Checked 29 September 2026. USPTO fees from 37 CFR 1.21(a) as current on 25 Sep 2026, in force since 19 Jan 2025 (89 FR 91898); the USPTO fee schedule was last revised 14 Aug 2026 with these amounts unchanged. Prometric fees as printed on the USPTO page updated 5 May 2026; Prometric's own pages were not readable. No rupee figures are printed: convert at your bank's rate.
One standard-fee attempt at the US Patent Bar costs USD 565 by our arithmetic: a $118 application fee and a $226 exam fee to the USPTO, and a $221 administration fee to Prometric. A first-time pass then costs $226 more to be registered, USD 791 in all. (An applicant who must pay the $1,806 moral-character application fee instead of $118 pays USD 2253 for the first attempt and USD 2479 with registration, our arithmetic.) This guide lists every fee in the application, examination, review, rescheduling and registration process, who collects it, and what you get back if things go wrong, plus the practitioner fees that come after. If you are not a US citizen and you live in India, you cannot sit this exam. The USPTO's General Requirements Bulletin says the registration examination "is not administered to aliens who do not reside in the United States". Of non-citizens, only US lawful permanent residents may apply for registration; others living in the US with qualifying work authorisation can get only limited recognition, and the one foreign-reciprocity clause, 37 CFR 11.6(c), covers Canada alone. So the costs below are for people who can sit: US citizens, permanent residents, and non-citizens living in the US with qualifying status. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of the USPTO, its Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) or Prometric. Every rule here is quoted or summarised from the USPTO General Requirements Bulletin, the Code of Federal Regulations and USPTO pages, and OED decides every application.
37 CFR 1.21(a), current; USPTO Becoming a patent practitioner page (5 May 2026).
Where other pages get this wrong
The USPTO fees rose in January 2025: $118 to apply and $226 for the exam, not $110 and $210. And Prometric's $221 is on top.
Commonly published instead: Older figures of $110 and $210, or a quoted cost that omits the Prometric fee.
The final rule "Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025" (89 FR 91898, published 20 November 2024) took effect on 19 January 2025, and the USPTO fee schedule says "Effective January 19, 2025". The eCFR's point-in-time versions show the change from the 21 January 2025 version, which is a codification date, not the effective date. The USPTO fee table lists the Prometric examination administration fee of $221 in a separate "payable to Prometric" column.
Exam and registration fees, who takes them, and whether you get them back
| Fee | USD | Paid to | Refundable? | Rule or source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application | 118 | USPTO | No | 1.21(a)(1)(i) |
| Registration examination (commercial delivery) | 226 | USPTO | Only if OED does not admit you | 1.21(a)(1)(ii)(A); GRB XII |
| Examination administration | 221 | Prometric, at booking | Not stated by the USPTO | USPTO fee table (5 May 2026) |
| Registration or limited-recognition grant | 226 | USPTO, after passing | Not applicable | 1.21(a)(2) |
| Extension of the scheduling window (90 days) | 124 | USPTO | No, except refunded if it arrives after the window expired | 1.21(a)(1)(iv); GRB X.A |
| Reschedule 31 or more calendar days before | 0 | Prometric | Not applicable | USPTO fee table |
| Reschedule 6 to 30 calendar days before | 60 | Prometric | Not stated | USPTO fee table |
| Reschedule 0 to 5 calendar days before | 221 | Prometric | Not stated | USPTO fee table |
| Review session at Prometric (after a fail) | 300 | Prometric | Not stated | USPTO fee table; OED FAQ |
| Review session at the USPTO, Alexandria | 505 | USPTO | Not stated | 1.21(a)(1)(iii) |
| Petition to the OED Director | 452 | USPTO | Not stated | 1.21(a)(5)(i) |
| Petition for review of an OED Director decision | 452 | USPTO | Not stated | 1.21(a)(5)(ii) |
| Application where moral-character issues apply (instead of $118) | 1,806 | USPTO | $1,688 of it "may be refundable only if you are not admitted" | 1.21(a)(10); GRB IV |
| Payment refused or charged back | 50 | USPTO | No | 1.21(m) |
After registration the USPTO fee schedule (last revised 14 August 2026) lists further enrollment fees under 37 CFR 1.21(a): a certificate of good standing at $43 (standard) or $54 (suitable for framing), a USPTO-assisted change of address in the OED Information System at $75, a delinquency fee of $54 and an administrative reinstatement fee of $226. They are not costs of sitting the exam.
