- Protection period
- 20 years (provided that annual fees are paid)
- Process duration
- Publication about 18 months after filing; the registration process may take years depending on the scope of the examination
Table of contents
- What is patent registration?
- What conditions must an invention meet to obtain a patent?
- What can and cannot be protected by a patent?
- What should you pay attention to before filing?
- How does the patent application process work?
- How long does patent registration take?
- Who is a patent application suitable for?
- What happens after the patent is granted?
- What does the cost of a patent depend on?
- Patent or utility model?
- Patent protection abroad
- Official timeline for a patent application: search, publication, and examination
- 2026 official fees (patent)
- What does Anlar Grup do in the patent process?
What is patent registration?
A patent is protection granted to an invention in any field of technology, giving its owner the right to prevent others from making, using, selling or importing that invention without permission for 20 years. In return, the details of the invention are disclosed to the public, so society also benefits from the technical knowledge. In Türkiye, patent applications are evaluated by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) under Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK).
A patent protects not an idea, but the concrete technical solution to that idea. For this reason, the application file must clearly explain how the invention works, which technical problem it solves and in what respects it is different.
What conditions must an invention meet to obtain a patent?
For a patent to be granted, the invention must meet all three criteria together:
| Criterion | Meaning | Ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Novelty | The solution has not been disclosed to the public before the filing date | Has this solution been published, sold or exhibited before? |
| Inventive step | The solution cannot be obviously derived from the existing knowledge by a person skilled in the field | Could someone experienced in the field have easily thought of this? |
| Industrial applicability | The invention can be made or used in some branch of industry | Can this solution really be produced and repeated? |
What can and cannot be protected by a patent?
A patent can be granted both for products such as machines, devices, mechanisms and compositions, and for methods of production or processing. On the other hand, the legislation does not regard some subject matter as inventions or excludes it from the scope of patents. For example, scientific theories and mathematical methods, aesthetic creations, plans and methods for performing mental acts and doing business, and computer programs as such are generally not patentable subject matter. The scope of the exceptions is detailed; we assess whether your idea is suitable for a patent in the initial consultation.
What should you pay attention to before filing?
- Do not disclose the invention: Exhibiting it at a trade fair, sharing it online or offering it for sale before filing may undermine the novelty requirement.
- Ensure confidentiality: Sign a written confidentiality agreement before talking to manufacturers, investors or advisors.
- Keep records: Document the development process with dated notes, drawings and prototype records.
- Plan for foreign countries: Under the Paris Convention, the priority period for patent applications is 12 months. If you are considering applying abroad, take this period into account from the start.
- Weigh the commercial value: The patent process requires time and budget; assessing the market potential of the invention from the outset helps you make the right decision.
For a more detailed checklist, you can read our article on what to know before filing a patent application.
How does the patent application process work?
- Initial consultation and invention assessment: The technical features of the invention, competing solutions and the protection goal are discussed.
- Prior art search: Similar patents and publications are searched, and a preliminary opinion is formed on novelty and inventive step.
- Preparing the application file: The description of the invention, the claims that define the limits of protection, the abstract and, if necessary, the drawings are written. The quality of the claims directly affects the breadth of protection.
- Filing and formal examination: The file is submitted to TÜRKPATENT; the Office first checks formal compliance.
- Search, examination and correspondence: The Office's assessments of the invention and any correction requests are answered within the periods set by the legislation.
- Publication and outcome: The application is usually published about 18 months after filing. If the Office makes a favorable decision, the patent certificate is issued.
How long does patent registration take?
The patent process is considerably longer than the trademark process. Publication usually takes place about 18 months after filing; registration, on the other hand, may take years depending on the technical field of the invention, the scope of the Office's examination and the number of correspondences. For this reason, the timeline for bringing your product to market needs to be planned together with the patent strategy.
Who is a patent application suitable for?
It is suitable for inventors who solve a technical problem in an original way, manufacturers developing products, SMEs carrying out R&D activities and entrepreneurs who want to build an intellectual property asset to present to investors. A patent is especially valuable if your product has a long market life, if you have a technical advantage that competitors could not easily imitate, or if you are considering earning revenue through licensing.
What happens after the patent is granted?
The patent certificate gives you an exclusive right over your invention; however, this right does not continue automatically. For the patent to remain in force, the annual fees set by the legislation must be paid on time. You can use the right yourself, assign it, or let others use it by granting a license. Because the limit of protection is determined by the claims, the quality of the drafting of the claims is decisive in any assessment of a possible infringement. Therefore, the preparation at the application stage is the foundation of the protection the patent will provide in the future.
