How to find an ISBN Agency in your Countries

ISBNs are assigned by a book publisher to a particular book format when a book is published. This standardization allows publishers and booksellers to identify books quickly, facilitating the trade of books between libraries, retailers, and distributors. When we discuss ISBNs, it’s important to note that ISBNs are issued locally but recognized globally. Also, please note there is a big difference between issuing ISBN and assigning ISBN.

ISBNs are issued by an ISBN agency to book publishers or authors in case of self-publishing. After that, book publishers assign the ISBN to a book title.

Each country has one official ISBN agency that is responsible for issuing ISBNs to book publishers in their country. That means you can’t obtain an ISBN from another country’s ISBN agency unless you have a registered company in that country. That’s why it’s important to find the official ISBN agency in your country that can assign an ISBN for your book.

We’ve created an ISBN agency lookup directory to make finding ISBN agencies worldwide easy and convenient. You can access ownership information, costs for a single ISBN, ISBN prefix groups, agency websites, and contact details. Simply browse or search by country name to find the ISBN agency you need. Visit: ISBN Agency Lookup

There are two ways of obtaining an ISBN as a self-publisher or independent author: You can obtain them from the ISBN agency in your country, and you can get an ISBN from your book publisher or publishing platform.

In some countries, ISBNs are provided by the government for free to their citizens only. But you will have to jump through many hoops to get ISBNs.

On the other hand, most countries have privatized their ISBN agency. That means you will have to pay for ISBNs. In my experience, a privatized ISBN agency is a better option because book publishers save tons of time, obtain ISBNs in bulk, processes are smoother, and much more.

Moreover, you need to keep in mind ISBNs are international. An ISBN purchased from the US ISBN agency is as equal as a free ISBN from a government-based ISBN agency.

What is an ISBN Agency?

An ISBN Agency is an organization that ensures all the books published in a particular country are assigned a unique International Standard Book Number or ISBN. It is an identification number that publishers assign to every book they publish.

ISBN agencies maintain records of all available numbers and will issue them only to publishers that have met their criteria for publishing standards. They provide services like registration and distribution of ISBNs in a given country.

How to find an ISBN Agency in your Country

Finding an official ISBN agency in any country is easy—just do a Google search for “ISBN agency + country name”. Or, there is another way in which you will get all the info you need regarding your country’s official ISBN agency, including their office address and phone number.

isbn-international.org is an International ISBN agency website. You can learn a lot about ISBN from their official website. On their website you will find an option which can help you find info about the ISBN agency in your country. Here is a direct link to find an ISBN Agency: https://www.isbn-international.org/agencies

If you need help finding an ISBN Agency

ISBN Agency in Your Country

Here is a list of 20 ISBN agencies country-wise. If you don’t see your country in this list, then don’t worry—you can find an ISBN agency in your country through the ISBN International Organization website.

United States

Organization: R.R. Bowker, LLC - US ISBN Agency
Address: 26 Main Street, Suite 102, Chatham, NJ 07928
Phone 1: (+1) 877-310-7333
Phone 2: (+1) 888-269-5372
Fax 1: (+1) 908-623-8508
Email: isbn-san@bowker.com
Web: https://www.isbn.org
ISBN Prefix: 978-0 | 978-1 | 979-8

United Kingdom

Organization: Nielsen Book - ISBN Agency
Address: Midas House, 3rd Floor, 62 Goldsworth Road - Woking, Surrey GU21 6LQ
Phone 1: +44 (0) 1483 712 215
Fax 1: +44 (0) 1483 712 214
Email: isbn.agency@nielseniq.com
Web: https://nielsenbook.co.uk/isbn-agency/
ISBN Prefix: 978-0 | 978-1

Canada

Organization: ISBN Canada, Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Address: 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4
Phone 1: (+1 819) 994-6872
Phone 2: (+1 866) 578-7777 (toll free)
Fax 1: (+1 819) 997-7019
Email: isbn@bac-lac.gc.ca
Web: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx
ISBN Prefix: 978-0 | 978-1

Germany

Organization: ISBN-Agentur für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Address: MVB GmbH, Braubachstraße 16 D-60311 Frankfurt am Main
Phone 1: +49 69 1306 387
Fax 1: +49 69 1306 255
Email: isbn@mvb-online.de
Web: https://www.german-isbn.de
ISBN Prefix: 978-3

Spain

Organization: Agencia del ISBN
Address: Cea Bermúdez, 44, 2 derecha 28003 Madrid
Phone 1: +34 902 105 389
Email: agencia@agenciaisbn.es
Web: https://agenciaisbn.es
ISBN Prefix: 978-84

Australia

Organization: ISBN Agency - Thorpe Bowker
Address: Level One, 607 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Victoria, 3004
Phone 1: (+61 3) 8517 8349
Fax 1: (+61 3) 8517 8399
Email: isbn@thorpe.com.au
Web: https://www.myidentifiers.com.au
ISBN Prefix: 978-0 | 978-1

Singapore

Organization: ISBN Agency
Address: National Library Board, Library Supply Centre, 3 Changi South St 2 #03-00, Xilin Districentre Building B 486548
Email: enquiry@nlb.gov.sg
Web: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/deposit/home/index
ISBN Prefix: 978-981 | 978-9971

United Arab Emirates

Organization: Ministry of Culture & Youth - ISBN Agency
Address: P.O. Box 17 Abu Dhabi
Phone 1: (+971) 501199984
Phone 2: (+971) 800552255
Email: info@mcy.gov.ae
Web: https://www.mckd.gov.ae/en/services/issuing-international-standard-book-number-isbn/
ISBN Prefix: 978-9948

Mexico

Organization: Agencia ISBN México
Address: INDAUTOR (Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor), Puebla No. 143, piso 2, Col. Roma Norte, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06700, Ciudad de México
Phone 1: (+52) 55 3601 8206
Phone 2: (+52) 55 3601 8221
Fax 1: (+52) 55 3601 8206
Email: isbnmexico@cultura.gob.mx
Web: https://www.indautor.gob.mx/isbn/index.html

If your country is not listed here, then visit the ISBN Agency Lookup directory, which contains ISBN agency information from around the world, including key information.