Authentication Change for EFS-Web and PAIR

Important update: The deadlines related to authentication change and migration for EFS-Web and Private PAIR are being extended due to technical issues. We will announce the new deadlines when they are determined. Until then, you can still authenticate using either USPTO.gov accounts or PKI certificates.

If you have not done so, please create your USPTO.gov account, ensure it is opted in to two-step authentication, and use the Migration Tool to link your existing PKI certificate to your USPTO.gov account. Registered practitioners should use the Sponsorship Tool to sponsor their support staff to work on their behalf. New users must obtain a verified USPTO.gov account to access EFS-Web and PAIR using the new verification process, which requires a notarized Patent Electronic System Verification Form. Frequently asked questions and answers can be found in the FAQ section below.

How does logging in with USPTO.gov help you?

Eliminates shared credentials: practitioners no longer need to share accounts with support staff because they will all have their own accounts.
Modernizes security processes with two-step authentication: username and password plus a one-time code delivered by email, voice phone call or mobile device application.
Saves time by granting access to multiple USPTO systems with one consolidated sign-in process.
Ensures USPTO compliance with the latest Federal Information Security Management Act requirements.
Helps resolve browser compatibility issues.
Gives users access to EFS-Web and Private PAIR until the planned full release of Patent Center in 2020.

Create a USPTO.gov account

If you don’t already have a USPTO.gov account, just follow these simple steps:

Visit the MyUSPTO login
Select “Create an account”
Enter the email address you will use to sign in, as well as other necessary account information, and follow the prompts
Opt-in to two-step authentication
Set up migration and sponsorship.

For additional information, see the USPTO.gov account FAQ.

NOTE: If you use Financial Manager, you already have a USPTO.gov account: Just opt-in to two-step authentication and utilize the Migration and Sponsorship Tools.

If you need any assistance creating your USPTO.gov account, please call the USPTO Contact Center (UCC) at 800-786-9199.

Migrate your PKI certificate

To successfully migrate, users must already have a USPTO.gov account and an existing PKI certificate. The Migration Tool is now available for Registered Practitioners and Independent Inventors to link their existing PKI certificate with their USPTO.gov account following the step-by-step process outlined below. Support staff using the PKI certificate of a registered practitioner should not migrate; please have a registered practitioner sponsor your USPTO.gov account using the Sponsorship Tool.

Opt-in for two-step authentication for your USPTO.gov account
Clear your browser cache.
Close all browsers.
Go to the Migration Tool.
Sign in using your PKI digital certificate and review the Account Linking information.
Sign in using your USPTO.gov account, and confirm that both the PKI digital certificate and USPTO.gov account are verified.
Review account linking information for accuracy and provide your signature. Click on “Link accounts” to complete migration and link your PKI digital certificate to your USPTO.gov account.
Please wait 1-2 business days for your account migration to be processed by USPTO before using your USPTO.gov account to sign into EFS-Web and Private PAIR. Please note that you will need to update your bookmarks to the new EFS-Web and Private PAIR URLs for signing in with your USPTO.gov account.

For additional information, see the USPTO.gov account FAQ.

For assistance with migration, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197.

Set up sponsorships

The sponsorship tool allows practitioners to grant or remove sponsorship for support staff member(s) to work under their direction and control. In order to sponsor support staff, a practitioner must first migrate to a USPTO.gov account and the support staff must each have their own USPTO.gov account.

Practitioners are able to sponsor support staff, access "pending requests" for sponsorships to grant approval, remove sponsored support staff, and view active sponsorships.

Support staff are able to sign in using USPTO.gov accounts, view active sponsorships, remove sponsorships from a sponsoring practitioner which they no longer wish to be sponsored by, "request sponsorships" for other support staff to be approved by a practitioner, and view requested sponsorships.

Verify USPTO.gov account for new users

Registered practitioners and independent inventors can obtain a verified USPTO.gov account to access EFS-Web and PAIR using the new verification process.

After creating a USPTO.gov account, users need to complete the Patent Electronic System Verification Form, which requires a notary. The original form needs to be mailed to:

Mail Stop EBC Customer Number
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

Upon successful approval, the USPTO.gov account will be verified and an email notification will be sent to the applicant.

Additional instructions can be found at Patent Electronic Verification Form Instructions.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Visit the Authentication Change FAQs for frequently asked questions regarding the authentication change for EFS-Web and PAIR.

Visit the Sponsorship Tool FAQs for frequently asked questions regarding the Sponsorship Tool.

Dates you need to know

Now	October 2018	TBD	TBD
Create account	Migrate and sponsor	PKI termination	Migration termination
All PKI certificate holders and support staff should create USPTO.gov accounts now, and set them up for two-step authentication.	The migration tool is available to allow current PKI certificate holders to link their USPTO.gov accounts to their PKI certificates. Linkage allows use of USPTO.gov accounts to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR. Registered practitioners can sponsor their support staff to work on their behalf by giving them access via USPTO sponsorship tool. PKI certificates will remain valid for a period of time after the linkage to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR.	Users will no longer be able to authenticate into EFS-Web and Private PAIR using their PKI certificates Users will still be able to access the migration tool to link USPTO.gov accounts to their PKI certificates	Users will no longer be able to migrate their PKI certificates to USPTO.gov accounts New customers, or customers who did not migrate, will need to undergo the new verification process to obtain a verified USPTO.gov account

Now

October 2018

TBD

Create account

Migrate and sponsor

PKI termination

Migration termination

All PKI certificate holders and support staff should create USPTO.gov accounts now, and set them up for two-step authentication.

The migration tool is available to allow current PKI certificate holders to link their USPTO.gov accounts to their PKI certificates.
Linkage allows use of USPTO.gov accounts to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR.
Registered practitioners can sponsor their support staff to work on their behalf by giving them access via USPTO sponsorship tool.
PKI certificates will remain valid for a period of time after the linkage to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR.

Users will no longer be able to authenticate into EFS-Web and Private PAIR using their PKI certificates
Users will still be able to access the migration tool to link USPTO.gov accounts to their PKI certificates

Users will no longer be able to migrate their PKI certificates to USPTO.gov accounts
New customers, or customers who did not migrate, will need to undergo the new verification process to obtain a verified USPTO.gov account

Legal Information and Guidance

The Patent Electronic System Access Document provides additional information on the authentication, sponsorship, and identity verification requirements for accessing the patent electronic system.
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Subscriber Agreement
Patent Electronic System Subscriber Agreement

If you need assistance creating your USPTO.gov account, please call the USPTO Contact Center (UCC) at 800-786-9199. For assistance with migration and/or sponsorship, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197.

Sign in with USPTO.gov account

Sign in with PKI certificate

Migration Tool

Sponsorship Tool