For the foreigners or the foreign units having no habitual residences or business places in China, and the Chinese who have lived and worked in the foreign countries for a long term: while applying for patents, they shall entrust the matter concerned to the patent agencies handling foreign-related patent work, which are appointed by the Patent Granting Office under the State Council. It is not allowed for the above-mentioned applicants to mail or submit the application documents directly to the Patent Office.
For the units or compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan: while applying for patents, they shall also entrust the matter concerned to the patent agencies handling foreign-related patent work or domestic patent agencies. No submitting or mailing directly to the Patent Office is allowed.