Patent Application in Turkey

Filing a patent application in Turkey is not just a paperwork exercise. It is a long-term commercial decision that shapes whether your invention will actually be enforceable, licensable, and defendable in one of the world’s largest emerging markets, and across the European customs corridor that Turkey sits on. Get the filing right, and you lock in 20 years of exclusivity in a country with active courts and a working enforcement system. Get it wrong, and you can spend a decade discovering that your claims do not really cover the product you actually sell.
At Leo Patent, we draft, file, and prosecute patent applications before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu, also known as TÜRKPATENT) for inventors, universities, SMEs, and multinational corporations. This guide walks you through how the Turkish patent system works under Industrial Property Law No. 6769, what the process really costs in time and money, and what every applicant, whether local or foreign, should know before filing.

Why Patent Protection in Turkey Matters

Turkey has been a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) since 1996, the European Patent Convention (EPC) since 2000, and the Paris Convention for more than a century. It is a fully integrated jurisdiction in the international patent system. That said, a Turkish patent is granted, examined, and enforced only by TÜRKPATENT and the Turkish IP Courts.
Why this matters in practice:

• Turkey is a manufacturing hub for the EU, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Without a Turkish patent, your technology can be lawfully copied, manufactured, and exported from Turkey to third markets that do not themselves recognize your foreign patents.
• Turkish Customs cannot detain infringing imports or exports unless you hold a registered Turkish patent (or a validated European patent) and have recorded it for customs enforcement.
• Turkish courts will not enforce foreign patents. EP validation in Turkey within the 3-month deadline is mandatory, and there is no automatic effect.
• Licensing, technology transfer, and university spin-offs in Turkey rely on registered patents as the contractual asset. Unregistered know-how is far weaker.
• The first-to-file principle applies. Any disclosure before filing, including conference posters, trade shows, and online product launches, can destroy novelty under Article 83 of IP Law No. 6769, with only a narrow 12-month grace period under Article 84.

A Turkish patent is not just a defensive paper. It is the legal foundation of every claim of exclusivity you intend to make in or through Turkey.

Why Choose Leo Patent

Leo Patent is a Turkish intellectual property firm built around one simple principle: the patent attorney who signs your filings is the same person who answers your emails. No outsourced drafting, no junior staff handling claim amendments, and no opaque hourly billing on routine prosecution work.
The firm is led by Burak Unal, a registered Turkish Patent Attorney (Registration No. 1677) and registered Turkish Trademark Attorney (Registration No. 2900), licensed to represent applicants directly before TÜRKPATENT. The firm is co-owned by a senior Turkish Lawyer, Mr. Kaan Karanfiloglu, who is also a trademark attorney. Kaan Karanfiloglu’s Istanbul Bar Association Registration number is 58270, and his Turkey Bar Association Union registration number is 133074.
What foreign clients consistently tell us they value:

• Direct trademark and patent attorney access. You correspond with a Turkish-qualified trademark and patent attorney from the first assessment all the way through to grant. There is no account manager in the middle.
• Fluent English prosecution. Office actions, examination reports, and appeals are handled in clear English correspondence, while full Turkish-language compliance is handled internally.
• Transparent flat fees for filing, national phase entry, EP validation, and standard prosecution steps. Annuity fees are quoted on a published schedule.
• Technical drafting strength. We handle claim drafting and amendment strategy with attention to how Turkish examiners apply Article 83 (novelty), Article 83(4) (inventive step), and Article 90 (clarity and support).
• PCT and EP fluency. Routine handling of PCT national phase entry into Turkey and European patent validation under the London Agreement-equivalent rules that apply in Turkey.
• Strategic advice, not order-taking. We will tell you when a utility model is a better commercial fit than a patent, when claims need narrowing before examination, and when a divisional is worth the cost.
• Direct representation before TÜRKPATENT and the Re-examination and Evaluation Board (YİDK). Appeals, oppositions, and post-grant amendments are filed in our own name on our clients’ behalf.

When your application is examined, opposed, or challenged, you want a Turkish trademark and patent attorney whose registration number is actually on the file, not an intermediary forwarding emails.

About Burak Unal, Turkish Trademark and Patent Attorney

Burak Unal is a trademark attorney and patent attorney at Leo Patent. He graduated from Bogazici University in 2016 with a Business Management degree. He also holds an MSc Finance Degree from the London School of Economics.

