A request for continued examination costs $1,500 the first time
After a final rejection, you can keep the application going with a request for continued examination, or RCE. The first RCE costs $1,500 regular, $600 small or $300 micro. Each later RCE costs $2,860, $1,144 or $572.
RCE and related fees (regular / small / micro)
| First request for continued examination | $1,500 regular / $600 small / $300 micro |
|---|---|
| Second and later requests | $2,860 regular / $1,144 small / $572 micro |
| Submission after final rejection (37 CFR 1.129(a)) | $945 regular / $378 small / $189 micro |
| Extension of time, first month | $235 regular / $94 small / $47 micro |
| Extension of time, second month | $690 regular / $276 small / $138 micro |
| Extension of time, third month | $1,590 regular / $636 small / $318 micro |
| Two RCEs, regular | $4,360 |
|---|---|
| Two RCEs, micro | $872 |
Extensions of time are charged when a response is filed late, and the fee grows each month. Source: USPTO fee schedule, effective January 19, 2025, last revised August 14, 2026.
What this price covers
An RCE reopens examination so you can change claims or add evidence. Attorney fees for the response are extra.
What changes your price
- Your fee level. Small entities pay 40 percent of the regular fee and micro entities pay 20 percent, if they qualify.
- Which request. The second RCE costs almost twice the first.
- Late responses. Extensions add $47 to $1,590 or more.
Ways to pay less
- Respond on time to avoid extension fees.
- Talk to your examiner before filing an RCE. An interview can sometimes avoid one.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the USPTO fee schedule. Each fee has three levels: the regular fee, the small entity fee and the micro entity fee. Small and micro entity status have their own rules, set out in 37 CFR 1.27 and 1.29. The USPTO says a false small or micro entity claim can bring a penalty of at least three times the fee that was not paid. Where we show a total, we only add up the USPTO's own fees. We do not add our own guesses, and patent attorney or agent fees are not included. We last checked the schedule on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much is an RCE?
$1,500 regular for the first, $2,860 after that.
How much for a micro entity?
$300 for the first RCE.