We are a Information technology company recently invented a cyber security product. This is a new invention and does not exist anywhere. Can we patent this invention ?

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

You can use a patent to protect your invention. It gives you the right to take legal action against anyone who makes, uses, sells or imports it without your permission.

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

non-disclosure agreements to keep it secret before launch - this can provide enough protection if your product is likely to sell for only a short time

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

Do not talk to other people without a non-disclosure agreement, or you may not be able to patent your invention. You can get help with this from a patent attorney or solicitor.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

You may be approached by companies offering to promote your invention for a fee. Get independent legal or financial advice before you agree to anything.

Applying for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process. Applications typically cost £4,000 and the process usually takes 5 years. There are 8 steps if you apply for patent protection in the UK through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

The statement provides the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) with more information about who the inventor is and why you have the right to apply for the patent.

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can file a UK patent application with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination checks whether your invention is new and inventive enough. It also checks that your description and claims match and are good enough to patent.

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

After you’ve applied you can mark your invention as ‘patent pending’ or ‘patent applied for’. You can either add the patent number and say that you applied for it in the UK, or use a web address instead if the patent number is online.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You may need to file more forms and documents once you have a patent pending (for example a form to request a search, or a document with your claims).

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can withdraw your application and reapply if you want to change it for any reason, for example if you’ve developed your invention since you first applied or have new information.

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.

something that can be made or used

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

Applying for a patent

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.

new

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

Applying for a patent

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

Applying for a patent

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

Applying for a patent

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.

some computer programs or mobile apps

Patenting your invention

What you can patent

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

non-disclosure agreements to keep it secret before launch - this can provide enough protection if your product is likely to sell for only a short time

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

Applying for a patent

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process.

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You may need to file more forms and documents once you have a patent pending (for example a form to request a search, or a document with your claims).

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.


I applied for learner support with University College London and got approved around a week ago. With how unstable my financial situation is I am really hoping there is a way for me to receive money which I will not have to pay back. Could I be payed money directly which I will not be expected to pay back?

The money could be:

Learner Support

Overview

If you’re aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship, you could get Learner Support.

You apply to your learning provider (for example your college) for Learner Support. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

The money can help pay for things like:

accommodation and travel

course materials and equipment

childcare - if you qualify

What you'll get

Your learning provider (for example, a college) decides how much you get. It depends on their scheme and your circumstances.

How the money is paid

The money could be:

a direct payment to you - which you don’t have to pay back

a loan - which you have to pay back

paid to someone else, for example a landlord

Your learning provider decides how the money is paid to you. It depends on their scheme and what the money is for.

Check with the student support staff at your college or the National Careers Service about other funding you could get.

Eligibility

To get Learner Support you must be:

19 or over

studying at a learning provider funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (check with your college)

You must be 20 or over to get help with childcare costs. If you’re 19, apply for Care to Learn instead.

You can apply even if you get other types of funding, for example:

Professional and Career Development Loans

Care to Learn

Disability Living Allowance

Who can’t apply

You can’t claim if you’re:

getting student finance for higher education

on a Community Learning course

How to claim

Apply directly to your learning provider (for example, a college) - they each have their own application process.

Speak to your student support services to:

get help applying

find out what’s available

Appeal a decision

If you’re not happy with the decision about your Learner Support, contact your learning provider to appeal it.

Learner Support

Overview

The money can help pay for things like:

accommodation and travel

course materials and equipment

childcare - if you qualify

What you'll get

How the money is paid

The money could be:

a loan - which you have to pay back

Eligibility

To get Learner Support you must be:

19 or over

Care to Learn

Disability Living Allowance

Who can’t apply

You can’t claim if you’re:

on a Community Learning course

How to claim

get help applying

find out what’s available

Appeal a decision


I live in Scotland and am a full time employee I earn £50,000 per year. I would like to pay self assessment tax returns . I want pay for 2020-2021 tax year. what is the tax rate on my 50,000 pound per year salary ?

