1.8 Search, publication and request for examination of divisional applications 

Divisional applications are searched, published and examined in the same way as other European patent applications.

The search fee is refunded if the conditions of Art. 9(2) RFees are met (see the decision of the President of the EPO dated 17 January 2023 15 January 2024 concerning the refund of the search fee under Art. 9(2) RFees, OJ EPO 2023, A4 OJ EPO 2024, A6, for divisional applications for which the search is completed on or after 1 April 2022 2024).

The divisional application is published in accordance with Art. 93(1). The filing or priority date taken for calculation of the 18-month period for publication is the date of filing date or the earliest priority date claimed (see A‑IV, 1.2.1). Since this period has usually already expired when the divisional application is filed, the technical preparations for publication are completed as soon as all formal requirements with respect to the divisional application have been fulfilled. The applicant is informed of the intended publication date (see also A‑VI, 1.1).

The time limit for filing the request for examination, including payment of the examination fee, begins to run on the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the search report concerning the divisional application. For fee reductions under the language arrangements, see A‑X, 9.3.1 and A-X, 9.3.2; for fee reductions under the scheme for micro-entities, see A‑X, 9.4.1 and A-X, 9.4.2.