11. Payment and refund of fees 

Both the preliminary examination fee and the handling fee must be received at the EPO as IPEA one month from the date of receipt of the demand or 22 months from the earliest priority date, whichever expires later (see . See GL/PCT‑EPO A‑III, 7.1 and GL/PCT‑EPO A-III, 7.2).

The EPO cannot commence international preliminary examination before these fees have been paid. Late payment thus reduces the amount of time available for establishment of the IPER (see A‑III, 7.5).

For the conditions for refunding the handling fee and the international preliminary examination fee, see GL/PCT‑EPO A‑III, 9.6 and GL/PCT‑EPO A-III, 9.7, respectively.