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How to Check Patent Application Status on IP India: Step-by-Step Guide

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Checking Indian Patent Status

You’ve filed your patent application. Now comes the part nobody warns you about: the waiting. And the checking. And the checking again.

The Indian Patent Office (IPO) maintains a public database where anyone can track the status of a patent application. It’s free, it’s online, and it gives you real-time updates on where your application stands. The problem? The interface isn’t exactly intuitive, the status codes aren’t self-explanatory, and most applicants don’t know what to actually do when the status changes.This guide walks you through the entire process, from pulling up your application status on IP India to understanding what each status code means and, more importantly, what action you should take next.

Where to Check: IP India’s Patent Status Portal

The official portal for checking Indian patent application status is the IPO’s e-filing website. There are two ways to get there:

InPASS is the more powerful option. It lets you search by application number, applicant name, title of invention, date ranges, and patent classification codes. But if you just want a quick status check and you have your application number handy, the main portal route works fine.

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Patent Application Status

Here’s exactly how to do it. Follow along with the screenshots below.

  • Open the official IPO website
    Go to ipindia.gov.in. Look for the “E-Gateways” link on the homepage and click it.
  • Select the Status service
    The E-Gateways page lists several services: E-filing, Public Search, Status, and others. Click on “Status” to proceed.
  • Choose “Patents”
    You’ll see options for Patents, Trademarks, and Designs. Click on “Patents” under the Status column.
  • Enter your application number
    Type your patent application number in the field provided (for example, 202511057123). Fill in the captcha and click “Show Status.”
  • Review your results
    The results page displays your application number, title of invention, filing date, applicant name, current status, and key dates. Bookmark this page or save the direct URL for quick access next time.
IP India homepage showing the E-Gateways link for checking patent application status
Step 1: Click “E-Gateways” on ipindia.gov.in
E-Gateways page listing E-filing, Public Search, and Status options on IP India
Step 2: Select the “Status” service from E-Gateways
Selecting Patents under Status column to check Indian patent application status
Step 3: Choose “Patents” under the Status column
Indian patent status search form with application number field and captcha
Step 4: Enter your application number, solve the captcha, and click “Show Status”
Tip: If the captcha fails or the page doesn’t load, try a different browser or clear your cache. The IPO portal can be temperamental, especially during peak hours. Chrome usually works best.

Searching Beyond Application Number

Don’t have your application number? Or want to look up a competitor’s filing? InPASS gives you more options.

Go to iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/publicsearch and you can search by:

  • Applicant name: Useful if you want to see all patents filed by a specific company or individual. Enter the name exactly as it appears in the application (try variations if the first search returns nothing).
  • Title or keyword: Search for inventions by their title. Good for prior art research or checking whether similar inventions have been filed.
  • Date range: Filter by filing date, publication date, or grant date.
  • IPC classification: For technical searches by International Patent Classification code.

A word of caution: the search results depend on exact text matching in many cases. If your applicant name has “Pvt. Ltd.” in one record and “Private Limited” in another, you’ll get different results. Try both.

Navigating Patent Search: Video Walkthrough

If you’d rather see the process in action, our team has put together a video walkthrough that covers how to search for patents using the application number on the IPO portal. It covers the same steps above, plus a few tips on reading the results page.

Video: Patent Searching using Application Number, by Lexgin IP

Understanding Patent Application Status Codes

This is where most people get confused. The IPO portal shows your application’s status as a short phrase, but it doesn’t explain what that phrase actually means or what you should do about it. Here’s the breakdown.

Published u/s 11A
Your application has been published in the Patent Journal. This happens 18 months after filing (or earlier if you filed Form 9 for early publication). It’s now visible to the public.
RFE Filed
Request for Examination (Form 18) has been submitted. The IPO will now assign an examiner to your application. This starts the examination clock.
Under Examination
An examiner has been assigned and is reviewing your application. You’re waiting for their report. This can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months after RFE.
FER Issued
The First Examination Report is out. The examiner has listed objections or prior art citations. You have 6 months to respond. Don’t sit on this one.
Hearing Scheduled
The controller has scheduled a hearing to discuss unresolved objections from the FER. You’ll get a hearing notice with 15 days to respond and confirm attendance.
Patent Granted
Your patent has been granted. Congratulations. The certificate will be available for download, and the grant is published in the Patent Journal.
Refused
The patent application was refused after examination. You can appeal this decision before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) or High Court.
Abandoned u/s 21(1)
You didn’t respond to the FER within 6 months, or missed a required deadline. The application is treated as abandoned. There’s limited scope for revival.
Withdrawn / Deemed Withdrawn
Either the applicant withdrew the application voluntarily, or it was deemed withdrawn because the RFE wasn’t filed within 31 months of the priority date.
Sample Indian patent certificate showing grant details and patent number
A sample Indian Patent Certificate. This is what you receive when status shows “Patent Granted.”

