Patent of Invention in Lithuania

Patent protection for inventions in Lithuania is obtained through the State Patent Bureau and is based on a registration system without substantive examination of patentability.

Patent applications for inventions in Lithuania are filed and prosecuted before the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania, Valstybinis patentų biuras (VPB).

Foreign applicants without residence or a permanent place of business in Lithuania, the EEA or an EPC contracting state must act through a registered Lithuanian patent attorney.

Patentability Requirements

Worldwide novelty
Inventive step
Industrial applicability

Important: Lithuanian patent law does not provide for registration of utility models.

Important Filing Deadlines

Convention priority under the Paris Convention: within 12 months from the first filing date.
Restoration of priority: may be available within 2 months after expiry of the 12-month term, subject to the due care standard.
PCT national phase: up to 31 months from the priority date.
Restoration of rights may be available in case of missed deadlines, subject to payment of the required fee.

Required Information and Documents

Applicant’s name and address
Request for grant of a patent
Description, claims and abstract of the invention
Drawings
Power of attorney
Document confirming the right to file the application and declaration of authorship

The power of attorney must be submitted within 3 months from the filing date.

The application must be filed in Lithuanian. If the application is filed in another language, a Lithuanian translation must be submitted within 3 months from the filing date.

Where convention priority is claimed, a certified copy of the priority document and its Lithuanian translation must be submitted within 16 months from the earliest priority date.

Procedure

Formal Examination

VPB conducts formal examination within 5 working days after receiving the application.

If defects are identified, the applicant is given 3 months to correct them. If the defects are not corrected within the prescribed term, the application is deemed withdrawn.

If the formal requirements are met, the filing date is established and the applicant is notified.

Patentability Review

Substantive examination is not carried out. The patent is granted under the responsibility of the applicant and may later be challenged in court.

The examiner verifies whether the claimed subject matter belongs to patentable subject matter under the applicable law.

Publication

The application is published after 18 months from the filing date or priority date, where priority is claimed.

Grant of the Patent

If the procedure is completed successfully, VPB issues a decision to grant the patent. The applicant must pay the grant fee within 3 months from receipt of the publication notice.

The patent is entered in the official register and the protection document is issued. The patent takes effect from the filing date.

Timing, Term and Maintenance

The average duration of the Lithuanian patent procedure is approximately 12 to 21 months.

A patent for an invention in Lithuania is valid for 20 years from the filing date.

For pharmaceutical products, a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) may extend protection up to 25 years, where applicable.

Annual Fees

Annual fees start from the 3rd year from the filing date.
Payment is due during the last two months of the current year of validity, before the last day of the month containing the filing anniversary.
A 6-month grace period is available with payment of a 50% surcharge.

How We Help

Filing Coordination

We coordinate filing through the required Lithuanian representation framework.

Translation and Documents

We assist with Lithuanian translations, priority documents and formal filing materials.

Procedural Support

We monitor deadlines, coordinate communication with VPB and support grant formalities.