What is an EPO renewal fee?

A renewal fee (annuity) paid to the European Patent Office each year while a European patent application is still pending. It falls due on the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the filing date, starting with the third year.

When do EPO renewal fees stop and national annuities start?

The EPO collects renewal fees only while the application is pending. Once the patent is granted, renewal fees are paid to each national office where the patent is validated — or, if you request unitary effect, as a single Unitary Patent renewal fee to the EPO.

How much are Unitary Patent renewal fees?

They follow the 'True Top 4' schedule, roughly EUR 35 in year 2 rising to about EUR 4,855 in year 20, totalling around EUR 35,500 over the full term for all participating states.

What happens if an annuity is missed?

There is a six-month grace period with a 50% surcharge at the EPO. After that the application is deemed withdrawn, and only further processing or re-establishment of rights can revive it.

EPO fees hub

EPO Renewal Fees: Schedule, Annuities and Calculator

Everything a US company needs on European patent renewal fees: the official EPO annuity schedule while the application is pending, Unitary Patent renewal fees after grant, and a calculator comparing classic country-by-country validation with the Unitary Patent.

Official EPO renewal fees (pending applications)

Paid to the EPO each year from the third year until grant, due on the last day of the anniversary month of filing.

Renewal year	Official fee
3rd year	€610
4th year	€760
5th year	€1,065
6th year	€1,360
7th year	€1,510
8th year	€1,650
9th year	€1,780
10th year and later	€2,015

Unitary Patent renewal fees (after grant)

A single annual fee covering every participating member state — the "True Top 4" schedule.

Year	Renewal fee
Year 2	€35
Year 3	€105
Year 4	€145
Year 5	€315
Year 6	€475
Year 7	€630
Year 8	€815
Year 9	€990
Year 10	€1,175
Year 11	€1,460
Year 12	€1,775
Year 13	€2,105
Year 14	€2,455
Year 15	€2,830
Year 16	€3,240
Year 17	€3,640
Year 18	€4,055
Year 19	€4,455
Year 20	€4,855

Compare classic validation with the Unitary Patent

1 · Target countries

Countries marked non-UP sit outside the Unitary Patent territory and always need a separate national validation.

2 · Keep the patent alive until year 20

Year 3Year 20 (full term)

3 · Options

Include one-off validation costs (local agent, translations). These are the largest single saving of the Unitary Patent.

Classic validation

€37,015

National annuities: €34,065
Validation / translation: €2,950
Countries: 5

Unitary Patent (+ non-UP states)

€50,010

Renewal fees: €48,660
Validation / translation: €1,350
Separate validations: 2

Over 20 years, classic validation is cheaper by €12,995. With a small footprint you pay less by validating only where you actually trade — and you keep the option to drop countries later.

Annual fee profile

€303€240

€490€350

€677€590

€864€820

€1,051€1,045

€1,238€1,300

€1,425€1,545

Y10

€1,612€1,800

Y11

€1,799€2,155

Y12

€1,986€2,540

Y13

€2,173€2,940

Y14

€2,360€3,360

Y15

€2,547€3,805

Y16

€2,734€4,285

Y17

€2,921€4,755

Y18

€3,108€5,240

Y19

€3,295€5,710

Y20

€3,482€6,180

Dark bar = classic validation · brass bar = Unitary Patent route.

Assumptions & fee schedules

What each input means

Target countries: The countries where you would validate a granted European patent. Countries marked non-UP are outside the Unitary Patent territory and always need a separate national validation, even if you choose the Unitary Patent route.
Keep alive until year: The last patent year you intend to pay renewal fees. Year 3 is the first EPO renewal year; year 20 is the maximum patent term. Dropping countries earlier is one of the main flexibilities of the classic route.
Include validation costs: One-off fees for local agents, translations and formalities required to turn a granted European patent into a national title. The Unitary Patent removes most of these inside its territory.

Fee schedules used

Unitary Patent renewals: Official annual renewal fees published by the Unified Patent Court (UPC), paid in euros. The same single fee covers all participating EU member states.
EPO national renewal fees: Indicative national annuity fees for each selected country, modelled from each national patent office's published schedule. Actual fees change by year and are paid in local currency, then converted to euros.
Validation costs: Approximate one-off costs for local representation and translation in each country. These are estimates; the exact cost depends on patent length, language pair and local attorney rates.

Indicative official fees only, in euros, for planning purposes. National annuities, translation requirements and attorney charges vary by country and by year, and exchange rates move. Ask for a written estimate before budgeting.

What the numbers hide

Cost is only half of the decision

One basket, one court

A Unitary Patent lives or dies as a whole before the UPC. Classic validations can be attacked only country by country.

You cannot prune later

With classic validation you drop expensive countries as the product matures. Unitary renewal fees are all-or-nothing.

Coverage you may not need

The Unitary Patent covers participating states you might never sell in — worth it only if the fee curve still beats your real footprint.

Get a written estimate→European Patent Attorney services →

EPO renewal fees FAQ

Questions US patent owners ask

What is an EPO renewal fee?: A renewal fee (annuity) paid to the European Patent Office each year while a European patent application is still pending. It falls due on the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the filing date, starting with the third year.
When do EPO renewal fees stop and national annuities start?: The EPO collects renewal fees only while the application is pending. Once the patent is granted, renewal fees are paid to each national office where the patent is validated — or, if you request unitary effect, as a single Unitary Patent renewal fee to the EPO.
How much are Unitary Patent renewal fees?: They follow the 'True Top 4' schedule, roughly EUR 35 in year 2 rising to about EUR 4,855 in year 20, totalling around EUR 35,500 over the full term for all participating states.
What happens if an annuity is missed?: There is a six-month grace period with a 50% surcharge at the EPO. After that the application is deemed withdrawn, and only further processing or re-establishment of rights can revive it.

Background reading: European patent maintenance fees explained.