-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IwWyf3Pdu4i1JwEukdWHUcGJ0gB+4oL2OihDU07lfNqi5UUaVXLPnpH7u3qAhM95
 9hVGMV5kLOdlgz9/lnCfYA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001357176-06-000001.txt : 20060523
<SEC-HEADER>0001357176-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060523132619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001357176-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Post Gary M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001357176

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08092
		FILM NUMBER:		06860900

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(310) 432-1671

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMBIENT ADVISORS LLC
		STREET 2:		100 NORTH CRESCENT DR., SUITE 305
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OXIS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000109657
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				941620407
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6040 N CUTTER CIRCLE STE 317
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97217
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032833911

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6040 N CUTTER CIRCLE STE 317
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97217

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DDI PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DIAGNOSTIC DATA INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850312
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000109657</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OXIS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>oxis.ob</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001357176</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Post Gary M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AMBIENT ADVISORS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 NORTH CRESCENT DR., SUITE 305</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Warrant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>108000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>108000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>108000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Ambient Advisors, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Warrant becomes exercisable at a rate of 9,000 shares per month over the 12-month period beginning May 12, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael D. Centron, attorney-in-fact for Gary M. Post</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----