How long does it take to obtain a patent?

The time taken to obtain a patent varies substantially from country to country and also depends upon whether the applicant is actively seeking rapid grant of a patent.

UK patent applications typically take two-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years to be granted, although they can, in some circumstances, be granted in less than one year.

European patent applications typically take upward of four years to be granted, with some applications taking well over a decade. An accelerated examination scheme is available.