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Patent registration in Moldova allows inventors and companies to obtain legal protection for technical solutions including devices, processes, substances and combinations thereof. The procedure is handled by the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (AGEPI) and includes filing, formal examination and substantive examination conducted upon request. Moldova is a member of the Paris Convention and the PCT system, allowing applicants to claim priority from earlier applications and use international filing routes.
MIKHAILYUK, SOROKOLAT & PARTNERS offers the full range of legal services related to patent registration in Moldova including patent search, patent translation, filing and further prosecution of the Moldovan patent application, patent maintenance, preparing and recordal of assignment and license agreements as well as representing applicants before courts. We do our best to represent our clients' interests in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Routes to Obtain Patent Protection in Moldova
Patent protection in Moldova may be obtained by filing a national patent application with the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) or by validating a granted European patent in Moldova.
In the case of a PCT application, protection in Moldova may be pursued either by entering the Moldovan national phase before AGEPI or by entering the European regional phase before the European Patent Office and subsequently validating the granted European patent in Moldova.
Moldova does not provide utility model registration. However, inventions may also be protected via a Short-Term Patent in Moldova. A short-term patent is valid for 6 years from the filing date. This term may be extended by 4 additional years provided that the patent owner requests the Patent Office to carry out a search for the state of the art and draw up a search report accompanied by an opinion on patentability. If no search is requested, the patent expires after the 6-year term.
Foreign applicants must be represented before the Office by a registered Moldovan patent attorney.
Patentability Requirements in Moldova
To obtain a patent in Moldova, an invention must comply with the standard patentability criteria established by Moldovan patent law.
- Novelty — the invention shall be considered new if it does not form part of the state of the art, i.e. it has not been disclosed anywhere in the world prior to the filing or priority date.
- Inventive Step — the invention must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant technical field.
- Industrial Applicability — the invention must be capable of being made or used in any kind of industry or another practical field.
During substantive examination, AGEPI evaluates whether the application meets these requirements before granting the patent.
Key Facts About Patent Protection in Moldova
Years Validity
Standard validity term of a patent in Moldova from filing date
Months (PCT)
The term for entering the Moldovan national phase of a PCT application
Months Grace
Novelty grace period for disclosures at exhibitions or due to bad faith
Months (Conv.)
The term for filing a conventional patent application in Moldova
The validity term of a patent in Moldova is 20 years from the filing date. For pharmaceutical patents and patents for agrochemicals it is possible to apply for extension of this term for additional 5 years. In case a patent is extended, the Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) will be issued.
Patent Registration Procedure in Moldova
The procedure of patent registration in Moldova takes from 2 to 4 years. The term for entering the Moldovan national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date. The term for filing a conventional patent application in Moldova is 12 months from the priority date.
Filing & Formal Examination
After completion of the filing procedure, a Moldovan patent application undergoes a formal examination lasting 1 month. On condition that an applicant submits all required documents, a notification about the positive result of the formal examination will be issued. A PCT application is published in the Official Bulletin within 6 months from entering the Moldovan national phase; a conventional application is published within 18 months from the filing date.
Substantive Examination
A substantive examination must be requested and the corresponding official fee paid within 30 months from filing the application. If the invention meets the requirements of patentability, the decision to grant a patent will be issued.
Grant of Patent
After payment of the registration and publication fees following the grant decision issued by AGEPI, a patent will be issued.
“Since Moldova became a full member of the European Patent Convention, obtaining patent protection there has become much more straightforward. A European patent can now be validated in Moldova under the standard EPC procedure without the need for a separate extension request or extension fee for the applications filed on or after June 1, 2026. Our advice: if Moldova is a commercially relevant market, include it in your European patent strategy from the outset to benefit from a streamlined post-grant validation process."
Required Documents and Information
The documents required to file a patent application in Moldova are listed below. Please note that some must be submitted at the time of filing, while others may be provided within a set period after the application date.
If you need further information concerning patent registration in Moldova or a quotation for filing and prosecution of a Moldovan patent application, please feel free to contact us.
Required at Filing
Filing instructions
Comprising the applicant's and inventor's names, addresses and citizenships.
Technical files
A specification with claims, abstract and drawings.
Application data
A filing number and a date of a priority application or a PCT application.
Note:
All documents should be provided in high-quality PDF format. Please ensure that all signatures are clearly visible. A copy of the amendments may be submitted if applicable.
May be submitted after filing
Power of Attorney
Simply signed and stamped by the applicant(s). Legalization and notarization are not required unless signed by a proxy-holder.
Deadline: 3 months from filing dateRomanian Translation
A full Romanian translation of the application, if filed in a language other than Romanian.
Deadline: 3 months from filing datePriority Document
For conventional applications — a certified copy of the priority document if priority is claimed.
Deadline: 16 months from priority datePatent Budget Structure in Moldova
The total investment required for patent registration in Moldova is not fixed and depends on several critical factors. These include the number of claims in the application, the requirement of translation into the Romanian language and the specific legal strategy chosen for protection before AGEPI.
Typically, the patenting budget consists of three primary components: official government fees, professional attorney fees and associated costs.
Official Government Fees
Filing and grant each trigger a separate official fee, set by AGEPI
Official fees differ depending on whether the applicant is a legal entity or an individual
A separate official fee applies
Annual renewal payments, due in advance for each year of the patent term
An official fee applies when recording a transfer or license agreement with AGEPI
An official fee applies when validating a granted European patent in Moldova
Professional Attorney Fees
Calculated directly based on the total number of claims
Covers the substantive examination request and completing the process through to grant
Per agreement — attorney fee for preparing and recording IP transfer or license agreements (official fee applies separately)
Associated Expenses
Flat fee per report (based on databases searched and the technical field's complexity)
Billed per 100 words (translation into Romanian required)
Based on the number of pages and words to be translated; official fee applies separately
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the main routes to obtain patent protection in Moldova?Patent protection in Moldova may be obtained by filing a national patent application with AGEPI, validating a granted European patent or by entering the Moldovan national phase of a PCT application. Protection is also available through a Short-Term Patent, which provides patent protection for a shorter term in Moldova.
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Does Moldova conduct a substantive examination of patent applications?Yes. AGEPI conducts both formal and substantive examination of patent applications. Substantive examination must be requested and the corresponding official fee paid within 30 months from the application filing date.
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Is representation by a Moldovan patent attorney required for foreign applicants?Yes. Applicants who do not have a residence or place of business in Moldova must be represented by a registered Moldovan patent attorney before AGEPI.
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What is the PCT national phase deadline in Moldova?The term for entering the Moldovan national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date.
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What language requirements apply to patent applications in Moldova?Patent applications must be filed in Romanian. If the application is initially filed in another language, a full Romanian translation must be submitted to AGEPI within 3 months from the filing date.
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What is the novelty grace period in Moldova?A 6-month novelty grace period applies only if a disclosure takes place at an international exhibition or by third parties in bad faith prior to the filing or priority date.
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For how long is a patent valid in Moldova?A patent in Moldova is valid for 20 years from the filing date of the application, subject to the timely payment of annual maintenance fees to AGEPI. For pharmaceutical patents and agrochemicals, an extension of up to 5 additional years is available via a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC).
Chisinau
6, Renasterii Nationale blvd.
Off. 8
Chisinau, MD-2024
Moldova
Phone:
+373 (60) 81 14 44
Email: office@msp.md
