these states can be found in Annex I to the notice from the EPO dated 6 July 2022.
OJ 2020, A4, A35
OJ 2022, A72
GL/PCT‑EPO A‑III, 8.2
WIPO PCT Guide 5.188-5.190
3.1.025The search fee to be paid if the EPO acts as ISA is also reduced by 75% where the applicant or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural or legal person who, within the meaning of Rule 18 PCT, is a national and resident of a state in which a validation agreement with the European Patent Organisation is in force.
3.1.026The consequence of the requirement that each applicant must be a natural person who is a national and resident of a state not party to the EPC is that applicants with the nationality of or residence in an EPC contracting state for that reason alone do not fulfil the requirements for the reduction in the search fee (and the supplementary search fee as well as the fee for international preliminary examination). It is, however, possible that they fulfil the requirements for the reduction in the international filing fee (see point 2.27.020) and the handling fee (see point 4.1.059). For fee payments to be made during the international phase, please consult the latest information available on both the EPO51 and the WIPO52 websites. Furthermore, guidance for the payment of fees, expenses and prices is provided in every issue of the Official Journal.
50 For fee payments to be made during the international phase, refer to: epo.org/applying/fees/international-fees.html; wipo.int/pct/en/fees/.