1. Starting from 1 January 2026 (inclusive), any patent application, request for re-examination, request for invalidation, or related procedural act submitted electronically must be filed in XML format.  CNIPA will no longer accept electronic patent documents in any format other than XML.

2. The documents that must be submitted in XML include: Chinese national filings for invention, utility-model and design patents; international applications entering the Chinese national phase under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT); requests for re-examination; requests for invalidation; and any other requests, declarations, statements, amendments, corrections, etc. submitted during various procedures.  A list of XML files that are uploaded through the Patent Business Processing System is provided in the annex to this notice; other tabular XML files shall be filled in and submitted directly within the Patent Business Processing System as required.

3. Except for nucleotide or amino-acid sequence listings, which must comply with WIPO ST.26, all XML-format files shall conform to the data standards published by CNIPA. The data specifications, XML conversion tools and user manuals are available under the “Tool Download” section of the Patent Business Processing System (http://cponline.cnipa.gov.cn).

4. Applicants and patent agents shall adapt their workflows to the XML filing requirements, strengthen quality management, and carefully verify documents to ensure that submitted XML files are accurate and complete.  Where errors in XML conversion can be proven with sufficient evidence, remedial measures may be granted.