If the applicant requests within the time limit under Rule 20.7 that a correct element or part be incorporated by reference, the EPO as receiving Office will transmit the international application to the IB as receiving Office, provided the applicant authorises it to do so. No fee will be charged under Rule 19.4(b) for such transmittal.

GL-PCT A II 6.1.2 International filing date has already been accorded

If the requirements under Art. 11(1) have already been fulfilled and the international filing date has been accorded, the wrong element or part will be replaced with the correct one and the international filing date will be changed to the date on which the correct element or part was received, unless the applicant requests that the correct element or part be disregarded under Rule 20.5

GL-PCT A II 6.1.1 International filing date has not yet been accorded

If the international filing date has not yet been accorded, the wrong element or part will be replaced with the correct one and the international filing date will be the date on which the requirements under Art. 11(1) are fulfilled, taking into account the correct element or part only. The EPO as receiving Office follows the procedure outlined in AI, section 310.[R. 20.5bis(b); ]

GL-PCT A II 6.1 Correct element or part not furnished for the purpose of incorporation by reference

The EPO as receiving Office will process requests for correction of an element or a part which is not furnished for the purpose of incorporation by reference, since this option is not covered by the notification of incompatibility referred to in GL/PCT-EPO A-II, 6.[R. 20.5bis(b); (c); ]

GL-PCT A II 6 Correction of erroneously filed elements or parts

If the international application contains an erroneously filed element (description or claims) or an erroneously filed part of the description, claims or drawings (including the case where all the drawings have been erroneously filed), the applicant may correct the international application by furnishing the correct element or part under Rule 20.5bis.[R. 20.5bis

GL-PCT A II 5 Incorporation by reference of missing elements or parts

If the applicant has omitted to file with the international application a part of the description or of the claims, part or all of the drawings or an entire element, i.e.

GL-PCT A II 4.2 Defects

If the EPO as receiving Office finds that, at the time of receipt, the international application does not comply with one or more of the requirements under Art. 11 for according an international filing date, it will invite the applicant to file the required correction(s) within two months of the date of the invitation (Form PCT/RO/103).

GL-PCT A II 4.1 Minimum requirements for according an international filing date

The international filing date of an international application is the date on which it is received at one of the EPO's filing offices, or at a national authority in an EPC contracting state (see GL/PCT‑EPO A‑II, 3.2), provided that the following minimum requirements are fulfilled at the time of receipt:[Art. 11; ]

– The applicant is a resident or national of an EPC contracting state.

GL-PCT A II 4 Examination on filing

4.1 Minimum requirements for according an international filing date

4.2 Defects

GL-PCT A III – Fees

GL-PCT A II 6.2 Correct element or part furnished for the purpose of incorporation by reference