If you've submitted to a journal recently and been asked for your "ORCID iD" alongside your name and affiliation, here's what that field is actually for — and why it's becoming close to mandatory across academic publishing.
What Is an ORCID iD?
An ORCID iD (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a free, unique 16-digit identifier that permanently connects your name to your research output — papers, datasets, grants, peer reviews — throughout your entire career, regardless of name changes or moving between institutions.
Why Your Name Alone Isn't a Reliable Identifier
Names are surprisingly unreliable as unique identifiers in academic publishing: multiple researchers can share the same name, an author's name can change over time, and the same name can be written or transliterated differently across different publications and databases. An ORCID iD removes that ambiguity entirely, attributing every piece of your work to one unambiguous identity.
Who Actually Requires It
- Funders — many major grant funders now require ORCID iDs on applications
- Publishers and conferences — an increasing number require or strongly encourage an ORCID iD to submit or register a publication
- Your own future self — one identifier you keep for your entire career, saving repeated form-filling and correctly linking your output across every institution you ever work at
ORCID vs DOI: Person vs Publication
How to Set One Up
- Register for free at orcid.org with your name and email
- Add your existing publications manually, or connect it to Crossref so new DOI-registered papers link automatically
- Include your ORCID iD on every future manuscript submission, alongside your name and affiliation
- Keep it as your one permanent researcher identity, regardless of future institutional changes
Quick Checklist
- One iD onlyDo not create duplicates
- Public worksSet visibility so others can see them
- Add by DOICleaner metadata than typing
- Use it everywhereSubmissions, CV, grant forms
Building a Useful ORCID Record
An ORCID iD is only as useful as the record behind it. A complete record lets journals, funders and employers verify your work without re-typing it:
- Add your name variants — include initials, transliterations and former names under “Also known as”
- Connect your affiliations — current and past institutions, with dates
- Import your works automatically — connect Crossref and other search-and-link services so DOIs flow into your record
- Set visibility deliberately — public items help others verify you; you control each item’s visibility
- Use the iD everywhere — in manuscripts, grant applications, conference registrations and email signatures
Common ORCID Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Creating a second ORCID iD | Keep one; ORCID can help you deprecate a duplicate |
| An empty record | Add affiliations and works so the iD actually identifies you |
| Typing works manually with errors | Import by DOI through Crossref search-and-link |
| Using a personal email only | Add an institutional and a personal email so you never lose access |
| Not giving the iD to the journal | Include it at submission so it is linked to your article metadata |
Read more in what to do after publication and DOI explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
From Submission to Publication at IJCRT
- SubmitPaper ID issued
- ScreenScope & similarity
- ReviewDouble-blind
- DecideEmail & SMS
- RevisePoint by point
- AcceptCopyright & fee
- ProduceDOI on request
- PublishMonthly issue
Review time depends on reviewers and on the revision needed, so no fixed turnaround is promised; acceptance or rejection is notified by email and SMS.
Publish Your Research Paper in IJCRT
UGC and UGC-CARE approval, along with alignment with the latest UGC-CARE recommendations and guidelines. IJCRT is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.
IJCRT is a Transparent, Peer-Reviewed, Open Access Journal (Refereed Journal). Following the discontinuation of UGC and UGC-CARE journal listing alignment with the latest UGC-CARE recommendations and guidelines, IJCRT is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.
Useful pages on ijcrt.org
Keywords
Topics and search terms covered by this guide.
Related Guides
More from the same area of the IJCRT journal blog.
Free DOI Using Zenodo: What Researchers Need to Know
Read the guide RelatedHow to Make a Research Paper Easier to Find Online: DOI, Metadata, Google Scholar and OpenAlex
Read the guide RelatedHow to Check Whether a Journal DOI Works: DOI Resolution and Metadata Checklist
Read the guide RelatedCrossref DOI for Your Published Paper — What It Does & How to Get One
Read the guide RelatedHow to Get a Crossref DOI for a Journal: Registration, Metadata & Linking
Read the guide RelatedAcademic Book Publication Guide: ISBN, DOI for Chapters & Publishing Process
Read the guide From the blogGoogle Scholar for Researchers: Profiles, Citations and Choosing a Visible Journal
Read the article From the blogWhy a DOI Matters for Student Research Papers
Read the article From the blogFirst Paper as a Student: Choosing a Google Scholar Indexed Journal
Read the articleMore From the IJCRT Blog
This guide is part of the IJCRT journal blog — practical guidance on publishing, indexing, metrics and research integrity, written to be verifiable rather than promotional.