What does the cost of a patent depend on?
The cost does not consist of a single fixed amount. Official fees, annual fees and the preparation service are separate items. The service fee is affected by factors such as the complexity of the invention, the number of descriptions and claims, the scope of the search and your plan for protection abroad. Current official fees should be confirmed with TÜRKPATENT. For a scope and fee tailored to you, you can get a quote.
Patent or utility model?
A patent offers a longer protection period (20 years) and a broader examination; a utility model, on the other hand, provides 10 years of protection and is generally a faster and more economical route. Which one suits your invention depends on whether you want to protect a product or a method, its market life and your budget. For a comparison, you can read our article patent or utility model?
Patent protection abroad
A patent right is territorial; a patent in Türkiye is not valid abroad. Under the Paris Convention, applications can be filed in other countries with a right of priority within 12 months of the first application. On the international patent application (PCT) route, entry into the national or regional phase is generally around the 30th month after the priority date; the exact period varies by country.
Note: The aim of a patent application is to protect your invention within the broadest and most defensible scope possible. Drafting the scope too narrowly at the outset may lead to a loss that cannot be remedied by broadening it later.
Official timeline for a patent application: search, publication, and examination
Unlike a trademark, the patent process proceeds in stages, and each stage has deadlines whose expiry causes a loss of rights. The timeline below is compiled from Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK).
| Stage | Period / rule | SMK |
|---|---|---|
| Search request | Made within 12 months from the filing date with payment of the fee; if not made, the application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 96 |
| Publication | Published in the Bulletin 18 months after the filing (or priority) date, or earlier upon a request for early publication | Art. 97 |
| Third-party opinion | After publication, third parties may submit opinions on patentability; they cannot become a party to the file | Art. 97 |
| Examination request | Made within 3 months from notification of the search report with payment of the fee; if not made, the application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 98 |
| Examination notifications | If any non-conformity is found, up to 3 notifications are issued; 3 months are given for each to submit an opinion or make amendments | Art. 98 |
| Grant of the patent | If found acceptable, the decision and the patent are published in the Bulletin | Art. 98 |
| Third-party opposition | Within 6 months from the publication in the Bulletin of the decision to grant the patent, with payment of the fee (5.180 TL in the current table) | Art. 99 |
| Appeal against the Office's decision | 2 months from notification of the decision | Art. 100 |
| Term of protection | 20 years from the filing date; cannot be extended | Art. 101 |
| Annual fees | The due date is the day corresponding to the filing date; if not paid, they can be paid with an additional fee within the 6 months following the due date | Art. 101 |
Do not rely on the disclosure exception. Disclosure of an invention by the person who made it within the 12 months before filing does not, in some cases, affect novelty (SMK Art. 84). However, this exception is narrow, and other countries may have no similar tolerance. The safest course is to keep the invention confidential until the application is filed. For details, see our article on the official timeline for a patent application.
2026 official fees (patent)
The amounts were taken from the current table on TÜRKPATENT's "Patent Transaction Fees" page (checked on November 14, 2026); the table shows the fee, VAT, and duty in separate columns, and the total amounts are given below. The service fee is not included.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Patent application | 620,00 TL |
| Patent application — first application by legal entities with an SME qualification certificate | 546,73 TL |
| Search report (general tariff) | 5.180,00 TL |
| Search report — natural persons (up to 10 applications) and universities (up to 100 applications) | 2.530,00 TL |
| Search report — SME first application | 1.295,00 TL |
| Examination report (general tariff) | 5.180,00 TL |
| Examination report — natural persons and universities (limits above) | 2.530,00 TL |
| Examination report — SME first application | 1.295,00 TL |
| Priority right request (for each priority) | 1.000,00 TL |
| Issuance of the patent certificate | 3.800,00 TL |
| Urgent search report (general tariff) | 10.400,00 TL |
| Urgent search report — artificial intelligence field (class G06N) | 5.200,00 TL |
| Annual registration fee — 3rd year | 3.800,00 TL |
| Annual registration fee — 5th year | 5.720,00 TL |
| Annual registration fee — 10th year | 10.000,00 TL |
| Annual registration fee — 15th year | 18.940,00 TL |
| Annual registration fee — 20th year | 26.650,00 TL |
Example calculation (excluding annual fees): for an application under the general tariff, the total of the application, search report, examination report, and patent certificate is 14.780 TL; for an application benefiting from the natural-person discount, it is 9.480 TL. Because fees increase over the years, the annual fees payable over the life of the patent should also be added to the budget. For the new discounts, see our article on the SME and artificial intelligence discount.
