--- title: Provisional vs. Non-Provisional Patent Applications — STADLER IP LAW description: Understand the key differences between provisional and non-provisional patent applications and how to know which is best for your invention. --- [Skip to content](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog/provisional-vs-non-provisional-patent-applications#main-content) [![stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/hubfs/BRANDING/New%20Branding/stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white.svg "stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white")](https://stadleriplaw.com) - [About](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/about) - [Patent Conversion](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/non-provisional-conversion) - [Contact](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/contact) - [Blog](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog) - [Pirate Fight Club](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/pirate-fight-club) - [Remote in Romania](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/remote-in-romania-blog) - [About](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/about) - [Patent Conversion](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/non-provisional-conversion) - [Contact](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/contact) - [Blog](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog) - [Pirate Fight Club](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/pirate-fight-club) - [Remote in Romania](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/remote-in-romania-blog) # Provisional vs. Non-Provisional Patent Applications Nov 22, 2021, 12:00:00 AM Many of my clients contact me initially looking to obtain patent protection for their invention. What they don’t often realize is that there are two options for them at the beginning of the patent process.  ## Non-Provisional Patents The non-provisional patent application is what most people think of when they think about the patent process. This application has all of the formal, legal requirements and it is where you are asking for the grant of patent rights from the government.  ## Provisional Patents By comparison, the provisional patent application is essentially a placeholder. It does not have all of the formal, legal requirements that the non-provisional has and it will never be examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, what it does do is buy you one year of time to file the non-provisional patent application. If you do not file a non-provisional, the provisional will expire and you will potentially lose your patent rights.  Based on this, it actually sounds like the provisional is not a great option. But, for most of my clients, the provisional patent application is a very powerful option.  ### Additional benefits of provisional patents include: - The provisional patent application provides you with a filing date. This means that anyone who tries to patent your invention after your filing date is prevented from applying. - It allows you to market your invention as patent-pending, which puts others on notice that you are protecting your patent rights.  - It allows you to test the market to make sure that there is interest in your invention before you spend too much time and energy on protecting it and try to manufacture and market the invention.  - It allows you to get a filing date without as much effort in the event that you need to present the invention at a trade show.  - The provisional filing date serves as an international filing date as well, in case you need to file the application in foreign jurisdictions.  Nonetheless, if you do know that your invention will be successful and you would like to just jump right into the non provisional patent application, that is always an option.  If you would like more information about patents or trademarks, please consider joining us for Pirate Fight Club. [Click here to join the Pirate Fight Club Facebook group.](https://www.facebook.com/groups/piratefightclub) ## Read On ### [Can I Skip the Provisional and Go Straight to the Non-Provisional Patent?](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog/can-i-skip-the-provisional-and-go-straight-to-the-non-provisional-patent) Introduction Filing a patent is an important step in protecting your invention. But what if you're... ### [What is a Provisional Patent?](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog/how-can-a-provisional-patent-application-help-me-launch-my-product) Many of the phone calls that I receive are about how a small business can quickly protect its... ### [I Filed my Provisional Patent Application, Now What?](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog/i-filed-my-provisional-patent-application-now-what) Provisional Patent Applications are one of the most powerful tools for small and medium sized... ✕ ## Book a 30-min appointment **30-Minutes –  Focused IP Guidance** Ideal for those with **a specific trademark, copyright, or patent question** who need direct legal guidance. This session is best for those seeking **clear next steps on a single issue** without ongoing strategy. [30 Min. Session](https://meetings.hubspot.com/rebecca-m/30-min) ## Licensed in New York & The United States Patent & Trademark Office [![stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/hubfs/BRANDING/New%20Branding/stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white.svg "stadler-logo-bright-purple-and-white")](https://stadleriplaw.com) - [About](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/about) - [Patent Conversion](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/non-provisional-conversion) - [Contact](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/contact) - [Blog](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/blog) - [Pirate Fight Club](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/pirate-fight-club) - [Remote in Romania](https://www.stadleriplaw.com/remote-in-romania-blog) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/stadler_ip_law/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/stadlerip) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/stadleriplaw/) [Check out our YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC0EXWPgr4NigGPxcUeWAHQ?view_as=subscriber) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/699094) 155 Chandler Street Suite 6 Buffalo, NY 14207 716-899-5658 Stadler IP Law PLLC is a boutique intellectual property law firm that provides legal advice and provides solutions for a variety of entrepreneurs. © 2026 All rights reserved. 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