PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Djibouti

Djibouti has been a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since May 13, 2002, and to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) since September 23, 2016.

Djibouti affirms its dedication to global intellectual property standards through its membership in several prominent international treaties. These include the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (2002), ensuring automatic copyright protection; the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (2002), promoting the safeguarding of trademarks, patents, and industrial designs; the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2002), fostering alignment with international IP cooperation; the Marrakesh Treaty, facilitating access to published works for visually impaired and print-disabled individuals; and the Beijing Treaty, offering protection for audiovisual performances.

To file a national phase application in Djibouti for a PCT application, you must enter the national phase within 30 months from the priority date.

The description, claims, and abstract can initially be filed in English, provided that a verified French translation is submitted within one month. If applicable, formal drawings must be submitted at the time of filing.

In Djibouti, there is no general provision for extending the deadline for late filing of patent applications or national phase entry under the PCT.

• Power of Attorney: A physically signed document is a strict requirement at the time of filing and must be submitted without exception.
• Assignment Deed: The Assignment of Invention, which must be simply signed and accompanied by a verified French translation, may be submitted late, but no later than one month from the filing date.
• Priority document: The priority document, along with a verified French translation, may be submitted after the initial filing, but must be provided within one month.

There are no cost exemptions for filing a patent application in Djibouti.

Patent applications are examined as to compliance with formal requirements only; i.e. the novel and inventive merit of the invention is not assessed.

Renewal fees are payable on the fifth, tenth and fifteenth anniversaries from the first anniversary of the filing date.  There is a six-month grace period for affecting late payment of the renewal fees.

In Djibouti, a patent is granted for a period of 20 years, commencing from the filing date, offering long-term protection for the invention.

Djibouti's Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking in 2024 is 133 out of 133 economies. This indicates that Djibouti's innovation capacity is comparatively lower than that of many other nations.

Djibouti is a small but strategically important country located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Red Sea. It serves as a key international shipping hub due to its proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major global shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Djibouti has a diverse economy, heavily reliant on services such as port operations, logistics, and transshipment. The country’s political stability and its hosting of numerous foreign military bases, including those of the U.S. and France, further underline its geopolitical significance. Djibouti is known for its unique landscape, including salt lakes, deserts, and volcanic formations.