Higher rate | £43,663 to £150,000 | 41%

Income Tax in Scotland

Current rates

You pay Scottish Income Tax if you live in Scotland. It’s paid to the Scottish Government.

Scottish Income Tax applies to your wages, pension and most other taxable income.

You’ll pay the same tax as the rest of the UK on dividends and savings interest.

What you’ll pay

The table shows the 2021 to 2022 Scottish Income Tax rates you pay in each band if you have a standard Personal Allowance of £12,570. You do not get a Personal Allowance if you earn over £125,140.

Band | Taxable income | Scottish tax rate

Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0%

Starter rate | £12,571 to £14,667 | 19%

Basic rate | £14,668  to £25,296 | 20%

Intermediate rate | £25,297  to £43,662 | 21%

Higher rate | £43,663 to £150,000 | 41%

Top rate | over £150,000 | 46%

Who pays

You may also pay Scottish Income Tax if you:

move to or from Scotland

live in a home in Scotland and one elsewhere in the UK, for example for work

do not have a home and stay in Scotland regularly, for example you stay offshore or in hotels

How you pay

If you’re employed or get a pension, your tax code will start with an ‘S’. This tells your employer or pension provider to deduct tax at the Scottish rate.

Your tax code will be S1250L if you pay Scottish Income Tax and get the standard Personal Allowance of £12,500.

If you fill in an online Self Assessment tax return, there’s a box for you to tell HMRC that you pay Scottish Income Tax.

The tax year is from 6 April to 5 April the following year.

If you move to or from Scotland

You pay Scottish Income Tax if you move to Scotland and live there for a longer period than anywhere else in the UK during a tax year (6 April to 5 April the following year).

You must tell HMRC of your new address if you move to or from Scotland. You may pay tax at the wrong rate if you do not.

If HMRC changes your tax rate

The new rate you pay will be backdated to the start of the tax year (6 April) in which you moved. The tax taken from your wages or pension will be adjusted automatically so you pay the right amount across the whole year.

If you live in more than one home

You need to know which is your main home if you have one in Scotland and one somewhere else in the UK.

What counts as your main home

Your main home is usually where you live and spend most of your time.

It does not matter whether you own it, rent it or live in it for free.

Your main home may be the home where you spend less time if that’s where:

most of your possessions are

your family lives, if you’re married or in a civil partnership

you’re registered for things like your bank account, GP or car insurance

you’re a member of clubs or societies

This might apply to you if you live away because of your work, for example you’re a lorry driver, an offshore worker or in the armed forces.

You can contact HMRC to change which home counts as your main one.

If you’re not sure which is your main home

HMRC has detailed information about working out which is your main home, including if:

you’re a mobile worker, for example your job means you travel most of the time

you’re a student

you do not have a permanent home

2020 to 2021 tax year

You pay a different rate of tax for income from the tax year 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021.

Personal Allowance | Up to £12,500 | 0%

Starter rate | £12,501 to £14,585 | 19%

Basic rate | £14,586 to £25,158 | 20%

Intermediate rate | £25,159 to £43,430 | 21%

Higher rate | £43,431 to £150,000 | 41%

Top rate | over £150,000 | 46%

It applies to your wages, pension and most other taxable income.

You pay the same tax as the rest of the UK on dividends and savings interest.


My friend owns a restaurant and his kitchen chimney produces a lot of dark smoke which is a nuisance to neighbors and the surroundings. He always says that he installed a low height chimney during construction. Is a high chimney installation a requirement during building construction?

There are some exemptions if emissions won’t damage health or cause a nuisance.

Preventing air pollution

Local controls

Your local council can introduce extra controls on emissions if there are air quality problems in your area.

Air Quality Management Areas

If air quality falls below required standards, your council will declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and plan for improvements.

Check if your business is in an AQMA and if you’re affected by:

road charging

parking restrictions

increased restrictions on waiting and loading times

taxes to encourage moving goods by rail

the review of planning applications by a pollution control team

Smoke control areas

Your council can also declare a smoke control area. This means you can only use authorised fuels, or exempted furnaces and boilers. Chimney smoke is not allowed, with only a few exceptions.

