ISBN Number South Africa: How to Get Your Free ISBN, Step by Step
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is the unique number that identifies your book in bookstores, libraries and online retailers such as Amazon. In South Africa, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) issues ISBNs, and the application process is now handled online through the NLSA website instead of by email.
ISBN numbers in South Africa: what you need to know
What is an ISBN number?
An ISBN is a 13-digit number, starting with 978 or 979, that belongs to one edition and one format of your book. It is how bookshops, libraries, distributors and online stores such as Amazon find and order your title. It is not the same as copyright: your copyright exists as soon as you write the book, with or without an ISBN.
Is an ISBN free in South Africa?
Yes. In South Africa ISBNs are issued by the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), and they are free for local self-publishers and publishers. In countries such as the US and UK authors have to buy them, so ignore websites offering to sell you a South African ISBN.
Do you need an ISBN?
You need one if you plan to sell the book through bookshops, supply libraries, list a paperback on Amazon or distribute it widely. A small private print run for family, such as a memorial booklet, can go without one.
ISBN for Amazon KDP
Kindle eBooks don't need an ISBN, because Amazon gives them an ASIN. For a KDP paperback you can take Amazon's free ISBN, which lists “Independently published” as the imprint, or use your own free NLSA ISBN so that you are named as the publisher.
Publishing on Amazon? Read our Amazon KDP guide for South African authors.
Ready to apply? Here is how to get an ISBN in South Africa: what the NLSA request form asks for, and what happens after you submit.
Step 1: Gather the Information You Need for Your ISBN Application
Have these details ready before you open the NLSA Self-publisher ISBN Request Form so you can finish it in one go:
Country
Where you're based
ID Number
Your 13-digit South African ID (SA residents only)
Passport Number
Only if you live outside South Africa
Title of the Book
The full, final title of your book
Author Full Name
Exactly as it will appear on the cover
Address
Street, suburb, city and postal code
Author Contact
Your cell number, e.g. 0821234567
Author Email
The NLSA sends your ISBN here, so check it carefully
Format
eBook, softcover or hardcover (one format per application)
Estimated Publication Date
e.g. 2026-08-12
External Platforms
Where your book will be sold, e.g. Amazon, Takealot or your own website
Step 2: Apply for Your ISBN on the NLSA Website
Go to the official NLSA Self-publisher ISBN Request Form, fill in every required field (marked *) and click Submit Request.
One ISBN per format: important for self-publishers
The NLSA issues one ISBN per format per application. If your book will be published as an eBook, a softcover and a hardcover, you need to submit three separate applications, one for each format.
Publishing through a registered company? Use the Commercial Publisher ISBN form on the NLSA website instead.
Step 3: Receive Your ISBN and Add It to Your Book
After you submit your application, the NLSA reviews it and emails your ISBN to the address you gave. Once you have it:
Match each ISBN to the right format. Your eBook, softcover and hardcover each have their own number.
Add your ISBN to the copyright page and to the barcode on the back cover of print editions.
Keep a record of your ISBN(s). Each one is permanently linked to that edition of your book.
Need a barcode for your back cover?
Once you have your ISBN, use our free ISBN Barcode Generator to create a print-ready barcode in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions About ISBNs in South Africa
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