DOAJ Indexing: Requirements and What to Prepare Before Applying

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) has become one of the most important quality markers for open access publications. Inclusion signals to authors, funders, and institutions that a journal meets recognized standards for open access publishing. But the application process is rigorous, and many journals get rejected—often for avoidable reasons.

This guide covers what DOAJ actually requires and how to prepare your journal before submitting an application.

What DOAJ Indexing Means for Your Journal #

Being listed in DOAJ provides several concrete benefits:

Visibility in discovery services — DOAJ metadata feeds into Google Scholar, OpenAlex, Scopus, Web of Science discovery tools, library systems, and numerous other platforms. Your articles become findable through channels that might otherwise miss them.

Funder compliance — Many research funders require publication in DOAJ-indexed journals as a condition of their open access mandates. Without DOAJ listing, your journal may not qualify for certain funded research.

Credibility signal — DOAJ's review process filters out predatory and low-quality journals. Inclusion indicates your journal passed scrutiny from trained reviewers examining your policies and practices.

Pathway to other indexing — Several major indexes and databases consider DOAJ status as part of their evaluation. Being listed can strengthen applications to Scopus and other selective services.

Basic Eligibility Requirements #

Before diving into the detailed criteria, your journal must meet these fundamental conditions:

True open access — All content must be freely accessible immediately upon publication. No embargoes, no subscription walls, no registration requirements for reading. DOAJ's definition of open access means readers can access full text without any barriers.

Active publication — Your journal must be actively publishing scholarly content. A minimum of five research articles per year is the general threshold. Journals that publish sporadically or have gone dormant won't qualify.

Valid ISSN — You need an ISSN registered with the ISSN International Centre. The journal title in your application must match exactly what appears in the ISSN Portal.

Peer review — The journal must use some form of quality control before publication. This includes editorial review, single-blind, double-blind, or open peer review. The process must be clearly described on your website.

Website Information Requirements #

DOAJ reviewers will examine your journal website carefully. The following information must be publicly visible and easy to find:

Editorial Information #

Editorial board — Names and affiliations of at least five editorial board members must be listed. These should be real people with verifiable academic credentials. DOAJ may contact board members to verify their involvement.

Editor identification — The editor-in-chief or managing editor should be clearly identified with their institutional affiliation.

Publishing Policies #

Open access statement — A clear statement explaining that the journal is open access and defining what that means for readers. This cannot be buried in lengthy terms—it should be prominent and unambiguous.

Licensing information — Specify which Creative Commons license (or equivalent) applies to published content. CC BY is most common, but CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, and others are accepted. The license must be clearly stated and consistently applied.

Copyright policy — Explain who holds copyright after publication. DOAJ favors policies where authors retain copyright, though this isn't strictly required. Whatever your policy, it must be clearly stated and cannot contradict your licensing terms.

Peer review process — Describe what type of peer review you use and how it works. How many reviewers? Anonymous or open? What criteria do reviewers evaluate? This should be detailed enough that potential authors understand what to expect.

Author Information #

Submission guidelines — Clear instructions for authors on how to submit, what formats are accepted, and what the journal expects regarding manuscript preparation.

Fee information — If you charge article processing charges (APCs), the amount must be clearly stated in a prominent location. If you don't charge fees, state that explicitly. DOAJ requires transparency about all costs authors might face.

Waiver policy — If you charge APCs, describe any fee waiver or discount policies for authors from low-income countries or with financial hardship.

Publisher Information #

Publisher name and contact — Identify who publishes the journal with a physical address and contact email. Anonymous or vague publisher information will cause rejection.

Country of publication — The country listed must match where the publisher actually operates, not just where servers are located.

Content and Practice Standards #

Beyond website information, DOAJ evaluates your actual publishing practices:

Endogeny limits — No more than 25% of published articles in recent issues should have authors who are also editors, editorial board members, or reviewers for the journal. This prevents journals that primarily publish work from their own editorial circle.

Article metadata — Published articles should include complete bibliographic information: author names and affiliations, abstract, keywords, and publication dates. Articles should be individually identifiable and citable.

Archiving and preservation — While not strictly required for initial indexing, DOAJ asks about digital preservation arrangements. Using services like LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, Portico, or PKP PN demonstrates commitment to long-term access.

Common Rejection Reasons #

DOAJ publishes rejection statistics, and certain issues appear repeatedly:

Incomplete or missing information — The most common cause of rejection. Required policies aren't on the website, or information in the application doesn't match what reviewers find online.

Quality concerns — Reviewers identified issues with editorial standards, peer review rigor, or the credentials of the editorial team.

Transparency failures — Fees not clearly disclosed, licensing terms unclear or contradictory, or publisher identity obscured.

Association with problematic practices — Connection to known predatory publishers, presence on warning lists, or patterns suggesting problematic operations.

Endogeny violations — Too many articles published by editors or board members, suggesting inadequate external peer review.

Before You Apply: A Preparation Checklist #

Work through this list before submitting your application:

Website audit — Can a stranger visiting your site find all required information within a few clicks? Test this with someone unfamiliar with your journal.

ISSN verification — Check that your journal title at portal.issn.org matches exactly what appears on your website and what you'll enter in the application.

Policy review — Read through your open access statement, licensing terms, and copyright policy. Are they clear? Do they contradict each other? Would an author understand exactly what rights they retain?

Peer review documentation — Is your peer review process described in enough detail? Could a reviewer understand how your journal evaluates submissions?

Fee transparency — Whether you charge APCs or not, is this information impossible to miss? DOAJ specifically checks that fee information is prominent, not hidden in footnotes.

Editorial board check — Are all board members listed with real affiliations? Could someone verify their credentials? Have you confirmed they agreed to be listed?

Content review — Check your last two issues for endogeny. Calculate what percentage of authors are also editors or board members.

Broken links — Test all links on your website, particularly those in policies and author guidelines.

The Application Process #

Once you've prepared thoroughly:

Create an account at doaj.org and start your application. You'll provide basic journal information, then answer detailed questions about policies and practices.

Be accurate — Answer questions based on what's actually true and documented on your website, not aspirational practices. Reviewers will check.

Include direct URLs — When asked for links to policies, provide direct URLs to the specific pages, not just your homepage.

Allow processing time — Review can take several months depending on DOAJ's workload. You'll receive updates if reviewers have questions.

Respond promptly — If DOAJ contacts you with questions, respond within the timeframe specified. Unanswered queries lead to rejection.

If Your Application Is Rejected #

Rejection isn't permanent. DOAJ provides feedback explaining why the application wasn't successful. Address the identified issues, wait the required period (usually six months), and reapply with a stronger application.

Many respected journals were rejected on their first attempt and succeeded after making improvements. The key is treating rejection as diagnostic information, not a final verdict.

Moving Forward #

DOAJ indexing represents a meaningful milestone for open access journals, but it's not a rubber stamp. The application process forces journals to examine and improve their practices—which benefits the publication regardless of the outcome.

Take time to prepare properly. Rushing an application with incomplete information wastes everyone's time and delays your eventual inclusion. A well-prepared application has a much higher success rate than one submitted prematurely.