1) Different subject matter patentability. For example, different countries have different patent law rules regarding the subject matter eligibility of business methods, software methods, medical treatments, natural products, etc.

2) Different non-obviousness standard. For example, India patent law has a special Section 3(d) consideration to prevent so-called "ever-greening" of drugs by pharmaceutical companies. Such practice is tolerated in the U.S. and Europe.

3) Different official language. Japan, Korea, China, Italy, Poland, German, among others, all require their patents written in a language other than English.

Europe is going to try a type of simplified patent prosecution/registration system. The world is watching that experiment.

In short, patent law is territorial, just like any other type of laws.

Patents are territorial. Even if a patent is registered in any jurisdiction, it is easy to recognize the patent in any counterpart. There is a concept of family patent which shows the list of all the jurisdictions where the applications have been filed.

As far as limitation is concerned, there is no limitation on registering patents in any foreign jurisdiction. It moreso depends upon you business interest where you wish to take protection.

Hope I have answered your question. If not would request you to elaborate your question.

 The initial process of patent application has been internationalized via WIPO and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. A single PCT application can get you started in 140+ jurisdictions.  There other treaties that aim towards so-called harmonizations of patent laws including TRIPS and  the recent  PLT. A few of the larger jurisdictions (the IP5) have multilateral agreements and experiments going on to see IF search results from one country might save work in other countries examining the counterpart patent application.

"Given that patents are designed to reward inventors for the disclosure of their inventions, it would have been helpful had the Act settled just what constitutes an invention. Alas, after 220 years of progressively developed patent statutes and jurisprudence, the concept of invention, so central and fundamental to patent law, has become one of the most misunderstood (by Aaron X. Fellmeth)". Indeed, patent world is waiting the legal definition of an invention after all !!!.

Countries have different standards regarding what can be patented and different approaches to administering patent regimes.  They are reluctant to give up control over such an important matter.  The approaches to patenting software and medicines, just to name two important areas, vary widely.  The evaluation of and weight given to social needs beyond those of the inventor also vary widely.  While steps continue to be taken to simplify multi-country patent applications and harmonizing patent laws across borders, we have a long way to go yet.  The U.S. with its first to invent approach was until very recently one of the major outliers in the international patent system.

To explain your question, we need to understand different types of Patent applications

MAJORLY WE CAN DIVIDE PATENT APPLICATIONS IN THREE CATEGORIES:

1. Ordinary Application: The first application for patent filed in the Patent Office, here the date becomes first filing date or priority date 

2. Convention application: An applicant should file the application before any of the patent offices within 12 months from the date of first application (priority date) in the convention country (i.e. the countries who are parties to the Hague Adoption Convention).

3. PCT- International Application: The PCT application does not provide for the grant of a patent, it simply provides a streamlined process for the patent application process in many countries at the same time.

PCT gives 30 to 31 months time to enter into various countries/jurisdictions from the first filing date (priority date) or international filing date whichever is earlier.

The PCT route allows the inventor more time to assess the commercial viability of his/her invention. The inventor/applicant can enter in different jurisdictions in up to 148 countries within 30-31 months from the international filing date or first filing date.

Therefore, PCT route gives more time for inventor to get protection / recognition of his invention in different jurisdictions.

*First filing date is usually called as Priority Date

Patents are temporary monopolies. Monopolies are uniformly detested by anyone other than the monopoly-holder and his friends.

The scope of monopoly that a country can grant depends on the developmental level of the country. Put simply, in some countries it is a 'good idea' to grant broad protection because industry is well-developed, while in others it makes more sense to grant a narrow monopoly (to foreigners) to allow domestic industry to produce look-alikes that aren't quite infringements - that way domestic industry grows.

So again, simply put, no country wants to grant the same monopoly rights as another unless their interests and developmental levels are the same.

Your question arises from a misconception.

No-one has a RIGHT to a patent. A patent is a PRIVILEGE, granted because the country thinks that it is in the country's best interests to grant such a privilege. Locke's arguments quite simply do not fit with claims to property rights in the immaterial and in any event were simply a desperate attempt to justify property rights in real property in the absence of a god-given mandate. I've probably lost most readers with that last bit, but, if so, just ask yourselves, 'why on earth should we stop people from copying? - It is quick easy and no-one is hurt (unlike piracy, where the victims drowned)'

"Freeloading is BAD". That you will frequently hear. But it is total rubbish. The Paris Convention didn't cover copyright because the US publishing industry couldn't exist without copying European texts. Freeloading is not bad, it is the normal action of the state that is less well developed. It is only external force, like TRIPS, that causes states to agree to act against their best interests in the hope of gaining elsewhere.

From this, you may think that I'm categorically opposed to IP. I'm not. It works. But you must understand the underlying tension - 'what is in our state's best interests right now?'

Currently, the core issue is: what is patent eligible? Article 27 of TRIPS requires Member States to provide patent protection to any invention without discrimination.  This article, however, does not define what it is an invention.  This is the topic of my dissertation (pending of grade).  Please note that a patent is a form of protection for an invention, as a registration is a form of protection for a trademark.