On 1 June 2026, the Republic of Moldova officially became the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg), following the entry into force of its accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC). This milestone marks a significant expansion of the European Patent system, as Moldova is now fully integrated into the EPC framework alongside other member states.

As a result of this accession, European patent applications filed on or after 1 June 2026 automatically include the designation of Moldova as a contracting state under the EPC. Applicants filing a European patent application, as well as those entering the European regional phase from an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) with a corresponding filing date, are no longer required to pay a validation fee to obtain protection in Moldova through a European patent. This simplifies the process and aligns Moldova with the standard designation system applicable to all EPC member states. Moreover, it removes the need for separate validation fees and minimises the risk of inadvertently excluding Moldova from EP protection.

The new legal framework does not apply retroactively, and specific transitional provisions apply in order to ensure full legal certainty. Therefore, it is not possible to designate the Republic of Moldova if the application was filed before 1 June 2026. In such earlier cases, the previous validation system rules still apply, including the obligation to pay the relevant validation fee.

Furthermore, European divisional applications derived from a parent application filed before 1 June 2026 cannot benefit from automatic designation, and must continue to follow the previous validation system rules.

In addition, to assist applicants who were preparing filings in May 2026, the European Patent Office (EPO) allowed them to explicitly request 1 June 2026 as the filing date, so they could immediately benefit from the new membership status.

Following grant, European patents designating Moldova will continue to require national validation steps in line with established procedures, including the submission of translations and the payment of annuities to the national State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI).

Moldova is the first former validation country to join as a full member state of the European Patent system, expanding the scope of geographical patent protection. Patent Attorneys who have acted before AGEPI will be able to join the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO once they complete the 12-month transitional procedure foreseen under the EPC (Art. 134(3)).