Australia-Singapore Patent Search Arrangement
Summary
IP Australia has announced a new arrangement with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) that will allow Australian patent applicants to nominate IPOS as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) starting March 1, 2026. This provides Australian applicants with expanded search options, particularly for Chinese prior art, and access to the expertise of examiners in key markets.
What changed
Effective March 1, 2026, Australian patent applicants will have the option to select the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). This new arrangement, announced by IP Australia, aims to provide applicants with greater choice and flexibility, particularly for those seeking searches of Chinese prior art or wishing to leverage the expertise of examiners in key international markets. IPOS will only act as the IPEA if it has also prepared the international search report.
Australian applicants using IP Australia as the Receiving Office must file their applications in English. IP Australia will collect and transfer search fees to IPOS via the WIPO Fee Transfer Service. This initiative builds on existing partnerships and aims to enhance IP services for Australian businesses seeking patent protection overseas. No specific compliance actions are immediately required beyond understanding the new options available for international patent filings.
What to do next
- Review new international patent search options with IPOS
- Consider IPOS as ISA/IPEA for relevant international patent filings from March 1, 2026
Source document (simplified)
International search options expand for Australian patent applicants
New arrangement with Intellectual Property Office of Singapore starts 1 March.
Credit: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
From 1 March 2026, patent applicants filing in Australia will be able to nominate the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA).
This arrangement offers more choice for Australian applicants, particularly for those requiring searches of Chinese prior art. It also allows them to use the expertise of examiners based in key target markets.
Important information about IPOS arrangements
- To request an international preliminary examination report from IPOS, they must have prepared the international search report. IPOS will only act as the IPEA if also selected as the ISA.
- If you use IP Australia as the Receiving Office, you must file your application in English.
- If you file with IP Australia as the Receiving Office, we will collect the search fees payable to IPOS and transfer them via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Fee Transfer Service. For up-to-date fee amounts, refer to The PCT Applicant’s Guide on the WIPO website. This ongoing arrangement with IPOS builds on the strong partnership and Memorandum of Understanding between our offices and reinforces our customer-first approach in providing world-leading IP services.
Through arrangements like this we’re giving Australian applicants more choice and flexibility when seeking patent protection in overseas markets.
Published date 12 January 2026 Patents Corporate Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more about how we use and collect data Accept Opt Out
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