As of October 1, 2009, the JPO expanded the pilot program for Super Accelerated Examination to PCT applications that have entered into the Japanese national phase.

For PCT applications, the waiting time from the filing of a request for Super Accelerated Examination to receipt of examination results should be less than two months. (However, if the JPO has to wait for documents issued by the WIPO for the examination, the time will likely be longer.) For Japanese applications, the time from the filing of a request for Super Accelerated Examination to receipt of examination results should be less than one month as before.

To file for Super Accelerated Examination, the following requirements must be met:

1. The application must be related to an invention that is presently being practiced or planned to be practiced within two years from the date of filing a request for Super Accelerated Examination;
2. A corresponding application has been filed with at least one non-Japanese IP office;
3. A Request for Examination has been filed, but for which the JPO examiner has not yet commenced examination; and
4. All procedures after four weeks before the filing for Super Accelerated Examination must be filed online.

After receiving the results from the JPO, a foreign applicant must file a response to the official action within two months. The JPO will thereafter issue the results within less than one month.