The designation of a contracting state is subject to payment of a designation fee. A single joint designation fee is payable for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The designation fees are deemed paid for all contracting states upon payment of seven times the amount of one designation fee.[Art. 79(2); Art. 149(1); Art. 2(2), item 3 RFees; Art. 2(2) item 3a RFees; ]

For European patent applications, the designation fees must be paid within six months of the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report.

For divisional applications and new applications under Art. 61(1)(b) filed before 1 April 2009, the designation fees must be paid within six months of the date on which the European Patent Bulletin mentions the publication of the European search report drawn up in respect of the European divisional application or the new European patent application (see A‑IV, 1.4.1).[]

For Euro-PCT applications entering the European phase before 1 April 2009, see A‑III, 11.3.9.