UNITED STATES AND MEXICO

Draft a Provisional Patent Application with AI

A provisional application secures an early filing date and gives you 12 months to file the complete application. It is only as strong as the disclosure inside it—IPnite helps you make that disclosure complete.

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Where provisional applications exist

The United States has offered provisional applications for decades. Mexico introduced them with the reform to its Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property, in force since April 6, 2026: a Mexican provisional is not published or examined, and the complete application must be filed within a non-extendable 12-month period. Argentina and Brazil do not have an equivalent filing.

What makes a provisional useful

A later application can only rely on the provisional's date for subject matter the provisional actually describes. A short or vague provisional may leave your final claims without support. That is why IPnite treats the provisional as a full technical disclosure, not a placeholder.

  • Describe the problem, solution, and every essential component
  • Include alternatives, variants, and implementation examples
  • Add figures wherever they clarify the invention
  • Consider including claims to test how the invention will be protected
  • Plan the complete or PCT application before the 12-month deadline

How IPnite prepares it

The Discovery Agent structures your disclosure and runs a prior-art search. The Drafter turns it into a detailed description with embodiments, optional claims, and reference drawings. You export a DOCX ready to review and file, and the same project becomes the base for the complete application.

Frequently asked questions

Is a provisional application examined?

No. In the United States and in Mexico provisional applications are not examined, and they never become patents on their own.

Can the 12-month deadline be extended?

No. In both countries the complete application must be filed within 12 months. In the United States, missing it means the provisional expires and its filing date can no longer be claimed.

Can I claim a Mexican provisional as priority in another country?

Seek professional advice for international strategy. Mexican law also provides that a provisional cannot itself claim priority from an earlier application.

Get your application ready to file

Explore a Search Strategy Preview or Draft Preview with your own invention. The 7-day free trial does not include a complete search or a final refined, exportable application. No credit card and no automatic charges.

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