4. Designation fees, extension and validation fees 

Under Rule 39(1), the designation fees can be validly paid up to the same time limit as the examination fee and therefore will be generally paid at the same time as the examination fee. The examination of whether and to what extent a designation fee has been validly paid has been entrusted to the formalities officer under Rule 11(3); see the decision of the President of the EPO dated 12 December 2013, OJ EPO 2014, A6; OJ EPO 2015, A104. The same applies to the examination of whether extension or validation fees have been paid; see A‑III, 12.2.