You could be fined up to £1,000 for each offence.

If you’re a contractor working at different locations you should always check if you’re in a smoke control area.

Dark smoke

The darker the smoke, the more polluting it tends to be. Smoke darker than a specified shade of grey is officially classified as ‘dark smoke’.

The Ringelmann chart is used to define dark smoke. The chart has 5 shades of grey with 0 being clear and 5 being black. Smoke is considered ‘dark’ if it is shade 2 or darker.

Chimney and boiler restrictions

You mustn’t release dark smoke from your premises, including from:

chimneys serving furnaces

fixed boilers or industrial plants, whether they’re attached to buildings or not

Boilers and furnaces

You need a permit for most generators, furnaces and boilers.

Get a permit

The permit you need depends on the type and amount of fuel you’re burning.

Part A(1) environmental permit

You’ll need a Part A(1) environmental permit if your appliances:

have an aggregated rated thermal input of 50 megawatts (mw) or more

burn waste oil, recovered oil or any fuel made from waste, with a rated thermal input of 3 to 50 mw

Get a Part A(1) permit from:

Environment Agency if you’re in England

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Part B environmental permit

You’ll need a Part B environmental permit if your appliances:

have a rated thermal input of 20 to 50 mw

burn waste excluded from the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) with a rated thermal input of 0.4 to 3 mw

Get a Part B permit from:

your local council if you’re in England and Wales

SEPA if you’re in Scotland

You’ll need a Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) environmental permit if your appliance can burn either:

less than 10 tonnes per day of hazardous waste

less than 3 tonnes per hour of non-hazardous waste (equivalent to 72 tonnes per day)

Get a SWIP environmental permit from your local council.

Installing furnaces

Your local council must approve:

the use of a new non-domestic furnace in a building, fixed boiler or industrial plant

changes to an existing furnace

Contact your local council about getting approval for grit and dust arrestment equipment for your furnace if it’s going to be used to burn:

pulverised fuel

any other solid matter at a rate of 45.4 kilograms (kg) or more an hour

liquid or gaseous matter at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts (kw) or more

You might not need approval if your boiler won’t create emissions that can damage health or cause a nuisance. Contact your local council to check if you’re exempt.

Chimney height requirements

Your chimney must be high enough to prevent smoke, grit, dust, gases and fume emissions from damaging health or causing a nuisance. Your local council can refuse your application if your chimney isn’t high enough.

You must apply for chimney height approval if your boiler’s fuel consumption either:

exceeds 45.4 kg of solid fuel an hour

exceeds 366.4 kw of liquid or gas fuel

If your approval application is refused your local council will tell you the minimum chimney height you need.

A chimney may be exempt if it’s used as part of:

a temporary replacement, for example if the boiler or furnace is being repaired

a temporary source of heat or power for building works

an auxiliary plant to bring the main plant up to operating temperatures

a mobile source of heat or power for agricultural purposes

If the use of your chimney changes you must re-apply for approval.

Preventing air pollution

Local controls

Air Quality Management Areas

road charging

parking restrictions

increased restrictions on waiting and loading times

taxes to encourage moving goods by rail

Smoke control areas

You could be fined up to £1,000 for each offence.

Dark smoke

Chimney and boiler restrictions

chimneys serving furnaces

Boilers and furnaces

Get a permit

Part A(1) environmental permit

Get a Part A(1) permit from:

Environment Agency if you’re in England

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Part B environmental permit

have a rated thermal input of 20 to 50 mw

Get a Part B permit from:

your local council if you’re in England and Wales

SEPA if you’re in Scotland

Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) environmental permit

less than 10 tonnes per day of hazardous waste

Get a SWIP environmental permit from your local council.

Installing furnaces

Your local council must approve:

changes to an existing furnace

pulverised fuel

Chimney height requirements

exceeds 45.4 kg of solid fuel an hour

exceeds 366.4 kw of liquid or gas fuel

A chimney may be exempt if it’s used as part of:

a temporary source of heat or power for building works

a mobile source of heat or power for agricultural purposes