Credit: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
From 1 March 2026, patent applicants filing in Australia will be able to nominate the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA).
This arrangement offers more choice for Australian applicants, particularly for those requiring searches of Chinese prior art. It also allows them to use the expertise of examiners based in key target markets.
Important information about IPOS arrangements
- To request an international preliminary examination report from IPOS, they must have prepared the international search report. IPOS will only act as the IPEA if also selected as the ISA.
- If you use IP Australia as the Receiving Office, you must file your application in English.
- If you file with IP Australia as the Receiving Office, we will collect the search fees payable to IPOS and transfer them via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Fee Transfer Service. For up-to-date fee amounts, refer to The PCT Applicant’s Guide on the WIPO website.
This ongoing arrangement with IPOS builds on the strong partnership and Memorandum of Understanding between our offices and reinforces our customer-first approach in providing world-leading IP services.
Through arrangements like this we’re giving Australian applicants more choice and flexibility when seeking patent protection in overseas markets.