Authors who face a financial barrier may request consideration of an APC waiver or discount. Requests are assessed separately from scholarly review and require written approval.

Requesting financial consideration

Send a request to the Editorial Office, preferably at submission or before acceptance. Identify the manuscript, corresponding author, institutional affiliation and the financial constraint. State whether funding, institutional support or another source can cover any part of the standard USD 400 APC.

Provide a concise explanation sufficient to assess the request. Do not send bank credentials, identity documents or unrelated sensitive personal information. The office may ask for proportionate clarification where necessary.

Assessment and confirmation

Consideration may take account of available research funding, institutional support, demonstrable financial hardship and the resources available for publication support. No automatic country-based entitlement, fixed discount percentage or externally funded waiver programme is promised on this page.

A request is not approval. The Editorial Office must confirm the decision and the amount payable in writing before the author relies on a reduction. If circumstances change, inform the office before payment. A special-issue invitation or a guest editor’s informal statement does not establish a waiver.

Separation from editorial review

Financial circumstances and requests for support must not affect the manuscript’s scholarly assessment. A waiver does not guarantee acceptance or reduce requirements for evidence, ethical research or revision. Reviewers should not be asked to assess an author’s capacity to pay.

Authors should raise any apparent linkage between payment and acceptance under the Complaints & Appeals policy. The APCs page explains the normal charge and payment stage.

Updated 5 October 2026 · Questions: JPOII Editorial Office