In the procedure before the EPO as a designated/elected Office, an authorisation or (a reference to) a general authorisation need, as a rule, not be filed by a representative who identifies himself as a professional representative entered on the list maintained by the EPO. This means that for a valid appointment a professional representative merely needs to inform the EPO of his appointment for the application concerned (see also point 2.9.018), e.g. by signing EPO Form 1200.

Legal practitioners entitled to practise before the EPO (see point 5.3.006) and employees representing an applicant who are not professional representatives must, as a rule, file a signed authorisation or a reference to a general authorisation. However, no (new) authorisation is to be filed where an authorisation was filed with the EPO as receiving Office, ISA or IPEA and the authorisation expressly empowered the legal practitioner or employee to act before the EPO in the European phase (see point 2.9.018).

Where an authorisation is to be filed, the use of EPO Form 1003 is recommended for individual authorisations and EPO Form 1004 for general authorisations. If an authorisation is required but not received, the EPO will invite the applicant or representative to file it within a period to be specified in the invitation.