An ORCID iD is a 16-digit identifier that stays with a researcher for life (e.g. 0000-0002-1825-0097). The problem it solves is real and mundane: thousands of researchers share the same name, names change with marriage and transliteration, and "A. Yilmaz" could be anyone. ORCID ties your publications to a number, not a name — no namesake mix-ups, and your record moves with you when you change institutions.

Short answers: It's free. It takes ~5 minutes. You may only register for yourself (the terms forbid registering on someone else's behalf). Many journals now require an iD at submission.

Go to orcid.org/register

Registration is a short wizard — you'll see "Create your ORCID iD" and a "Step 1 of 5" progress label. Step one is names and email:

ORCID registration page, step 1: Given names, Family names and Primary email fields — Step 1 — names and email. "Family names" looks optional, but fill it in: publication matching runs on surnames. (orcid.org, August 2026)

Add your email addresses

Use an address you'll control long-term as the primary (personal Gmail-type), and add your institutional address as "Additional email". Reason: when you move institutions your university address dies — but it's your primary email that unlocks the account. With both on file, either one can fail safely.

Email section of the ORCID registration form: Primary email, Confirm primary email, Additional email and the Next Step button — Email fields and "Next Step". A nice detail in the footer: ORCID publishes its site text under CC0. (orcid.org, August 2026)

Set a password and choose visibility

Option	Who can see	Right for
Everyone (recommended)	Anyone — your record appears on your public page	Most researchers: visibility is the whole point of ORCID
Trusted parties	Only systems you authorize (journals, funders)	People who need journal integration but not a public profile
Only me	Just you	Rarely sensible — an invisible iD can't be linked to you by anyone

ORCID visibility setting: Everyone (87% of users), Trusted Organizations (5%) and Only me (8%) options — The visibility step — with ORCID's own numbers: 87% of users choose "Everyone". (orcid.org, August 2026)

Verify your email

Click the verification link ORCID sends. Some journal systems refuse unverified accounts — don't skip this 30-second step.

Fill your record: employment and works

Employment: add your current institution — journals and matching systems read affiliation from here.
Works: add publications via "Add works → Search & link" (Crossref/DataCite) or directly by DOI, not by typing them in — that way they enter your record as publisher-linked evidence rather than self-reported text.

The Add menu open in the Works section of an ORCID record: Import works from other services, Import from BibTeX, Add work with a DOI, Add work with a PubMed ID, Add work manually — Works → Add menu. The subtle lesson in this frame: the upper work's source is "**Crossref**" (publisher-linked evidence) while the lower one's source is the user (self-reported) — exactly the difference DOI / Search & link makes. (orcid.org, August 2026)

ORCID's 'Add work from DOI' dialog with a DOI URL entered and the Retrieve work details from DOI button — Adding by DOI: paste the address → "Retrieve work details from DOI" → the metadata fills itself. (orcid.org, August 2026)

FAQ

Does it cost anything? Does it expire?

Individual registration is free and permanent. (The paid tier is the member API used by institutions and publishers — not something an individual needs.)

I accidentally created two iDs — what now?

It happens often (an old forgotten registration). Use ORCID support's duplicate-removal flow: your works are consolidated under the primary iD and the other redirects to it.

Does ORCID find my papers automatically?

Not by itself — but you can enable auto-update from sources like Crossref. If you give journals your iD at submission, new papers land on your record automatically when published.

Sources and standards

ORCID — registration page and help centre (orcid.org, support.orcid.org)
ORCID visibility-settings documentation
Crossref / DataCite "Search & link" integrations
ORCID terms of use — self-registration only; site text is CC0, ORCID and the iD logo are trademarks of ORCID Inc. (screenshots used for instructional purposes)

Got your iD — now what is it good for?

KONSİL membership is built on your ORCID iD: your publications are found in publisher records (Crossref · PubMed) by iD, your profile is built from that evidence, and team suggestions for your research idea run on top of it.

See the sample report → Apply for the closed beta →

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