• Patent Attorney Registration No.: 1677
• Trademark Attorney Registration No.: 2900
• Trademark and Patent Attorney Practice: Registered before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT)
• Languages: Turkish (native), English (professional), French (professional), Chinese (professional)

Burak Unal’s practice focuses on patent prosecution and enforcement on behalf of foreign rights holders, with deep experience in mechanical, electrical, chemical, pharmaceutical, software-implemented, and medical device technologies. His work covers Turkish national patent applications, PCT national phase entry into Turkey, validation of European patents in Turkey, utility model filings, oppositions and YİDK appeals, post-grant amendments, and pre-litigation infringement and freedom-to-operate analyses.
He represents inventors, university tech-transfer offices, SMEs, and multinational corporations across pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, automotive components, industrial machinery, energy, defense, and software.

Routes to Patent Protection in Turkey

Foreign applicants reach Turkey through one of three procedural routes. The choice affects cost, timing, language, and prosecution strategy.

All three routes converge on the same Turkish enforcement regime. Once granted or validated, the rights and remedies are identical.

The Patent Application Process in Turkey, Step by Step

Below is the full prosecution timeline from initial instruction to grant. The indicative timelines reflect typical TÜRKPATENT processing as of 2026. Statutory deadlines are fixed by law.

Step 1: Patentability and Freedom-to-Operate Assessment

Timeline: 1–3 weeks
Before drafting or filing, we recommend a focused patentability search (novelty plus inventive step) and, where commercially relevant, a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review against Turkish patents and validated EPs. The Turkish register, the European Patent Register, Espacenet, and Turkish-language technical literature are all relevant prior art sources.

Step 2: Drafting the Specification and Claims

Timeline: 2–6 weeks depending on technology
We draft or review the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings to comply with Articles 90–92 of IP Law No. 6769:

• Independent and dependent claim structure tailored to Turkish examination practice
• Clear support for every claim in the description
• Drawings to TÜRKPATENT formatting (numbered, black and white, line drawings)
• Abstract under 150 words
• Sequence listings (if applicable) in WIPO ST.26 XML format

For PCT national phase entry and EP validation, we work from the existing international or European text, prepare a high-quality Turkish translation, and amend claims as appropriate under Articles 102 and 99 respectively.

Step 3: Filing the Application

Timeline: Same day
Applications are filed electronically through the TÜRKPATENT online portal. The applicant receives an official application number and filing date on the same day. Priority claims under the Paris Convention (12 months from the earliest foreign filing) are recorded at filing.

Step 4: Formal Examination

Timeline: 1–2 months
TÜRKPATENT examines the application for formal compliance, including applicant data, claims structure, drawings, abstract, fees, translation, and the POA. Any formal defects must be remedied within the deadline set by the office (typically 2 months).

Step 5: Search Report

Timeline: Typically 6–12 months from filing
TÜRKPATENT issues a Search Report identifying relevant prior art, together with a written opinion on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. The applicant has 3 months to comment, amend claims, and pay the substantive examination fee.

Step 6: Publication

Timeline: 18 months from earliest priority date
The application is published in the Official Patent Bulletin. From publication, provisional protection begins under Article 97, which means the applicant can claim reasonable compensation from third parties using the invention, payable once the patent is granted.

Step 7: Substantive Examination

Timeline: 12–24 months from request
A TÜRKPATENT technical examiner conducts substantive examination on novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability, sufficiency of disclosure, and clarity. Up to three examination reports may be issued (Article 98). The applicant must respond within 3 months of each report (extendable on payment of fees).

Step 8: Decision: Grant or Refusal

Timeline: 3–6 months after the final examination response
If the application meets all requirements, TÜRKPATENT issues a decision to grant. The applicant pays the grant and publication fee, and the Patent Certificate is issued.
If the application is refused, the applicant may appeal to the Re-examination and Evaluation Board (YİDK) within 2 months of notification. YİDK decisions may be appealed to the Ankara IP Courts within a further 2 months.

Step 9: Post-Grant Opposition

Timeline: 6 months from grant publication
Under Article 99, any third party may file a post-grant opposition within 6 months of grant publication. Grounds include lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, insufficient disclosure, added subject matter, and entitlement issues. Oppositions are decided by TÜRKPATENT and are appealable to YİDK and the IP Courts.