FER Issued? Here’s What You Need to Do

If your status shows “FER Issued,” that’s your signal to act. Fast.

The First Examination Report is the examiner’s feedback on your application. It typically contains objections related to novelty, inventive step, or formal requirements, along with citations to prior art that the examiner considers relevant. In some cases, the objections are minor (a formatting fix or a clarification). In others, the examiner challenges the core patentability of your invention.

You get 6 months from the date of the FER to file your response. There’s no extension. Miss it, and the application is abandoned under Section 21(1) of the Patents Act.

Don’t try to handle the FER response yourself unless you’ve done this before. A weak response can be worse than no response. The examiner’s objections need specific, well-argued replies with supporting evidence. A patent prosecution professional knows how to frame amendments and arguments that keep your claims alive without narrowing them unnecessarily.

A good FER response does three things: addresses every objection raised, distinguishes your invention from the cited prior art with technical precision, and (if needed) narrows the claims just enough to clear the objection without giving away too much scope. This is where expertise genuinely matters.

How Long Does Each Stage Take?

Here’s a realistic timeline for the patent lifecycle in India. Note that these are typical durations. Expedited examination can compress them significantly, and backlogs at the IPO can stretch them.

18 months
Filing to publication (automatic). Or within 1 month if you request early publication via Form 9.
31 months
Deadline to file Request for Examination (RFE) from priority date. Miss this and the application is deemed withdrawn.
1 to 6 months
RFE to First Examination Report. Depends on examiner workload and the technical field.
6 months
Time to respond to FER. No extensions. Non-negotiable.
15 days
Time to respond to hearing notice and confirm attendance (typically ~3 days before hearing date).
8 to 24 months
Total time from filing to grant (best case to typical case). Lexgin averages 8-12 months for straightforward applications.
A common mistake we see: Applicants file their patent and forget about it for months. Then they check the status and discover that the FER was issued weeks ago, eating into their 6-month response window. Set a calendar reminder to check your status at least once a month, or better yet, have your patent agent handle prosecution so deadlines don’t slip by.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check my Indian patent application status online?
Go to ipindia.gov.in, click “E-Gateways,” then “Status,” then “Patents.” Enter your application number, solve the captcha, and click “Show Status.” You can also use InPASS at iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/publicsearch for advanced searches by applicant name, title, or date range.
What does “Published u/s 11A” mean on IP India?
It means your application has been published in the official Patent Journal under Section 11A of the Patents Act. This happens automatically 18 months after filing, or sooner if you requested early publication. After publication, anyone can inspect your application and file pre-grant opposition within 6 months.
What should I do if my patent status shows “FER Issued”?
You need to file a response within 6 months of the FER date. The response should address every objection raised by the examiner and distinguish your invention from the cited prior art. We strongly recommend hiring a patent prosecution expert for this step, because a poorly drafted response can lead to refusal or unnecessarily narrow claims.
Can I check someone else’s patent status on IP India?
Yes. The patent status database is public. Anyone can search for any patent application using the application number, applicant name, or title. This is commonly used for competitor research, prior art searches, and due diligence in acquisition or licensing deals.
What happens if I don’t file RFE within 31 months?
Your application is deemed withdrawn. There’s no remedy for this deadline. The RFE (Request for Examination, filed via Form 18) must reach the IPO within 31 months of your priority date or filing date, whichever is earlier. Without it, the examiner never looks at your application, and it simply lapses.

Don’t Let Deadlines Slip By

Lexgin tracks every deadline on your patent application so you don’t have to. From FER responses to hearing prep, our prosecution team handles it end to end.

Get Prosecution Support

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The IP India portal interface may change without notice. Screenshots shown are from the current version as of publication. For guidance on your specific application, contact Lexgin or consult a registered patent agent.

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