At the end of March, 2024, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) will cease issuing paper certificates of patents, and utility-model, design and trademark registrations for the users of the electronic application filing system.

Beginning on April 1, 2024, the JPO will start only issuing electronic certificates in PDF format through the electronic application filing system for its users. The Japan Patent Office will NOT offer paper certificates for the electronic application filing system users.

Exceptions
The JPO will keep issuing paper certificates for: 1) international trademark registrations under the Madrid system, designating Japan; and international design registrations under the Hague system, designating Japan. The JPO will not issue electronic certificates for these cases.