# International ISBN Agency

The International ISBN Agency is the global registration authority for ISBNs, with a free directory that tells publishers which national agency to buy from.

- Canonical page: https://kdp123.com/t/isbn-international/
- Official site: https://www.isbn-international.org
- Categories: ISBN, Copyright & Trademark
- Price: Free (The directory is free; ISBN prices are set by each national agency.)
- Platforms: web
- Outputs KDP-ready files: Not stated
- Touches your KDP account: Not stated
- Official Amazon product: Yes
- Last checked: 2026-11-09

## Summary

The International ISBN Agency coordinates the ISBN system and its network of about 150 national and regional agencies. For a KDP publisher outside the US and UK, its Find an agency page is the reliable way to locate the official ISBN source for your country, including special cases such as language-based or regional agencies. It does not sell ISBNs to individual publishers in countries that have an agency; you buy from that agency, and prices and rules vary by country.

## Pros

- Official list of national agencies, so you avoid unofficial resellers
- Explains regional and language-group exceptions per country

## Cons

- A directory only; buying happens on each national agency's site

## Alternatives

- [Bowker MyIdentifiers](https://kdp123.com/t/bowker-myidentifiers/)
- [Nielsen ISBN Store (UK & Ireland)](https://kdp123.com/t/nielsen-isbn-uk/)

## Sources

- https://www.isbn-international.org/agencies
- https://www.isbn-international.org