How to Start a New Journal, Get an ISSN and a Crossref DOI
A practical, step-by-step guide for universities, societies and editors: define the scope, build the editorial board, choose OJS or a hosted platform, publish the first issue, get your ISSN under today’s strict rules — and fix a rejected application — then get your own Crossref DOI prefix through a sponsor, without paying Crossref’s annual fee yourself.
- 10 launch steps
- ISSN consultancy
- ISSN rejected? Fix it
- OJS or hosted
- Crossref sponsor
- Own DOI prefix
- 1Scope, title & boardSteps 1–3 · plan
- 2Policies, platform & websiteSteps 4–6 · build
- 3ISSN & first issueSteps 7–8 · run
- 4Crossref DOI prefixStep 9 · via a sponsor ·
10.xxxxx/… - 5Indexing & track recordStep 10 · grow
The Numbers That Matter
Crossref figures from Crossref’s fee page (opens in a new tab), read on 9 Oct 2026. JWDOI prices from the JWDOI guide, plus 18% GST.
How to Start a New Academic Journal in 10 Steps
The order the decisions really arrive in, for an open access journal in India or anywhere else. Each step builds on the one before — a DOI prefix, for example, needs the ISSN and a published issue first.
- Plan
- Build
- Run & grow
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Plan · step 1
Find the gap and define the scope
Decide which need the journal meets, who will write for it and who will read it. Write the aims and scope in a short paragraph and list the article types you will accept — and those you will not. A focused scope attracts better submissions than “all subjects”.
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Plan · step 2
Choose a unique title and register a domain
Pick a name no other serial uses — search the ISSN Portal before you commit — and register a matching domain with SSL. A free sub-domain is a warning sign to authors and indexers.
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Plan · step 3
Build a real editorial board
Invite an editor-in-chief, associate editors and reviewers with verifiable affiliations in the subject, and agree their roles in writing. A board in name only is quickly discovered and damages the journal.
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Build · step 4
Write the policies and author guidelines
Publish author guidelines, the peer-review model, publication ethics (following COPE guidance), plagiarism, copyright and licence (for example CC BY 4.0), fees, corrections and retractions, and archiving. Set the issue frequency you can actually keep.
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Build · step 5
Choose the journal platform
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is free and open source but you host and maintain it. A hosted system such as JWJMS removes the server work. ScholarOne and Editorial Manager are commercial options used by large publishers.
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Build · step 6
Launch the website
Show the aims and scope, editorial board, author guidelines, policies, fees, contact details and a submission route. Every policy you wrote in step 4 should be one click from the home page.
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Run & grow · step 7
Apply for the ISSN
In India the ISSN is issued free of charge by the ISSN National Centre for India at NISCPR. An online journal needs an e-ISSN and is assigned one only after its first issue (at least 5 articles) is out. The rules are now strict — see the ISSN section below.
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Run & grow · step 8
Run peer review and publish the first issue
Screen every manuscript for similarity, send it to reviewers, record their reports and decisions, and publish the first issue on the date you announced. Consistency from issue one is what indexers check later.
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Run & grow · step 9
Get a Crossref DOI prefix
Join Crossref directly or through a sponsor, receive your own DOI prefix and deposit metadata for every article — title, authors, ORCID iDs, references and licence. Part 2 below explains both routes.
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Run & grow · step 10
Grow: indexing, preservation and track record
Google Scholar, OpenAlex and ROAD pick up a well-structured journal; DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science expect a publication history first. Add a preservation arrangement and keep every issue on schedule.
Policy templates: the 36 policies JMVRA publishes show what a journal needs in place before its first submission.
What Is an ISSN, and Which One Does Your Journal Need?
An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit code that identifies a serial — a journal, magazine or other continuing publication — in one specific format. It is assigned by the ISSN network, coordinated by the ISSN International Centre in Paris; in India, by the ISSN National Centre at the National Science Library, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi, free of charge.
