An image forming apparatus implements a print restriction depending on the environment of the image forming apparatus, such as who is or is not near the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus communicates with a short-range wireless terminal for authenticating print data with reference to access right information in which document identifying information identifying the print data is associated with wireless terminal identifying information identifying the short-range wireless terminal. The image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring the wireless terminal identifying information from the short-range wireless terminal; a determining unit for determining whether the printing of the print data should be permitted or not based on the wireless terminal identifying information acquired by the acquiring unit and the access right information; and a control unit for controlling the printing of the print data depending on a result of the determination made by the determining unit.