Permission to apply for a patent abroad

You can apply for a patent abroad, but if you are a United Kingdom (UK) resident and your application contains information about military technology, or could harm national security or public safety PDF document(14Kb), Section 23 of the Patents Act requires that you must either:

  • apply first for the patent in the UK. You can apply abroad 6 weeks after your UK application date, as long as we have not told you that you cannot publish or communicate your application

    or

  • get permission from us before you apply.

Please note that, if your application relates to military technology or would be prejudicial to national security or public safety, requests for permission to make an application abroad should be made to the Intellectual Property Office even if, for example, such an application is required by contract with a foreign firm.

If you think you need permission to file abroad, please contact Security Section, Room GR70 at the folloing address:

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)1633 813558
Fax: +44 (0)1633 814415