Patent protection in Canada

Questions about patents in Canada

How much does a patent cost in Canada?

Our estimate is about US$4,132 to take a PCT application to grant in Canada. That is about US$1,406 in official fees and US$2,726 in attorney fees. By stage: filing US$1,456, examination request US$1,009, office action response US$908 and grant / issuance / publication US$759 (one office action response included). Renewal fees over the patent's life add an estimated US$8,319. Small entities pay reduced official fees in Canada. These are estimates only, for a standard application (10 claims, 30 pages, a company applicant): the actual cost depends on the law firm and the application. Request a quote from a law firm on this site for an exact price.

What is the PCT national phase deadline for Canada, and which routes are there?

The PCT national phase for Canada must be entered within 30 months of the earliest priority date.

In which technologies is Canada an important patent market?

Canada's 10 largest fields of technology by patent publications are pharmaceuticals (2,938 a year), medical technology (2,225 a year), biotechnology (1,983 a year), civil engineering (1,497 a year), computer technology (1,337 a year), organic fine chemistry (1,147 a year), other special machines (1,134 a year), transport (1,124 a year), electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (1,027 a year) and measurement (901 a year). Within its region, it stands out for biotechnology (#2 in North America), pharmaceuticals (#2 in North America), it methods for management (#2 in North America), analysis of biological materials (#2 in North America), medical technology (#2 in North America) and macromolecular chemistry, polymers (#2 in North America). Publications are growing fastest in materials, metallurgy (22% a year), thermal processes and apparatus (16% a year) and other consumer goods (16% a year). About 29,193 PCT applications enter the national phase in Canada each year.

What does Canada's economy make and export?

Canada's GDP is US$2,319.9bn, of which services US$1,410.8bn, industry US$601.9bn (of which manufacturing US$205.2bn) and agriculture US$42.5bn. Spending a year: households US$1,294.1bn and health care US$265.7bn. Canada's exports of goods came to US$573.3bn in 2024. Its 10 largest exports were crude oil (US$109.0bn, 19% of its exports, #4 in the world), gold (US$52.4bn, 9% of its exports, #2 in the world), cars (US$31.0bn, 5% of its exports, #11 in the world), refined petroleum products (US$14.9bn, 3% of its exports, #13 in the world), vehicle parts (US$12.7bn, 2% of its exports, #12 in the world), natural gas and LPG (US$10.3bn, 2% of its exports, #11 in the world), packaged medicines (US$10.0bn, 2% of its exports, #15 in the world), aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft (US$9.7bn, 2% of its exports, #4 in the world), jet engines and gas turbines (US$9.1bn, 2% of its exports, #5 in the world) and aluminium (US$8.3bn, 1% of its exports, #1 in the world). It is also one of the world's top exporters of potash fertilisers (#1, US$6.6bn), sawn wood (#1, US$6.5bn), wheat (#2, US$7.8bn) and iron ore (#3, US$6.7bn). Where products are made, a patent there can stop infringing copies being made, not only being sold.