Step 10: Annuity Fees

Timeline: Annual, from the 2nd year
Annuity (renewal) fees are due from the start of the 2nd year and every subsequent year up to the 20th. Fees increase progressively. A 6-month grace period with surcharge is available. Non-payment causes the patent to lapse.
Total typical timeline for an unopposed Turkish patent: 3–5 years from filing to grant.

Required Documents for a Turkish Patent Application

For most applications, we require the following:

The simplicity of Turkish POA requirements, with no notarization, no apostille, and no consular legalization, is a real practical advantage of the Turkish system. A signed PDF emailed to us is enough to begin.

Types of Patent Protection in Turkey

Turkish law provides three distinct industrial property rights for technical creations. Choosing the right one is a strategic decision, not a procedural one.

1. Invention Patents

The classic 20-year patent for new, inventive, and industrially applicable inventions in any field of technology. Substantive examination is mandatory. Patent term: 20 years from filing date, subject to annuity payments.

2. Utility Models

A faster, cheaper second-tier right for new and industrially applicable technical inventions. No inventive step requirement is examined at TÜRKPATENT (although a low “non-obvious to a person skilled in the art” threshold still applies). Limitations:

• Term: 10 years from filing date (non-renewable)
• Not available for chemical substances, pharmaceuticals, biotechnological inventions, or processes
• Faster grant, typically within 1–2 years
• Lower official fees
• Convertible to and from a patent application under Article 142

Utility models are an under-used but powerful tool for mechanical and electromechanical inventions, especially for SMEs and short-life-cycle consumer products.

3. Validated European Patents

European patents granted by the EPO can be validated in Turkey within 3 months of grant publication under Article 60 of IP Law No. 6769. Once validated, an EP-TR enjoys the same legal effect as a Turkish national patent for the remainder of its 20-year term. Annuity fees are payable in Turkey from validation onward.

What Cannot Be Patented in Turkey

Under Article 82 of IP Law No. 6769:

• Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods
• Aesthetic creations (protected by copyright or industrial designs)
• Schemes, rules, and methods for performing mental acts, playing games, or doing business as such
• Computer programs as such (software with a technical effect remains patentable)
• Methods of medical or surgical treatment of humans and animals (although substances and devices for such methods are patentable)
• Plant or animal varieties and essentially biological processes
• Inventions whose commercial exploitation is contrary to public order or morality

Who Can Apply for a Patent in Turkey?

There is no nationality restriction. Any of the following can file a Turkish patent application:

• Turkish individuals and companies: file directly or through a registered trademark and patent attorney
• Foreign individuals (natural persons) of any nationality, who must appoint a registered Turkish patent attorney
• Foreign companies and legal entities, which must appoint a registered Turkish patent attorney
• PCT applicants, who enter the Turkish national phase by the 30-month deadline. Local representation is required.
• EPO grantees, who validate within 3 months of grant publication. Local representation is required.

Turkey is a member of the Paris Convention, the PCT, the EPC, the TRIPS Agreement, the Budapest Treaty (microorganism deposits), and the Strasbourg Agreement (IPC).
Important: Under Article 160 of IP Law No. 6769, foreign applicants without a Turkish residence or place of business cannot file or prosecute directly. Representation by a registered Turkish patent attorney is mandatory. Leo Patent acts as registered representative for clients in over 30 countries.

Benefits of Registering a Patent in Turkey

A granted Turkish patent (or validated EP-TR) gives you:

• Exclusive nationwide rights to make, use, sell, offer for sale, and import the patented invention for up to 20 years from filing
• The right to prevent direct and indirect infringement under Articles 86 and 87 of IP Law No. 6769
• The right to file civil infringement actions for injunctions, damages, account of profits, destruction of infringing goods, and publication of the judgment
• The right to file criminal complaints for wilful infringement of certain types of patent rights
• Customs enforcement: record the patent for border detention of infringing imports and exports
• Licensing and technology transfer: exclusive, non-exclusive, and compulsory licenses are recognized, and recordal with TÜRKPATENT provides enforceability against third parties
• Asset value: patents are transferable, mortgageable, and capable of being valued on the balance sheet
• Standing in standard-setting and FRAND disputes: Turkish courts have handled major SEP cases
• Provisional protection from publication under Article 97. Compensation claims can run back to the publication date once the patent is granted.