Prometric collects its fee when you schedule and collects nothing at the test centre; you cannot sit until it is paid (GRB X.B). The USPTO notes that its fee summary "differs" for limited-recognition applicants, examination waivers, reciprocity applicants and applicants seeking disability accommodations, without printing the differences on that page; the grant fee in 1.21(a)(2) is the same $226 for registration and for limited recognition.
What changed on 19 January 2025
| Fee | eCFR 20 Jan 2025 (USD) | From 21 Jan 2025 version (USD) | Change (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application | 110 | 118 | +8 |
| Registration examination | 210 | 226 | +16 |
| Registration or limited-recognition grant | 210 | 226 | +16 |
| Window extension | 115 | 124 | +9 |
| USPTO review session | 470 | 505 | +35 |
| Each petition | 420 | 452 | +32 |
| Moral-character application fee | 1,680 | 1,806 | +126 |
The new fees took effect on 19 January 2025 under the final rule at 89 FR 91898 (the 1.21 amendment is at page 92007 of it). The column headings above are the eCFR's point-in-time versions, which record the change from 21 January 2025; that is when the codified text changed, not when the fees did. The 30 March 2026 version of 1.21 left these fees unchanged. Prometric's fee history is not published on any page we could read, so the $221 has no "before" figure here.
The total, by how many attempts it takes
Each attempt = $118 + $226 + $221. Registration $226 once. Reviews at Prometric $300 each. Excludes extensions, reschedules, travel and prep.
| Scenario (our arithmetic) | Fees counted | Total USD |
|---|---|---|
| Pass first time | 118 + 226 + 221 + 226 | 791 |
| Fail once, pass the second time | 2 × 565 + 226 | 1356 |
| Fail once, one Prometric review, pass the second time | 2 × 565 + 300 + 226 | 1656 |
| Pass first time, one window extension | 565 + 124 + 226 | 915 |
| Pass first time, reschedule 10 days out | 565 + 60 + 226 | 851 |
What the patent bar could cost you
Every figure is the USPTO's or Prometric's fee as the USPTO prints it. Choose how many attempts to budget for and which extras you expect. To see rupees, type today's rate from your bank or card; we do not pre-fill one, because rates move and your card adds its own markup.
Our arithmetic on 37 CFR 1.21(a) and the USPTO fee table. A retake needs a new application ($118) and exam fee ($226) plus a new Prometric fee; a reapplicant who paid the $1,806 fee and then failed the exam pays $118 on reapplying unless $1,688 of it was refunded, but someone reapplying after a negative OED determination on moral character pays the $1,806 again for each determination (GRB section XI). The calculator assumes the first case. Travel, visas and prep courses are not included.
Where money is lost
Forfeits and refunds the USPTO spells out
- No-show: "An applicant who does not appear for the examination on the scheduled date and time forfeits ALL fees previously paid to the USPTO" (GRB X.B). You also lose eligibility at Prometric; OED may reset it if enough of your window remains.
- Late arrival: a late applicant is not admitted. The OED FAQ says that if time remains in your eligibility window you may ask the USPTO to reset your status with Prometric; if none remains you must reapply and pay the $118 application and $226 exam fees again, plus any Prometric charge (GRB XI says the same of an applicant who arrives too late). Arrive 30 minutes early.
- Window expires: you must file a new application and pay all fees again. An extension request must reach OED before the window ends; one that arrives late is denied and its fee refunded.
- Disapproval: if OED does not admit you, the $226 exam fee is refunded; the $118 application fee is not.
- Admitted but did not sit: once admitted, the exam fee is not refunded even if you never take the exam (GRB XII).
- Centre problem: if a test centre cannot run your exam, it is rescheduled to the first available appointment of your choice "with no additional charge".
Sources: GRB issued August 2026, sections X and XII; USPTO Becoming a patent practitioner page.
After a pass: the registration fee and its deadline
Passing does not register you. Within two years of the mailing date of your notice of passing you must file a Data Sheet, an oath or declaration and the $226 fee; miss it and you must retake the exam (37 CFR 11.8(b) and (c)). Your name and address are first published for 45 days of comment on moral character (the latest OED list, signed 23 September 2026, asks for comments by 7 November 2026, 45 days later by our count), and the USPTO says the certificate usually arrives about three months after passing. A US attorney files a certificate of good standing from the highest court of a US State, under six months old, with the Data Sheet to be registered as a patent attorney. Other qualifying applicants in Categories A to C register as patent agents, Category D applicants as design patent agents or attorneys for design matters only, and non-citizens in the US on qualifying work authorisation receive limited recognition rather than registration. The fee is the same $226 in each case.