The number itself carries no meaning about country or subject; the last digit (0–9 or X) is a check digit that catches typing errors. The ISSN identifies the journal, a DOI identifies one article, and an ISBN identifies a book.
Books are not eligible for an ISSN — they get an ISBN from the Indian ISBN agency.
How to Apply for an ISSN in India, Step by Step
From the ISSN National Centre’s own guidelines for requesting an ISSN (opens in a new tab). Apply on the National Science Library portal (opens in a new tab); journals outside India apply to their own national centre, listed on the ISSN Portal.
- Check the title is free. Search the Indian ISSN database and the ISSN Portal. An identical or confusingly similar title is refused.
- Make the website compliant. Valid URL, defined subject, publisher name and full Indian postal address, editorial board with institutional details, every article on its own page.
- Publish a complete first issue. Online: at least 5 original articles (10 for an annual journal) before you apply. Print: a mock-up is allowed up to one month ahead.
- Fill in the online form. On the National Science Library portal. Keep the title exactly the same on the form, the website, the cover and inside the articles.
- Post the signed copy with enclosures. Self-attested address proof of the publisher (Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or passport); for print, the issue or its cover, title page, editorial page and 5–6 articles; for online, the URL.
- Answer queries and wait. Processing takes at least 30 working days and longer if anything is missing. The centre may contact board members — make sure they know and reply.
- After assignment. Print each ISSN only on its own format, send the validation copy, and tell the centre about any later change.
Print and online: a print ISSN can be requested up to one month before the first issue with a mock-up, but it is formally registered only when proof of publication arrives. Online journals are never assigned an ISSN ahead of publication.
Today’s ISSN Rules Are Strict — Check Every Point Before You Apply
Many new journals are refused an ISSN today, usually for reasons that could have been fixed before applying. The ISSN National Centre can decline — or later revoke — an ISSN for misleading information, and an incomplete or inaccurate form is “summarily rejected”. These are the published requirements.
Website & publisher
- A valid, working URL for a precise subject or audience
- Publisher name and complete postal address in India displayed
- The same title everywhere — site, cover, articles and form
- Institution journals linked from the institution’s website
- No misleading claims: indexing, address, board, preservation or authorship
Editorial board
- At least five editorial board members
- Name, designation, department and institutional address for each
- Institutional email addresses — not Gmail, Yahoo or similar
- Senior faculty, not students or research fellows
- International journals: some members from reputed institutions abroad
Content & first issue
- Online ISSN only after the first issue is out
- At least 5 articles per issue (10 for annual journals)
- Each article separately hyperlinked — not one full-issue PDF
- Original articles only: plagiarised or reproduced work means refusal
- Proceedings reproduced from elsewhere are not acceptable
The application
- Every field complete and accurate
- Signed print copy posted with all enclosures
- Self-attested address proof of the publisher
- Changes after applying reported to the centre
- After a rejection, a fresh application with all documents
ISSN application rejected? The common reasons, and the fix
| Reason | What it looks like | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete or inaccurate form | Empty fields, missing enclosures, details that do not match the website | Check every field against the website; send all enclosures with the signed copy |
| Title duplication | The title matches or closely resembles an existing serial | Choose a distinctive title after searching both ISSN databases |
| First issue too thin | Fewer than 5 articles, or a “journal” with one or two papers | Publish a complete issue of original articles before applying |
| Editorial board not verifiable | Fewer than five members, personal email IDs, students listed, no affiliations | Five or more senior members with institutional emails and full addresses, who know they are listed |
| Misleading information | Claims of Scopus or other indexing, an unverifiable impact factor, a wrong address | Remove every claim you cannot prove; show only verifiable facts |
| Plagiarised or reproduced articles | Articles copied from other journals or proceedings | Check every article for similarity and replace any that are not original |
| Website not article-level | Only a full-issue PDF, no individual article pages | Give each article its own page and link |
| Details changed after applying | New board, title or publisher details not reported | Inform the centre of every change; otherwise apply again with current details |
After a rejection the centre needs a fresh application with all documents — correct everything first, then apply once.
