In a March 2026 file, we told a foreign colleague that extension applications had currently been cancelled and that it had become mandatory to complete the documents within the six-month period.
That file showed how tight it gets. The local legalisations were completed only the day before we wrote. The previous morning, the Patent Office had contacted us about the remaining documents, and we told them we were receiving them from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The documents were submitted for review on the day we wrote, a day before the deadline.
The lesson: the legalisation chain can use up nearly all the time, with no extension to fall back on. That is what we reported in March 2026, so ask us to confirm the current position.
For PCT national phase entry in Iraq:
- Start legalising the assignment and other documents as soon as the national phase is filed
- Map each step of the legalisation chain with target dates
- Do not budget for an extension
- Docket the document deadline separately from the entry deadline
Entering the national phase in Iraq? Our Baghdad patent team can plan the document timeline with you.