PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Turkmenistan

Since December 25, 1991, Turkmenistan has been a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Additionally, Turkmenistan is a member of the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO). The state of science and technology is assessed based on all available information sources, both within Turkmenistan and internationally, up to the priority date of the invention.

The deadline for entering the Turkmen national phase of a PCT application according to Chapter I under PCT Article 22(1) is 30 months from the priority date and according to Chapter II under PCT Article 39(1) is 31 months from the priority date.

The official language for proceedings before the Turkmen IPO is Turkmen. Application materials submitted in any other language will be considered as filed only if a translation into Turkmen is provided within three months from the filing date.

The deadline for entering the national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date. However, this term can be restored within three months from the expiry date upon the applicant's request, provided the applicable official fee is paid.

The necessary documents for filing a national phase application in Turkmenistan include:

Power of Attorney: A simply signed Power of Attorney must be submitted within three months from the date of entering the PCT national phase in Turkmenistan if the applicant is an individual. For legal entities, the Power of Attorney should be signed and stamped. Official legalization or notarization is not necessary.

The examination fee is discounted if an international search or an international preliminary examination report has been issued.

In Turkmenistan, there are three types of examinations: formal, limited, and substantive. Following a positive result from the formal examination, the application moves to the limited examination stage. Based on the outcome of the limited examination, a decision may be made to grant a Limited patent, which is valid for ten years. To obtain a full patent, valid for twenty years, the applicant must submit a request to suspend the issuance of the Limited patent and request a substantive examination within five years from the filing date. The request for substantive examination can be made by any interested party. Furthermore, the applicant is required to provide a copy of a patent or a decision to grant a patent issued by other Patent Offices for corresponding patent applications.

The renewal fee for a patent, are due on the anniversary of the patent's filing date. The first renewal fee, covering the 1st and 2nd years, are paid simultaneously with the patent granting fee. Subsequent annual fees should be paid before each anniversary of the filing date to maintain the patent's validity. If the renewal payment is missed, Turkmenistan provides a six-month grace period during which the fee can be paid with an additional 50% surcharge for each month of delay.

In Turkmenistan, the validity term of a patent is 20 years from the filing date. There is a 6-month novelty grace period from the disclosure of the invention information. There are two types of patents available in Turkmenistan: a limited patent, which is valid for ten years, and a full patent, which is valid for twenty years.

Turkmenistan's 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII) score of 0.046 is seen as comparatively poor. Although there is considerable progress in certain areas, such as research and development (R&D). Turkmenistan's total innovation score is lower than that of many other countries, especially when it comes to categories like business sophistication and innovation efficiency.

The landlocked Central Asian country of Turkmenistan is well-known for its extensive desert terrain, especially the Karakum Desert, and its lengthy history as a hub for the Silk Road. It is home to the rare Akhal-Teke horse and has one of the biggest natural gas deposits in the world. One of the world's least visited nations, Turkmenistan is also well-known for its unique carpets.