Provisional Patent Application
A provisional patent application gives your invention temporary protection while it is still developing, and secures your priority date. A specification with no claims is provisional; once it has claims, it becomes complete.
You have 12 months — no extension to file the complete specification after a provisional filing.
What's Included
- Drafting of the provisional specification (Form-2, no claims).
- Filing (Form-1).
- Guidance on the 12-month window to file complete.
Provisional Patent Application — Step by Step
Draft the provisional specification
A technical description without formal claims, drafted by the inventor or a patent attorney.
File
Form-1 with the provisional Form-2. This locks in your priority date.
File complete specification
Must be filed within the statutory window to retain the priority date.
Deadline: 12 months — no extension
Documents & Inputs Required
- Form-1 (application).
- Form-2 (provisional specification).
- Proof of the inventor's right to file.
Provisional Patent Application — Common Questions
Why file a provisional application first?
It secures your priority date while the invention is still being finalised — cheaper and faster than a complete specification, but it must be followed by a complete filing.
What happens if I miss the 12-month deadline?
The deadline (12 months — no extension) cannot be extended — missing it means losing the priority date secured by the provisional filing.
Start Your Provisional Filing
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