You can now apply for a UK patent without printing a single form
As of Wednesday (1 April), inventors, startups, and businesses in the UK can apply for, manage, and renew patents entirely online through a new digital platform from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), eliminating the need for paper forms, postal submissions, or fragmented legacy systems.
The launch of the “One IPO” patents services represents a major milestone in the government’s digital transformation of intellectual property services. For the first time, users can handle the full lifecycle of a UK patent in one secure online account.
A single digital gateway for patents
The new services include two core components:
- Apply for a patent: A fully digital application tool that lets users complete sections in any order, save drafts, collaborate with colleagues, and view updates in real time. No more rigid sequential forms or worrying about losing progress.
- Manage intellectual property: Users create a personal or organisational digital IP account to search and view the status of their patents, make changes via self-service, and renew patents online.
These join earlier launches like “Search for a patent” and “Check the patent journal” from January 2025, creating a more integrated experience. Trade marks and registered designs will follow in subsequent phases of the “One IPO” programme, eventually unifying all IP services on a single platform.
Access is straightforward via GOV.UK. Individuals can create an account using their Government One Login. Organisations often already have accounts set up, with administrators able to add team members. For those solely renewing patents, a standalone account option is available without full organisational linking.
Goodbye to paper – for most users
The shift marks the beginning of the end for traditional paper-based processes. While legacy options like the Web Filing service, email submissions to [email protected], and certain extensions remain available until at least summer 2026, the IPO is clearly steering users toward the faster digital route.
Notably, from 1 April 2026, UK patent applications can no longer be filed via the European Patent Office’s Electronic Online Filing (eOLF) service, which lost technical support earlier this year.
Paper forms are also being streamlined, with a new combined form replacing several older ones (Forms 1, 7, 9A, and 10) for those who still need to file by post or email during the transition. However, digital is now the simplest and quickest way to interact with the office.
Benefits for innovators and professionals
The changes promise significant time and cost savings. As part of the new system, users can now:
- Track application status almost in real time.
- Update or amend applications directly through their account.
- Collaborate seamlessly on draft applications.
- Renew patents without additional paperwork.
This is particularly welcome for small businesses, independent inventors, and startups, who often lack dedicated IP teams and previously faced cumbersome processes involving printing, signing, and posting multiple documents.
IP professionals and larger firms will benefit from centralised management and reduced administrative burden. The IPO has provided support resources, including demo videos, guidance pages, blogs with top tips, and weekly training webinars to ease the transition.