Common Mistakes Foreign Applicants Make in Turkey

After many years of patent prosecution before TÜRKPATENT, we see the most expensive mistakes follow a predictable pattern:

1. Missing the 30-month PCT deadline. Turkey applies a strict 30-month national phase entry deadline from earliest priority. Late entry is not generally restorable without exceptional unintentionality grounds, and the standard is high. Calendar your deadlines carefully.
2. Missing the 3-month EP validation window. European patents have no automatic effect in Turkey. If the 3-month validation deadline from grant publication is missed, the patent is unenforceable in Turkey. That is a costly oversight on portfolios that paid five-figure prosecution fees at the EPO.
3. Filing without a translation strategy. Poor Turkish translations cause clarity rejections, unintended claim narrowing, and litigation problems years later. Translation quality is a prosecution variable, not an administrative one.
4. Disclosing the invention before filing. Article 84 provides only a 12-month grace period for disclosures originating from the inventor. Most public disclosures still destroy novelty. File before trade shows, papers, and product launches.
5. Choosing the wrong protection type. Filing a full patent on a short-life mechanical product is often wrong. Filing a utility model on a pharmaceutical is impossible. The choice between patent, utility model, EP validation, and trade secret is strategic, not procedural.
6. Skipping the FTO analysis. A granted patent does not give you the right to practice the invention if a third-party patent dominates. FTO in Turkey is a distinct exercise from patentability.
7. DIY filings or non-specialist agents. Foreign applicants who try to file through general legal counsel or non-specialist agents routinely accept overly narrow claim amendments, miss YİDK appeal deadlines, or fail to preserve divisional rights.

8. Forgetting annuities. Annuities are due from the 2nd year. Missed payments after the 6-month grace period has lapsed mean an abandoned patent. Use a specialist annuity service or a registered trademark and patent attorney with a docketing system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How long does it take to get a patent in Turkey?

A Turkish national patent typically takes 3 to 5 years from filing to grant for an unopposed application. PCT national phase entries and EP validations have their own timing dynamics. Utility models are faster, usually 1 to 2 years. Post-grant oppositions, if filed, can add a further 12–18 months.

2. How much does it cost to file a patent in Turkey?

The total cost depends on the complexity of the technology, claim count, examination history, translation length, and whether you file as a national, PCT national phase, or EP validation. As an indicative range for PCT national phase entry into Turkey, total filing costs (official fees plus attorney fees plus translation) typically fall between EUR 1,500 and EUR 4,000. EP validations are usually lower, in the EUR 800–2,000 range. Substantive examination and annuities are extra. Leo Patent provides a written flat-fee quote before any work begins.

3. Can foreigners apply for a patent in Turkey?

Yes. Any foreign individual or company can obtain a Turkish patent under exactly the same conditions as Turkish citizens, with full national treatment under the Paris Convention, PCT, and EPC. The only requirement is that foreign applicants without a residence or place of business in Turkey must appoint a registered Turkish patent attorney.

4. Is Turkey a member of the PCT?

Yes. Turkey has been a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty since 1 January 1996. PCT applicants can designate Turkey and enter the Turkish national phase within 30 months from the earliest priority date.

5. Is Turkey a member of the European Patent Convention?

Yes. Turkey has been a member of the EPC since 1 November 2000. European patents granted by the EPO can be validated in Turkey within 3 months of grant publication.

6. What is a Turkish utility model and when should I file one?

A utility model is a second-tier patent right with a 10-year term available for new, industrially applicable technical inventions. It is not examined for inventive step at TÜRKPATENT, which makes grant faster and cheaper. It is not available for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or processes. Utility models are well-suited to mechanical and electromechanical inventions with short commercial life cycles, and to SMEs that need fast, lower-cost protection.

7. How long is a Turkish patent valid?

A Turkish invention patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date (not from grant), subject to annuity payments from the 2nd year. A utility model is valid for 10 years from the filing date, non-renewable.

8. Can I claim priority from a foreign patent application?

Yes. Under the Paris Convention, Turkey recognizes priority claims filed within 12 months of the first foreign application. A certified copy of the priority document must be submitted within 16 months of the priority date.

