Examination:

Generally, South Africa is not an examining country ‐ only pharmaceutical patents undergo substantive examination. For non-pharmaceutical patents, as long as the patent application was properly filed, the application will be accepted.

Typically, no additional costs are incurred during the period from filing to acceptance.

Acceptance:

Your South African national phase patent should be "accepted" about 9 months after filing. We will immediately notify you of acceptance by email.

Publication:

After acceptance, the abstract (with abstract Figure) must be published during a 3‐month window period. To meet the publication deadline, arrangements for publication should be made within 7 weeks of acceptance. Our charge to arrange publication of acceptance is US$70, and you can instruct and pay for this online via your dashboard.

Opposition:

South African patent law does not provide for opposition of patent applications.

Grant:

The date of publication is regarded as the date of "grant".

Certificate of grant:

Patent certificates are typically issued 3 months after grant. We will email an electronic copy of the certificate to you, and would be glad to courier the certificate to you for US$110. You can instruct and pay for the courier online via your dashboard.