The idea to establish EASTICA was first initiated during the 21th International Congress on Archives in Montreal in 1992 by China, Japan, Macao and the Republic of Korea, with a view to creating a regional professional organization in East Asia to carry out the general objectives of the International Council on Archives(ICA).

The proposal was supported by Mongolia, Hong Kong, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. EASTICA was formally founded as the 10th Regional Branch of ICA on 7 July 1993 at the International Inaugural Conference in Beijing, hence a complete network of ICA Regional Branches was established throughout the world.