PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention since October 11, 1992, and to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) since September 07, 1996. Additionally, it is also a party to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure and the Patent Law Treaty (PLT). 

The national patent office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as the Institute for Intellectual Property, handles both national patent filings and PCT national phase applications. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member state of the European Patent Organisation (EPO) but has a special status as an extension state. Through a Co-operation and Extension Agreement signed on December 01, 2004. European patents can be extended to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once extended, these patents have the same legal effect as national patents. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently the only active extension state under this system, as others have since joined the EPO as full members. 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, national phase applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) must be filed within 34 months from the priority date of the PCT application. 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, patent applications can be filed in Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian. The official language of the patent application must be one of these three languages. 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are no extensions for late filing of patent applications.

Documents required to file the national phase application in the said country are as follows:

• Power of Attorney: The Power of Attorney, duly signed should be submitted at the Patent Office. Notarization/legalization is not required.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the filing fee is reduced by 50% if the applicant is also the inventor.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, applicants must request examination of their patent application within six months of publication in the Official Gazette.

Once a patent is granted, maintenance fees must be paid to keep the patent in force. The first maintenance fee is due in the third year after the international filing date. Subsequent maintenance fees must be paid before the anniversary of the international filing date each year.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the term of a patent is 20 years, commencing from the filing date of the application. 

In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked 80th in the Global Innovation Index (GII), a comprehensive measure of the innovation capabilities of countries worldwide. The country achieved an innovation index score of 25.50. Within the upper-middle-income group economies, Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked 24th out of 34, and 37th among the 39 European economies.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a diverse mix of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and services. Key industries encompass steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, timber, textiles, and tobacco. Tourism is a growing sector, bolstered by the country's natural beauty and historical sites. The country has a rich cultural heritage and a complex political landscape. While it has made progress in various areas, it continues to navigate challenges related to ethnic divisions, political fragmentation, and economic development. The country's aspirations for EU membership reflect its desire for stability, prosperity, and integration into the broader European community.