Application fee reduction for SMEs in Norway

The basic fee for filing a patent application in Norway is:

• Application fee: NOK 6,050
• Additional fee for each claim starting from the 11th claim: NOK 325

However, according to the relevant provisions of the Norwegian Patent Act, the application fee can be reduced if the following conditions are met:

• 1. Enterprises with no more than 20 full-time employees
• 2. Natural persons

Note: Companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries or parent companies of each other are considered as one company.

• The reduced application fee is NOK 1,100
• Additional fee for each claim starting from the 11th claim: NOK 325

Applicants may be asked by the examiner to provide documents to prove their small business status.

In addition, according to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph 1, sentence 1 of the Norwegian Patent Act, a patent application shall be granted with a grant fee. The fee for granting a patent is related to the patent application documents. If the specification exceeds 14 pages, an additional NOK 330 will be charged for each page starting from the 15th page; if new claims are received on or after the application date, so that the number of claims exceeds the number of application fees paid in accordance with Article 21 of these Regulations, an additional NOK 330 will be charged for each additional claim starting from the 11th item.

Inventions which are of importance for the defence of the Kingdom of Norway according to section 7 of Act No. 8 of June 26, 1953 are exempt from any licensing fee and any surcharge.

In addition, the applicant can request a reduction of the grant fee and its additional costs if the applicant's total income does not exceed 3 times the basic amount of national insurance. If the applicant has a spouse, the income limit is 4 times the basic amount of national insurance. For each additional person in the applicant's family, the income limit increases by half the basic amount of national insurance. The calculation is based on the total income in the tax assessment. The applicant must attach a copy of the most recent tax settlement notice. The applicant must attach a copy of the most recent tax settlement notice received, together with the basis for the calculation. If the applicant's total income exceeds 5 times the basic amount of national insurance, a reduction of the fees can only be requested in exceptional cases.