ISSN Rejected or Not Sure You Are Ready? How JMVRA Helps
JMVRA’s editorial office has run a monthly journal with an ISSN since 2023. The ISSN consultancy prepares your journal and your application against every published rule, so the application you send is complete, accurate and verifiable.
- AuditJournal & refusal reviewed
- FixWebsite, board, issue
- PrepareForm & enclosures
- ApplyFresh application
- ISSN → DOIThen a Crossref prefix
- Pre-application auditYour website, board page, policies and first issue checked against every published ISSN India rule, with a written fix list.
- Rejection analysisWe read the refusal, find the reasons that applied, and plan the changes before you submit a fresh application.
- Compliant journal websiteArticle-level pages, board page with institutional details and publisher address — on JWJMS or your own site.
- Board & policy documentsGuidance on board composition, and policy templates modelled on JMVRA’s published policies.
- First-issue readinessSimilarity check of every article, consistent title and front matter, and issue layout for print or online.
- Application file & next stepsForm-field and enclosure checklist; after assignment, ISSN display, validation copy and help getting a Crossref DOI prefix from a sponsor member through JWDOI.
Only the ISSN National Centre assigns ISSNs, and it does so free of charge. No consultant can guarantee, speed up or influence the decision — be wary of anyone who offers to. What we do is make sure the journal genuinely meets the published requirements before you apply. Contact the editorial office for the scope and cost of support for your journal.
What Is a DOI, and Why Does Every Journal Need One?
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a permanent, unique link to one published item. It keeps working when the website changes, and the metadata deposited with it is what citation tools and discovery services read.
The prefix is issued once to the journal when it joins Crossref, directly or through a sponsor. The suffix is chosen by the journal for each article. JMVRA’s DOIs use the Crossref prefix 10.56975, so a DOI from the journal looks like 10.56975/<suffix>.
Crossref is the DOI registration agency used by most scholarly publishers; DataCite serves mainly datasets and repositories.
How a DOI comes into being
How to Get a Crossref DOI: Direct Membership or a Sponsor
Both routes give the journal its own prefix. The difference is who pays Crossref, who does the technical deposits and who supports you. Members who join through a sponsor “have the same obligations and benefits as any other member” — Crossref on sponsors (opens in a new tab).
| Compare | Direct Crossref member | Sponsored member (JWDOI can help you apply) |
|---|---|---|
| Who you deal with | Crossref directly | Your sponsor, on Crossref’s behalf |
| Annual membership fee | $200–$275 a year for small publishers | Paid to Crossref by the sponsor; the sponsor sets its own service charge |
| DOI registration fee | $1 per current-year article ($0.15 backfile) | Paid to Crossref by the sponsor; you pay the sponsor’s per-DOI price |
| Your own prefix | Yes | Yes — issued to your journal |
| Metadata deposit (XML) | You do it | The sponsor does it or sets it up for you |
| Billing | In USD, to Crossref | Local currency invoice from the sponsor |
| Support | Crossref support | Local technical and language support from the sponsor |
| Obligations | Crossref membership terms | The same obligations and benefits as any member |
| Who it suits | Publishers with technical staff | Small and new journals |
Sponsors can work only with organisations in Crossref’s smallest fee tiers. Crossref also runs the GEM programme, which waives fees for eligible organisations in some countries.
How a Sponsor Helps You Get a DOI
A sponsor is already a Crossref member. It applies on your behalf, pays Crossref, and does the technical work — the journal pays one simple local price instead.
- Applies for your membershipSends your application through the sponsor route and receives your prefix and Crossref account details.
- Pays Crossref for youCovers the annual membership and the registration fees, so you have no USD invoice from Crossref.
- Deposits your metadataRegisters each article’s DOI with complete metadata, or sets up the OJS / platform plugin to do it.
- Bills in your currencyOne local-currency invoice for the prefix setup and DOI plan.
- Fixes and updates recordsCorrects metadata, updates links when articles move and handles reference deposits.
