IP Australia implemented its second-half 2026 patent fee changes on 1 August, with a sharp increase in excess claim fees for applications carrying large claim sets, particularly once the number of claims exceeds 20. The change is likely to alter how PCT applicants approach Australian national phase entry: retaining broad, heavily layered claim sets without early consolidation may now create a noticeably higher cost at the outset.
At the same time, the new Green and Low-Carbon Technology Patent Fast Track offers a different incentive. Eligible inventions in areas such as clean energy, carbon capture and environmental protection may receive accelerated examination without an official fast-track fee, with a first examination report potentially issued in about three months. Read together, the measures point to a more selective allocation of examination resources. Applicants should review claim volume, amendment timing and divisional strategy before national phase entry, while green technology applicants should assess eligibility early enough to capture the procedural advantage.
