Enrolment and organisation

Compulsory registration

Enrolment to the foundation paper F 2026 will only be open for candidates who have registered at the latest by 28 May 2025. See OJ EPO 2025, A9.

All information can be found under "Registration as candidate" at the EPO website.

Enrolment periods 

1. Foundation paper F 2026

Candidates may enrol as from 8 July 2025. Applications must be submitted no later than 22 September 2025 via the EQC portal. 
 

2. Main examination 2026 (Papers A, B, C and D)

Candidates may enrol as from 8 July 2025. Applications must be submitted no later than 22 September 2025 via the EQC portal. 

For more details, for example on payment of fees, withdrawal, enrolment process, required period of professional activity (patent attorney trainees; EPO examiners), choice of papers, fees and fee subsidies, etc., please refer to OJ EPO 2025, A9 and to the EQE website.

If you have questions about the EQE or the Regulation on the EQE, please get in touch with the Examination Secretariat of the European Patent Office, using the official EPO contact form.