What does Anlar Grup do in the patent process?
- Free preliminary assessment of the invention
- Prior art search and its interpretation
- Preparation of the description, claims and abstract
- Filing, Office correspondence and deadline monitoring
- Guidance on the strategy for protection abroad
Contact us to talk about your invention in confidence and determine the right path.
What the service includes
- Free preliminary assessment of the invention and confidentiality commitment
- Prior art search for novelty and inventive step
- Preparation of the description, claims, abstract and drawings
- TÜRKPATENT filing and monitoring of the formal examination
- Responses to Office correspondence within the deadlines
- Strategy advice between a patent and a utility model
- Deadline monitoring for Paris priority right and PCT
- In-person service in Konya and Ankara, and remote service as well
The application process, step by step
-
1
Confidential initial consultation
We listen to the technical features of your invention, the target market and your protection expectations within a framework of confidentiality.
-
2
Prior art search
Similar patents and publications are searched; a written preliminary assessment on novelty and inventive step is provided.
-
3
File preparation
The description, the claims that define the limit of protection, the abstract and the drawings are written together with the inventor.
-
4
Filing
The file is submitted to TÜRKPATENT; the filing date is recorded and the priority right periods are put under monitoring.
-
5
Examination and correspondence
Notifications arising from the Office's formal and substantive examination are answered within the periods set by the legislation.
-
6
Publication, outcome and annual monitoring
The application is published and, after the decision, the certificate is delivered; a calendar for annual fees and the protection period is set up.
Required information and documents
- Description of the invention and, if necessary, drawings
- Claims (the scope to be protected) and abstract
- Applicant's identification or trade name details
- Inventor details
- Power of attorney (if the application will be filed through a representative)
- Priority document, if any
- Official fee payment receipt
Frequently asked questions about Patent Registration
How many years does a patent protect?
Patent protection lasts 20 years and cannot be renewed. Protection continues provided that the annual fees required by the legislation are paid on time; if the fees are not paid, the patent may lapse before the term ends. For this reason, it is important to keep track of the annual fee calendar.
Can an idea be patented?
A patent protects not the idea itself but the concrete technical solution to that idea. The solution must be new, involve an inventive step, and be industrially applicable. An abstract idea, a business method, or a scientific theory is generally not patentable subject matter; in the initial consultation, we assess your invention from this perspective.
What happens if I share my invention before filing?
Disclosing an invention to the public, offering it for sale, or exhibiting it before filing can undermine the novelty requirement and eliminate the possibility of obtaining a patent. If you need to talk to third parties, first sign a written confidentiality agreement and, if possible, complete the filing beforehand.
Is a search necessary before filing a patent application?
Although it is not mandatory, it is recommended. A prior art search shows whether similar solutions exist and lets you see your invention's chances regarding novelty and inventive step. In this way it reduces the risk of wasting time and budget, and you can draft the claims more accurately. The search result does not mean a guarantee of registration.
What does the patent fee depend on?
The cost varies according to the complexity of the invention, the number of description pages and claims, the scope of the search, and your plans abroad. Official fees and annual fees are separate items, and their current amounts should be confirmed with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). For a clear scope and price, you can use our quote form.
Is a patent also valid abroad?
No, a patent right is territorial. Within 12 months from the date of your application in Türkiye, you can file in other countries claiming the right of priority under the Paris Convention. On the international patent application (PCT) route, entry into the national phase is generally around the 30th month after the priority date.
What are the official fees for a patent application?
In TÜRKPATENT's current table, the patent application fee is 620 TL, the search report fee is 5.180 TL under the general tariff (2.530 TL for natural persons for up to 10 applications), and the examination report fee is the same amount; the fee for issuing the patent certificate is 3.800 TL. Annual registration fees are paid from the third year (3rd year 3.800 TL, 20th year 26.650 TL). The amounts may change and do not include the service fee.
When are the search and examination requests made for a patent?
The search request is made within 12 months from the filing date by paying the fee. After the search report is notified, there are 3 months for the examination request. Missing either deadline causes the application to be deemed withdrawn; it is therefore important to track the deadlines.
