If an application meets all the requirements, the IP Office issues a decision to grant a patent. The fees for grant and publication should be paid in due time. A patent in the Philippines is valid for twenty years from the filing date. Annual maintenance fees are payable from the 5th year. The due date for payment of the annuity for the 5th year is the 4th anniversary of the date of the publication; the due dates for the following annuities are subsequent anniversaries correspondingly. The fees should be paid within three months before the due date. If the owner fails to pay the annual fee, a notice of non-payment is published in the official gazette. Late payment of annual maintenance fees is possible within a grace period of six months from the publication of the notice provided that a surcharge and a publication fee are paid.