11.4 Missing information for any applicant

In accordance with Rule 163(4), the applicant must ensure that any information missing for any applicant is filed within the 31-month period (A‑XII, 6.1). This applies to any application for which the address, nationality or state of residence or principal place of business of any applicant was not provided in the international phase (A‑III, 2; A‑III, 16).

If the EPO establishes that any such information is missing from the file on expiry of the 31-month period, the EPO invites the applicant to furnish the information within a period of two months set in the invitation under Rule 163(4). Failure to rectify this deficiency in time leads to the refusal of the application under Rule 163(6). Applicants will be notified accordingly.

The refusal may be remedied by a request for further processing. The request will be granted on condition that the missing data are filed and the fee for further processing is paid within two months of notification of the decision (E‑VIII, 2).