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AuthorsNatalie HardmanSamantha Thompson
This article was originally published on 13 January 2026 and last updated on 14 April 2026.
From 1 April 2026, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has increased official fees relating to patents, trade marks and designs. This marks the most substantial increase in decades and will affect every business and individual that relies on those rights.
Here, Associate and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney Natalie Hardman and Graduate Solicitor Apprentice Samantha Thompson from our commercial and intellectual property team outline what you need to know about the increases.
This is the first substantive fee increase in several years (2018 for patents, 2006 for registered designs and 1998 for trade marks). Given this prolonged period of fee stability, an adjustment in line with current economic conditions is to be expected.
In previous years, the UK IPO avoided raising its fees by driving internal efficiencies and investing heavily in digital services to help to streamline its operations. However, significant inflationary pressures in recent years, combined with the need for continued investment in modernisation and development of enhanced online systems, services and processes, have led the UK IPO to conclude that fee increases are now necessary.
According to the UK IPO, these changes are essential to ensure that it can:
From 1 April 2026, all UK IPO service fees increased by an average of 25% across patents, trade marks and designs.
A list of the various fee changes for patents, trade marks and designs has been published on the Government’s website.
Outlined below are examples of key UK IPO services, presented with the old fees (the fee amounts that applied before 1 April 2026) and the new fees (the amount that applies on or after 1 April 2026):
| Intellectual property (IP) right | Service | Old fee (£) | New fee (£) (as of 1 April 2026) |
| Patents | Application fee (if paid on filing online) | 60.00 | 75.00 |
| Request a search (UK application online) | 150.00 | 200.00 | |
| Renewal: year five | 70.00 | 90.00 | |
| Renewal: year ten | 170.00 | 230.00 | |
| Renewal: year 20 | 610.00 | 810.00 | |
| Trade marks | Application fee: one class (online) | 170.00 | 205.00 |
| Additional class fee (online) | 50.00 | 60.00 | |
| Renew trade mark registration: one class (online) | 200.00 | 245.00 | |
| Additional class renewal fee (online) | 50.00 | 60.00 | |
| Record change of ownership | 50.00 | 60.00 | |
| Registered designs | Application fee (online): single application | 50.00 | 60.00 |
| First renewal | 70.00 | 85.00 | |
| Second renewal | 90.00 | 110.00 | |
| Third renewal | 110.00 | 135.00 | |
| Fourth renewal | 140.00 | 170.00 |
The UK IPO has published further details of the specific fee changes for patents, designs and trade marks to help applicants and rights owners understand the financial impact of the new pricing structure.
Our IP attorneys advise on all aspects of protecting and managing trade marks, designs and patents, including portfolio strategy, filings and renewals.
Talk to us by calling 0333 004 4488, emailing hello@brabners.com or completing our contact form.
Natalie Hardman
Natalie is a Senior Associate and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in our commercial and intellectual property team.
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