9. Do I need to translate my patent into Turkish?

Yes. The Turkish patent application, including description, claims, abstract, and drawings text, must be filed in Turkish, or in English at filing with a Turkish translation submitted within 2 months. For EP validation, a Turkish translation of the claims is required. Translation quality directly affects the prosecution outcome.

10. What happens if my Turkish patent application is refused?

If TÜRKPATENT refuses your application after substantive examination, you have 2 months to appeal to the Re-examination and Evaluation Board (YİDK). If YİDK upholds the refusal, you may file a cancellation action before the Ankara IP Courts within 2 months of notification. Leo Patent handles all three levels.

11. Can a Turkish patent be opposed?

Yes. Under Article 99 of IP Law No. 6769, any third party can file a post-grant opposition within 6 months of grant publication. Grounds include lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, insufficient disclosure, added matter, and entitlement issues. Beyond the 6-month window, invalidity must be sought through court proceedings.

12. Can I file a patent in English in Turkey?

Yes, at filing, you may submit the application in English. However, a Turkish translation must be filed within 2 months of the filing date. All subsequent prosecution acts (responses, amendments, appeals) are conducted in Turkish.

13. What is the difference between a Turkish patent and a validated European patent in Turkey?

Once granted or validated, both have identical legal effect in Turkey. The enforcement rights, the annuities (paid to TÜRKPATENT in both cases), and the court remedies are the same. The procedural difference is at the prosecution stage. A Turkish national patent is examined by TÜRKPATENT, while an EP-TR is examined by the EPO and only requires a validation step in Turkey.

14. Can I license my Turkish patent?

Yes. Turkish patents may be licensed exclusively, non-exclusively, or sub-licensed. Compulsory licenses are also available in limited circumstances under Articles 129–137 of IP Law No. 6769. To be enforceable against third parties, license agreements must be recorded with TÜRKPATENT.

15. Are software inventions patentable in Turkey?

Computer programs “as such” are excluded from patentability under Article 82(2)(c). However, software-implemented inventions that produce a technical effect, for example control of industrial processes, image processing, telecommunications protocols, or encryption, are patentable in Turkey. The examination practice is broadly aligned with EPO standards.

16. Are pharmaceutical and biotechnology inventions patentable in Turkey?

Yes. Pharmaceutical compounds, formulations, salts, polymorphs, second medical uses (in the EPC 2000 “compound for use” format), biotechnological processes, and isolated biological material are patentable in Turkey under Article 82. Methods of medical or surgical treatment are not. Plant and animal varieties and essentially biological processes for their production are not patentable as such.

17. Do I have to pay annuities every year?

Yes. Annuity (renewal) fees are due from the start of the 2nd year of the patent term and every year thereafter, up to 20 years. Fees increase progressively. A 6-month grace period with surcharge is available. Failure to pay causes the patent to lapse, and the lapse is not generally restorable.

18. Can I file a divisional patent application in Turkey?

Yes. Divisional applications under Article 91 may be filed at any time before TÜRKPATENT issues the decision to grant. The divisional retains the original filing or priority date for subject matter disclosed in the parent application.

19. Does a Turkish patent protect me in the EU?

No. A Turkish patent is territorial, and protection extends only to the Republic of Turkey. For EU protection, file separately at the EPO (validating in EU member states) or through national filings. Leo Patent routinely coordinates Turkish, EP, and PCT filings.

File Your Patent in Turkey: Talk to a Registered Turkish Patent Attorney

If you are preparing to file a new invention, enter the Turkish PCT national phase, validate a European patent in Turkey, or respond to an examination report, Leo Patent can help. We offer:

• A free initial patentability assessment
• A written flat-fee quote covering official fees, attorney fees, and translation
• Filing within 1–5 working days of instruction (depending on translation scope)
• Direct, English-language correspondence with a registered Turkish patent attorney throughout the entire prosecution

Contact Leo Patent today to file your patent application in Turkey with confidence.
Email: [email protected]  Website:https://www.leopatent.com 

Filed directly before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT)

Important Note: Leo Patent offers trademark and patent attorney services for intellectual property registration and consulting in Turkey. We do not offer lawyer services.

You can verify our trademark and patent license at TürkPatent on this website https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/vekil-arastirma. You can type Burak Ünal into the search bar to verify our official license.