To provide an image forming apparatus, a retrieval support method, a retrieval support program and a retrieval support system, allowing elimination of input of a retrieval key, and allowing cooperation with an external retrieval server.

The image forming apparatus recognizes a mark attached to a scanned document, transmits a character string inside the mark to the retrieval server as the retrieval key, and acquires retrieval result data by the retrieval server. The image forming apparatus applies image processing to the acquired retrieval result data so as to allow printing of the retrieval result data, and prints the retrieval result data.