Short answer: Rapid publication journals cut the time from submission to publication from months to weeks by running review on a schedule, keeping a ready pool of reviewers and publishing online as soon as a paper is accepted. A genuine fast journal still peer reviews every paper and can still reject it. If a journal promises acceptance, it is not fast, it is predatory.
Most researchers who search for "fast publication" or "accelerated publication" have a deadline: a thesis submission, a promotion review, a grant report or a residency application. This guide explains where publication time actually goes, how fast-track journals shorten it, and how to make sure a quick journal is a legitimate one.
Why traditional journals take so long
At many established journals, three to twelve months from submission to publication is normal. The time is rarely spent on the review itself. It goes on waiting:
- Editorial triage. The paper sits in a queue before an editor reads it.
- Finding reviewers. Editors may invite many people before two agree, and each invitation can wait days for a reply.
- Review deadlines. Reviewers are volunteers, often given several weeks, and extensions are common.
- Revisions. One or two rounds of changes, each followed by another review.
- Issue scheduling. Some journals wait for a print issue slot after acceptance.
How fast-track publication works
Fast track publication journals do not remove steps. They remove the waiting between them.
- Technical screening on arrival. Formatting, similarity and ethics checks happen in the first day or two, so problems are caught before review rather than after.
- A committed reviewer pool. Reviewers agree in advance to short turnaround times, so the journal is not starting a new search for every paper.
- Fixed review windows. Reviews are due in days rather than weeks, and editors follow up actively.
- Fast revision handling. Authors get clear, consolidated feedback, and revised papers go back to the same reviewers.
- Continuous publication. Accepted papers are typeset, given a Crossref DOI and published online straight away, without waiting for an issue.
Realistic timelines
| Stage | Traditional journal | Rapid publication journal |
|---|---|---|
| Initial screening | 1–4 weeks | 1–2 days |
| Peer review | 1–4 months | 3–7 days |
| Revisions and re-review | 1–3 months | 3–7 days |
| Production and online publication | 2–8 weeks | 2–5 days |
| Total | 3–12 months | 2–4 weeks |
These are typical ranges, not guarantees. A paper that needs major revisions will take longer anywhere. Indexing in databases such as Embase follows publication and runs on the database's own schedule.
Rapid journal or predatory journal? A checklist
Predatory journals also advertise speed, because speed is what stressed authors want. The difference is what happens to quality along the way. Before you submit, check:
- Is there real peer review? The journal should describe its review process and you should receive reviewer comments. A paper "accepted" within 24 hours with no comments was not reviewed.
- Can the journal reject papers? Any promise of guaranteed acceptance is a warning sign.
- Is the indexing verifiable? Check the ISSN against the official lists. Our guide on how to check Embase indexed journals takes ten minutes.
- Are fees published up front? You should know the cost before you submit, not after acceptance.
- Do DOIs resolve? Pick a past article and open its DOI at doi.org. It should land on that article.
- Is the editorial board real? Named editors with affiliations you can look up.
- How did you hear about it? Unsolicited emails praising your "esteemed work" are a common predatory tactic.
The free Think. Check. Submit. checklist is a good second opinion. For open access journals, listing in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is another useful signal.
Open access journals with fast publication
Many rapid publication journals are open access, which suits fast timelines: once a paper is accepted it is published online, free to read, with no subscription barrier slowing its discovery. Open access journals usually charge an article processing charge (APC) instead of charging readers. That is a normal model, provided the fee is transparent and the review is real.
How to speed up your own publication
Whatever journal you choose, the author side matters too:
- Follow the journal's formatting and reference style exactly. Our journal submission formatting service can do this for you.
- Include ethics approval, consent statements and conflict-of-interest declarations with the first submission.
- Run a similarity check before submitting so there are no surprises.
- Reply to reviewer comments point by point, and return revisions within a few days.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a paper be published in a medical journal?
At a traditional journal, submission to publication commonly takes three to twelve months. Fast track publication journals with dedicated reviewer pools and continuous online publication can complete review and publication in two to four weeks for a well-prepared manuscript.
Is rapid publication the same as predatory publishing?
No. Rapid publication means an efficient editorial process, not a missing one. A legitimate fast journal still sends every paper to peer review, can reject papers, and is transparent about fees and indexing. Predatory journals skip review and accept almost everything.
Does fast-track publication cost more?
Often, yes. Priority handling takes more editorial resources, so many journals and services charge a higher fee for faster timelines. The fee should be published in advance and should never be a condition of acceptance.
What slows down publication the most?
Finding reviewers and waiting for revisions. Authors can help most by submitting a manuscript that already follows the journal's formatting rules, includes ethics approval and has clean references, and by returning revisions quickly.
Working to a deadline? See how our fast-track peer review gets an editorial decision in 3–7 days, or browse our Embase-indexed journals.