中国国家知识产权局将于2026年逐步要求所有电子提交的专利申请使用XML格式

中国国家知识产权局（CNIPA）正逐步过渡至对所有专利电子申请强制要求使用XML格式。虽然此前接受Word和PDF格式，但CNIPA已开始分阶段实施强制XML提交。该政策已于2025年10月1日起对特定申请类型生效，并将自2026年起逐渐扩展至所有专利电子申请。关键实施细节如下：

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) is transitioning to the exclusive use of XML format for all patent e-filings. While Word and PDF formats were previously accepted, CNIPA has begun a phased rollout of mandatory XML filing, which started for certain application types on 1 October 2025, and will extend to all patent e-filings from 2026. Key implementation details are as follows:

1. 2025年10月1日起：对于在此日期或之后提交，请求专利优先审查、快速审查、专利审查高速路（PPH）、延迟审查或集中审查中任一程序的专利申请，须提交XML格式文件。

   
   

   From 1 October 2025: For patent applications filed on or after this date that require any of the following procedures—Priority Examination, Rapid Examination, PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway), Deferred Examination, or Collective Examination—submission in XML format is mandatory.

   
   

2. 2026年开始：CNIPA的电子申请系统将在2026年逐步升级，届时将仅接受XML格式的专利电子申请。

   
   

   Starting in 2026: The CNIPA's e-filing system will be progressively upgraded in 2026 to accept only XML format for patent e-filings.

• 涵盖的申请类型：该要求适用于发明、实用新型、外观设计的中国国家申请、复审无效以及PCT进入国家阶段的申请。

  
  

  Covered Types of Applications: The mandate covers Chinese national applications for inventions, utility models, and designs, as well as re-examination, invalidation, and PCT national phase entry applications.

  
  

• 须使用XML格式的文件：请求书、申请文件（例如摘要、说明书、附图、外观设计专利的简要说明等）以及修改替换页。

  
  

  Documents Mandatory in XML: Request Form, Application Documents (e.g., abstract, description, drawings, general description for design patents, etc.), and Replacement Pages of Amendments.

• 若未以XML格式提交所要求的申请文件或后续修改文件，则被视为自动放弃享受上述加速或特殊审查程序的权利。

  
  

  Failure to submit the required application or subsequent amendment documents in XML format will be considered a voluntary waiver of the right to benefit from the aforementioned accelerated or special examination procedures.

  
  

• 例外文件：证明文件、修改对照页、序列表以及上述未作为强制列出的其他文件，仍可以其他可接受的电子格式（如PDF）提交。

  
  

  Exceptional Documents: Evidence documents, Comparison Pages for Amendments, Sequence Listings, and Others not specified as mandatory above can still be submitted in other acceptable electronic formats (e.g., PDF).

• 申请人和专利代理机构可使用CNIPA*提供的官方工具或兼容的第三方工具来生成XML文件。

  
  

  Applicants and patent agencies can use the official tools provided by the CNIPA* or compliant third-party tools to generate XML files.

  
  

  *https://cponline.cnipa.gov.cn/GzfwYwblGlwhTMVC/GzfwYwblGlwhT/selectToolsById?weihuRid=157

  
  

• 申请人与代理机构需自行承担对提交的XML文件内容准确性进行必要核查的责任。

  
  

  Applicants and agencies bear the responsibility for performing necessary checks to ensure the accuracy of the content in the submitted XML files.

根据《2024年国家知识产权局年报》（2025年8月发布），中国发明专利的平均审查周期（从开始实质审查到案件结案）已缩短至15.5个月。由于XML格式文档可用专利审查系统直接处理，无需额外的数据转换，全面采用XML格式有望进一步缩短审查周期并提升整体一致性。

According to the CNIPA Annual Report 2024 (published in August 2025), the average examination period for invention in China – measured from the start of substantive examination to case closure – was shortened to 15.5 months.  As XML-formatted documents can be directly processed by the patent examination system without additional data conversion, the full adoption of XML is expected to further shorten examination timelines and improve overall consistency.

另一方面，XML格式的转换将为申请人和专利代理机构带来额外负担。格式转换和文件验证将需要更多时间，并可能因此增加初始的申请成本。

On the other hand, the shift to XML will impose additional burdens on applicants and patent agencies. More time will be required for format conversion and document verification, potentially increasing initial filing costs.

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