How to verify a journal ISSN

Journal identity verification

How to verify a journal ISSN

An ISSN is one of the quickest ways to confirm which serial publication you are actually looking at. But an eight-digit number printed on a journal website is not proof by itself: the useful check is whether that ISSN matches the same title, medium, publisher history and official record.

Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Evidence reviewed: · Current verification cycle: 2026

Quick answer: check the ISSN against the official record

Start with the ISSN Portal, maintained by the ISSN International Centre. Search the exact ISSN shown on the journal website, then compare the title and any available publication details with the journal you intend to use.

If the number belongs to a different title, a different medium, or an older publication that has changed identity, stop and investigate before submitting a manuscript or paying a fee. A copied ISSN can make an unrelated website look legitimate at first glance.

What an ISSN can — and cannot — tell you

The International Standard Serial Number identifies a continuing resource such as a journal, magazine or series. It is an identity tool, not a quality score. A valid ISSN does not mean a journal is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science or MEDLINE, and it does not certify peer-review quality.

That distinction matters. Researchers often search an ISSN because a journal claims indexing or because two websites use the same title. Use the ISSN to establish identity first; verify indexing separately in the database that matters to you.

How to check a journal ISSN step by step

  1. Copy the ISSN exactly as shown. Journals often display both a print ISSN and an electronic ISSN.
  2. Search the ISSN Portal. Prefer the number over a title-only search when the journal name is common or has changed.
  3. Compare the key title. Small punctuation differences are normal; a substantially different journal title is not.
  4. Check the medium. A print edition and an online edition can have separate ISSNs.
  5. Look for title relationships or history. Renames, predecessor titles and successor titles can explain why an older article shows a different name.
  6. Compare the official website and publisher independently. Never rely on the journal website to validate its own identity.

Print ISSN, online ISSN and ISSN-L

A journal may legitimately have more than one identifier. The print version can have a p-ISSN, while the online version has an e-ISSN. The ISSN-L is a linking ISSN used to group media versions of the same continuing resource.

This is why a mismatch is not automatically evidence of wrongdoing. The question is whether the numbers and title relationships make sense together. A journal that moved from print to online may have a perfectly valid identifier history.

Red flags when an ISSN does not line up

  • The ISSN resolves to a completely different journal title.
  • The website claims an ISSN that belongs to a discontinued or unrelated publication.
  • Two unrelated websites claim to be the official home of the same journal and use the same ISSN.
  • The journal gives only screenshots or badges instead of a verifiable official record.
  • The title, publisher, country or website history conflicts across independent sources.

None of these signs should be used alone to label a journal. Treat them as reasons to widen the identity check.

Use ISSN verification when a journal has changed name or publisher

Journal transfers and title changes are common in legitimate publishing. When ownership changes, look for continuity across the ISSN record, the previous publisher, the new publisher and trusted indexing databases. The journal ownership-change guide explains how to do this without assuming that every website change is suspicious.

ISSN verification is only the first layer

Once the identity is clear, move to the claim you actually need to verify. If your university requires Scopus coverage, check the Scopus source record. If you need MEDLINE status, use the NLM Catalog. If the journal advertises an Impact Factor, verify it with Clarivate rather than inferring quality from the ISSN.

Check a journal with the BeallsLists Journal Checker if you want to review identity, indexing and transparency signals together.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a journal ISSN is real?

Search the exact number in the official ISSN Portal and confirm that the returned title and publication identity match the journal you are checking.

Does a valid ISSN mean a journal is legitimate?

No. An ISSN identifies a serial publication; it is not a certification of peer review, indexing, editorial quality or research integrity.

Why does a journal have two ISSNs?

Print and online editions can have separate ISSNs. An ISSN-L may also link different media versions of the same continuing resource.

Can a fake website copy a real journal ISSN?

Yes. A copied identifier can be displayed on an impersonating site, which is why the ISSN should be checked together with the official publisher, domain and database records.

Independent sources used in this guide

  • ISSN Portal — official international registry for serial identifiers and title relationships
  • Think. Check. Submit. — journal and publisher due-diligence guidance

Journal records, publisher practices and web infrastructure can change. Verify time-sensitive claims at the original source before making a submission, funding, hiring, promotion or legal decision.