On 5 November 2025, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) announced that its official fees for patents, trade marks, and designs will increase from 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. Full details of the upcoming changes are available on the IPO website: Intellectual Property Office fees to increase from April 2026.

The IPO’s fees have not been raised since 2018 for patents, 2016 for designs, and 1998 for trade marks. During that time, the IPO has absorbed cost pressures through improved internal efficiencies, investment in digital services, and the use of existing reserves. The upcoming increases are framed as necessary to maintain and modernise the IPO’s services for the benefit of UK rights holders and the wider IP landscape.

The average fee increase is set to be around 25%. For example, the trade mark application fee will rise from £170 to £205, and the single design application fee will increase from £50 to £60. Higher fees will also apply to contentious proceedings before the IPO, as well as for the renewal of existing registered IP rights.

This represents a significant shift in the cost base of the UK IP regime for rights holders. For businesses and advisers operating in the IP space, proactive planning will be essential to manage the impact.

If you have filings or renewals scheduled in the coming months, now is a good time to review your timelines and budgets, and speak with your patent or trade mark attorney about your IP strategy in light of the upcoming fee changes. As a trusted leader in intellectual property protection and portfolio management, our team remains committed to exceptional client care. We work closely with our clients to tailor our services to their specific needs. If you have any questions about the IPO’s fee increase announcement or require support with future IP planning, then please do not hesitate to contact our attorneys.