- Trains your teamShows editors how DOIs are assigned at publication so deposits never fall behind.
JWDOI (jwdoi.org) is not a Crossref sponsor member itself. It helps you get your DOI prefix from a Crossref sponsor member: it checks that your journal is ready, prepares the application, sets up metadata deposit and stays with you afterwards. Because it has long experience in journal publishing, it saves you money and time compared with working the process out alone. Plans & support
Getting a Crossref DOI prefix through a sponsor, step by step
- Check you are ready. A working journal website, a valid ISSN (print or online), a published editorial and peer-review policy, and at least one published issue or article.
- Choose a sponsor. Compare the sponsor’s prefix setup, per-DOI price, support and whether it works with your platform.
- Apply through the sponsor. The sponsor gives you its application link and submits your details to Crossref.
- Receive your prefix. Crossref checks the application and issues your prefix to the sponsor, which passes on the account details.
- Register every article. Assign a DOI at publication and deposit the article’s metadata; the DOI then resolves at doi.org.
Ready for a prefix? Tick these first
Sponsors apply only for journals that meet Crossref’s membership terms; the audit in the support section checks each of these.
- A working journal website with article-level pages.
- A valid ISSN — print or online — shown on the site.
- A published peer-review policy and editorial board.
- At least one published issue or article.
- Someone, or a platform plugin, to deposit metadata for every article.
- A licence statement (for example CC BY 4.0) that travels with the metadata.
How JMVRA Helps You Start a Journal and Get Crossref DOIs
JMVRA belongs to a publishing network that runs journals every month. The same network offers the platform, help getting a Crossref DOI from a sponsor member, and the guidance a new journal needs — at a low, published cost.
Journal platform — JWJMS
A hosted journal management system: submissions, peer review, issues and DOI workflow, with nothing to install or maintain.
- Your journal name, domain, ISSN and branding
- Review workflow already set up
- DOI prefix setup fee waived
Crossref DOI — with JWDOI’s help
JWDOI (jwdoi.org) is not a Crossref sponsor member itself — it helps you get your own DOI prefix from a sponsor member, and handles the application, metadata and setup. Its long experience in journal publishing saves you money and time.
- No Crossref annual fee to pay yourself
- Invoice in rupees, prepaid DOI plans
- Setup in 3–5 business days
Launch guidance from JMVRA
Help from the editorial office with the parts that decide whether a journal is credible from issue one.
- Policies modelled on JMVRA’s own
- ISSN consultancy & rejection fixes
- Similarity checking and DOI workflow
Prices plus 18% GST. Example: prefix setup + 70 DOIs = ₹14,490 + GST. Bulk plans on request.
What It Costs to Start and Run a Journal
Recurring costs decide whether a journal reaches its third year. Know them before the first call for papers.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISSN registration | Free in India | Issued by the ISSN National Centre for India (NISCPR). |
| Domain and hosting | Annual | A custom domain with SSL; hosted platforms bundle this. |
| Journal platform | Free to subscription | OJS is free but self-hosted; hosted and commercial systems charge. |
| Crossref DOIs — direct | $200–$275 a year + $1 per DOI | Membership is charged every year, whether or not you publish. |
| Crossref DOIs — sponsor route with JWDOI help | ₹3,990 setup + DOI plan | Setup waived with JWJMS hosting; plans from ₹4,375 for 25 DOIs; + 18% GST. |
| Similarity checking | Per manuscript or licence | Not optional for credibility. |
| Copy-editing and layout | Per article | The cost most new journals underestimate. |
| Preservation | Annual | LOCKSS, CLOCKSS or Portico; asked for by DOAJ and indexers. |
Indexing cannot be bought: DOAJ, Scopus and Web of Science assess a journal only after a record of regular, peer-reviewed issues.
Start Your Journal With the Right Foundations
Tell us about your journal — subject, publisher and stage — and the team will suggest the platform, the policies and the Crossref DOI plan that fit, with prices shown up front.
