Below you will find an indication of expected turnaround timeframes for applications and correspondence filed online.
All applications receive a receipt confirming the application number and filing date within minutes.
Patents
Applications
Patent examination pendency
Following the receipt of a request for examination, an application is allocated to an examiner for examination.
How long will I have to wait for my first examination report?
The expected period between the receipt of a request for examination and the issuance of the first examination report is set out below:
| Technology class | Duration |
|---|---|
| Biotech | 32 months |
| Chemical | 26 months |
| Electrical | 18 months |
| ICT | 18 months |
| Mechanical | 17 months |
These estimates are updated every 3 months, and are current as of 23 October 2024.
Please note that if you request examination for a Treaty application, we will add this to our examination queue only if at least 31 months have passed since its earliest priority date. Please see our Patents guidance for more information on examination eligibility.
Subsequent examination
Reports will be issued within 20 working days. This includes the issuance of any first or subsequent examination reports following a re-examination request.
Correspondence
- Examination correspondence – 20 working days
- Customer Account Authorisation – 1 working day
- Notice of opposition – 2 working days
- Assignment – 15 working days
- Certificates of Commissioner – 1 working day
- Change of agent, name or address – 1 working day
Trade Marks
Applications
Search and/or Preliminary Advice requests
You can expect to receive a response to a request for search and/or preliminary advice within 5 working days.
Trade Mark applications
For national trade mark applications, you can expect to receive an initial response within 70 working days of filing your application.
For international registrations designating New Zealand (NZDs), you can expect to receive an initial response within 100 working days of IPONZ receiving your designation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
These timeframes are current as of November 2024, and reflect an increase from our normal timeframe of 15 working days. We will update this timeframe as developments occur.
Correspondence
- Re-examination after response to a compliance report – within 35 working days
- Re-examination after submission of evidence or certification regulations – up to 100 working days
- Customer Account Authorisation – 1 working day
- Assignment – 15 working days
- Extension of time requests – 15 working days
- Request to divide or merge trade mark cases – 15 working days
- Certificates of Commissioner – 1 working day
- Change of agent, name or address – 1 working day
Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee determinations
Trade mark applications containing (or which appear to be derived from) Māori text or imagery are referred to the Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee for their advice. Most applications referred to the Committee will receive a determination within 1 month.
Applications requiring further consideration are discussed during the closest Committee meeting, which occurs on a quarterly basis.
Committee meeting dates are currently scheduled for:
- 13 March 2024
- 3 July 2024
- 16 October 2024
- 27 November 2024
Designs
Applications
Initial design applications
You can expect to receive an initial response within 30 working days of filing your application.
This timeframe is current as of July 2024, and reflects an increase from our normal timeframe of 15 working days. We will update this timeframe as developments occur.
Correspondence
- Examination correspondence – 15 working days
- Customer Account Authorisation – 1 working day
- Assignment – 15 working days
- Certificates of Commissioner – 1 working day
- Change of agent, name or address – 1 working day
Plant Variety Rights
Applications
You can expect to receive an initial acknowledgement within 5 working days of submitting your application.
Geographical indications (GIs)
Application
You can expect a receipt of application within 1 working day.
Examination
You can expect to receive an examination report within 3 months of filing your application and evidence.
Registration
IPONZ will register the geographical indication not less than 6 months after the application filing date.
Correspondence
All correspondence will be within 15 working days.
Proceedings
Correspondence
Notices of opposition
2 working days
All proceedings correspondence excluding Notices of opposition
15 working days
Hearing Decisions
Issued
60 working days from the hearing date