Paying from abroad
The USPTO takes the application and exam fees with the application: the GRB includes a credit card authorisation form (PTO-2038) with the application form, and the online Exam Applicant Portal is the other route. Fax is not accepted for applications. The GRB prints no rupee price and no foreign-currency option, so an Indian card will be charged in US dollars at your bank's rate plus any foreign-transaction markup. We print no rupee totals: the calculator above converts only at a rate you type in. If a card payment is refused or charged back, the USPTO adds a $50 fee.
Nothing on this page is legal or immigration advice. For your own case, write to OED (OED@uspto.gov), and on visas speak to a US immigration lawyer. ProSyllabus has no US Patent Bar practice quizzes yet.
How much does the US Patent Bar cost in total?
For an applicant paying the standard $118 application fee, USD 565 per attempt by our arithmetic ($118 application + $226 exam to the USPTO + $221 to Prometric), and USD 791 from application to registration on a first-time pass, adding the $226 registration fee. Where the $1,806 moral-character fee applies instead of $118, the first attempt is USD 2,253 and USD 2,479 with registration (our arithmetic).
Is the Prometric fee included in the USPTO exam fee?
No. The USPTO fee table lists the $221 Prometric examination administration fee separately; Prometric collects it when you schedule.
When did the patent bar fees go up?
On 19 January 2025, the effective date of the USPTO final rule published on 20 November 2024 (89 FR 91898). The application fee went from $110 to $118 and the exam fee from $210 to $226.
Do I pay again to retake the exam?
Yes. A retake needs a new application with the $118 fee and the $226 exam fee, and a new Prometric fee when you book.
Can I get a refund if I do not sit the exam?
Only the $226 exam fee, and only if OED does not admit you. Once admitted, the fee is not refunded even if you do not sit, and a no-show forfeits all fees paid to the USPTO.
How much does it cost to extend the scheduling window?
$124 per 90-day extension, requested before the current window expires. Extensions may be granted an unlimited number of times.
How much is a review of a failed exam?
$300 at a Prometric centre or $505 at the USPTO in Alexandria, Virginia, within 60 days of the mailing date of the notice of results.
What is the $1,806 fee?
The application fee under 37 CFR 1.21(a)(10) for applicants with certain disciplinary or moral-character histories, charged instead of the $118 fee. $1,688 of it may be refundable only if the applicant is not admitted.
What is the patent bar fee in rupees?
There is no official rupee fee; everything is charged in US dollars. Convert at your bank's or card's rate on the day you pay.
Sources
- official — eCFR — 37 CFR 1.21(a), OED fees (current text; eCFR point-in-time versions show $110/$210 on 20 Jan 2025 and $118/$226 from 21 Jan 2025, a codification date; the 1.21 amendment is at 89 FR 92007 inside the final rule that begins at 89 FR 91898; unchanged in the 30 Mar 2026 version)
- official — Federal Register — "Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025", final rule, 89 FR 91898-92011, published 20 Nov 2024, effective 19 Jan 2025
- official — USPTO — Fee schedule, patent enrollment fees under 37 CFR 1.21(a) ("Effective January 19, 2025", "Last revised August 14, 2026"): including certificates of good standing $43/$54, change of address $75, delinquency fee $54, administrative reinstatement $226
- official — USPTO — Becoming a patent practitioner (last updated 5 May 2026): application and registration process, fee table including the Prometric fee of $221, retake waiver "for the next twelve months and until further notice", limited recognition
- official — USPTO OED — General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases, "Issued August 2026" (PDF created 11 Aug 2026): section III (Categories A-D, eligibility of aliens), IV-VII (application, fees, review), IX-XI (the examination, test administration, reapplying), XIV (after passing)
- official — USPTO — OED Frequently Asked Questions (last updated 19 Feb 2026): Prometric test centres "in the United States and U.S. Territories", transcripts and translations, extensions, review sessions, finding a registered practitioner
- official — eCFR — 37 CFR 11.8, Oath and registration fee (current text: two years to register after passing; certificate of good standing no more than six months old)
- official — eCFR — 37 CFR 11.7, Requirements for registration (current text, including 11.7(b)(2): 30/90-day waits and the five-attempt limit; added 88 FR 45086, 14 Jul 2023, per the eCFR source note)
- official — USPTO OED — "Registration to Practice" list signed 23 Sep 2026 (PDF): names of people seeking registration, with information on moral character to reach the OED Director "on or before November 07, 2026"
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
