Patent filing in Argentina:

Building a strong patent portfolio starts with your filing strategy. For patent filing in Argentina, you need to know the local patent office requirements. This guide will take you through all filing requirements and important stats in Argentina.

When conducting a patent filing in Argentina, you are required to submit the following documents:

• • Spanish version of the final filing text (abstract, specification and claims). However, you may file in English (Title and abstract must be filed in Spanish). When filing in English, a sworn Spanish translation must be submitted within a 10-business day window after filing.
  • Drawings (if applicable).
  • Sequence Listing (If applicable)
  • Cert. of Deposit of Bio. Material (If applicable)
  • A signed copy of the Power of Attorney – NOT MANDATORY FOR FILING BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO AVOID A FORMAL OFFICE ACTION.

A Spanish version of the final filing text (abstract, specification and claims) must be submitted with filing. However, you may file in English (Title and abstract must be filed in Spanish). When filing in English, a sworn Spanish translation must be submitted within a 10-business day window after filing.

Given Argentina is a non-PCT country, sworn Spanish translation of priority documents and assignments (if requested) must be filed three (3) months after filing.

In Argentina, the deadline for filing is 12 months from the oldest priority date.

The patent term is 20 years from the convention filing.

After filing a patent application, an examination must be requested to decide whether the application meets the requirements to be granted a patent. In Argentina, examination must be requested within 18 months from the date of filing.

PPH is available in Argentina through the following agreements:

• Latin America (PROSUR)
• United States (USPTO)
• China (CNIPA)
• Japon (JPO)
• Dinamarca (DPTO)

Applicants in Argentina are required to pay all due annuities counted from the third year, once granting is notified. All future annuities are due every year on the filing date. A 6-month grace period is available.

For patent filing in Argentina, you must address the local office: National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).

Their website is:

Link: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/inpi

In Argentina, requests for restoration of priority rights are not allowed.

While Argentina saw a modest -2.5% decline in total patent applications in 2022, a 9.4% jump in resident filings signals a promising recovery in domestic innovation efforts, possibly fueled by the “Patents for Export” program. However, the 4% dip in non-resident filings were the result of economic uncertainty, changes in government policies, and increased competition from other Latin American countries.

The United States remains the largest non-resident filer in Argentina, with over 1,300 filings in 2022. Notably, the US filed more patents in Argentina than the following 10 countries combined, though experiencing a 7.6% decrease year-over-year. The top 5 filing countries accounted for a decreasing share of foreign filings, shrinking from 73% in 2021 to 69% in 2022. China has made a remarkable leap in patent filings in Argentina, vaulting from 7th place in 2021 to 5th in 2022, representing a staggering 79% growth.