Article Processing Charges

Transparent fee structure for sustainable open access publishing

SOLAV Journal is committed to open access publishing with transparent Article Processing Charges (APC) that support sustainable operations. Our fees cover essential publishing services while maintaining accessibility through comprehensive waiver programs.

APC Structure & Details

Standard APC

$550

Flat fee per accepted article, regardless of length or format.

Payment Timing

Due after acceptance and before final publication. No submission fees.

Payment Method

Currently accepting PayPal only. Invoice available upon request for institutional payments.

What APC Covers

SOLAV Journal maintains complete transparency about APC allocation. Our fee structure supports sustainable operations while leveraging free infrastructure where available:

Editorial & Operational Costs
  • Editorial management and peer review coordination (handling editor time, reviewer communications)
  • Editorial decision processing and author correspondence
  • Professional copyediting and formatting
  • Communication infrastructure (email systems, domain management)
  • Domain registration and maintenance
  • Payment processing fees
  • Operational sustainability reserve (future service enhancements)
  • Emergency contingencies (unexpected technical or administrative costs)

Waiver & Discount Policy

We believe financial constraints should not hinder quality research dissemination. SOLAV offers comprehensive waiver options:

100% APC waiver for corresponding authors from:

  • Low-income economies (World Bank classification). See current list
  • Lower-middle-income economies with HDI below 0.65
  • Countries with active pe-auto armed conflicts or humanitarian crises

Eligible authors receive priority consideration. Final approval subject to verification and editorial discretion.

Partial or full waiver considered on case-by-case basis for:

  • Independent researchers without institutional funding (must provide statement of no funding)
  • Graduate students "Master's or PhD candidates", (student ID or enrollment verification required)
  • Early-career researchers within 5 years of terminal degree (CV or graduation certificate required)
  • Authors experiencing unexpected financial hardship
  • Non-profit organizations and community-based research groups

Requires brief statement of need with submission.

Bulk publication discounts available for:

  • Universities publishing 5+ articles annually: 15% discount
  • Research institutes with 10+ articles annually: 25% discount
  • Consortia agreements for multiple institutions

Contact [email protected] for partnership inquiries.

Waiver Documentation Requirements

All waiver requests require supporting documentation for verification:

Waiver Type Required Documentation
Low-Income Country Institutional email or country of residence proof
Independent Researcher Signed statement of no institutional funding
Graduate Student Student ID or enrollment verification letter
Early-Career Researcher CV showing graduation date (within 5 years)
Financial Hardship Brief statement explaining circumstances
Institutional Discount Partnership agreement or volume commitment letter
Waiver Decision Appeals

If your waiver request is denied, you may appeal within 14 business days:

  1. Email [email protected] with "APC WAIVER APPEAL" in subject line
  2. Include manuscript ID and additional supporting documentation
  3. Appeals reviewed by senior editorial team (not original decision-maker)
  4. Final decision communicated within 7 business days

Payment Process

Standard Payment Flow
  1. Manuscript submitted and undergoes peer review
  2. Upon acceptance, APC invoice generated
  3. Corresponding author receives payment link via PayPal
  4. Payment completed within 14 business days of acceptance
  5. Upon payment confirmation, article moves to production
  6. Final version published online
Important Notes
  • No refunds after payment processing begins
  • Articles remain unpublished until APC is settled
  • Extensions available upon request (max 14 business days)
  • Institutional payments may require purchase order
  • Currency: USD only (PayPal handles conversion)

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The published APC of $550 is the total cost. There are no submission fees, page charges, color figure fees, or additional publication fees. PayPal may apply standard transaction fees which are visible before payment confirmation.

Currently, PayPal is our only payment gateway. For institutional payments requiring bank transfer or invoice, please contact [email protected] at least 10 business days before payment deadline to arrange alternative payment methods.

Absolutely not. Payment is only requested after editorial acceptance. The peer review process is independent of payment considerations. Waiver applications also do not influence editorial decisions.

Yes. Many institutions and funding bodies cover APCs for open access publication. We provide invoices suitable for institutional reimbursement. Include institutional billing details during the payment process.

Accepted manuscripts remain unpublished until APC settlement. After 30 business days without payment or communication, the acceptance may be withdrawn. Contact us if you need a payment extension.

Related Information

For complete publishing details, please consult our related policy pages:

APC Questions or Concerns?

Contact our APC management team for fee-related inquiries, waiver applications, or payment assistance.

[email protected] Submit Manuscript