Two quotes for a China design patent application may show different totals even when they concern the same product. One may cover only filing, while another may also include reviewing the drawings and replying to the examiner. The total is easier to assess once the scope is clear.
This guide explains what to look for in a quote, which official fees to budget for and what may cost extra. It covers applications filed directly with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, or CNIPA.
What China design patent fees cover
A Chinese design patent protects the appearance of a product or part of it, such as its shape or pattern, rather than how it works. A patent granted in another country does not automatically provide patent protection in China.
The cost has two main parts. The professional fee pays for the agency’s work. Official fees are paid to CNIPA. A useful quote separates these charges and explains how far the agency’s service continues after filing.
What the professional fee should include
Check what the agency expects you to provide. Does the quote assume that the drawings are ready to file, or does it include reviewing the images and preparing the application documents?
Image review and application preparation
At Tonghui, the fixed professional fee is USD 400 per design patent application filed directly in China, with official fees charged separately. It includes reviewing the product photos or drawings supplied by the applicant, preparing the brief description and Chinese application documents, and filing the application.
For example, if the front and side views show the same detail differently, the agency flags the mismatch and checks which version reflects the intended design. The proposed views and documents are confirmed with the applicant before filing.
Examination replies and grant formalities
The quote should also explain how examination replies are charged. Tonghui’s fixed fee includes routine amendments and replies during examination, along with the translation needed for those replies. There is no separate professional fee for each round of routine replies.
The service continues through grant formalities, which are the steps required after approval, or until a refusal decision is received. The fee covers the agency’s work and does not guarantee that the application will be granted.
Official China design patent fees and payment stages
Official fees are separate from the professional fee unless a quote expressly includes them. For a design application filed directly in China, the main standard fees are listed below.
| Official fee | Standard amount | Payment stage |
| Application fee | RMB 500 per application | Application stage |
| Priority claim fee where applicable | RMB 80 per priority claim | Application stage |
| Annual fee for patent years 1–3 | RMB 600 per year | At grant for the relevant patent year, then annually |
Source: CNIPA fee schedule. Standard amounts before any fee reduction, checked on 19 October 2026.
For one application with no priority claim, the initial budget includes Tonghui’s USD 400 professional fee and the RMB 500 official application fee. If the patent is granted, the annual fee for the relevant patent year must also be paid.
These payments fall at different stages. The application fee and any priority claim fee are filing-stage costs. The annual fee for the year of grant is paid when completing the grant formalities.
Patent years are counted from the filing date, not the grant date. The annual fee due at grant therefore depends on the patent year reached at that time, and rates increase in later years. Article 114 of the Implementing Regulations sets out the annual-fee payment requirement at grant.
Work that may need a separate quote
Tonghui’s fixed professional fee is charged per application. For several products or design variants, confirm how many applications are proposed and which designs each quote covers before comparing totals.
New CAD modelling or changes to the product design should be discussed in advance. Ask who will carry out that work and how it will be charged. Reviewing existing images should not be assumed to include creating a new model or redesigning the product.
A request for re-examination after a refusal is quoted separately. Work outside the original application, such as divisional applications, enforcement and ongoing annual-fee management, also requires a separate engagement.
What to confirm before accepting a quote
Before accepting a China design patent quote, ask for written confirmation of the following points:
- The number of applications and the products or design variants covered.
- Whether image review and preparation of the Chinese filing documents are included.
- Whether routine examination replies, amendments and related translation are included.
- Which official fees are included in the total and which will be paid later.
- Which services require a separate quote after the original application ends.
Clear answers make quotes easier to compare and help applicants plan for later costs. To discuss a filing with Tonghui, start with the product type, any earlier applications and the images currently available. Confidential drawings do not need to be attached to the first email.
