After You Apply: What to Expect in ICANN’s Evaluation Process

You’ve officially submitted your new gTLD application. Now what? 

The period between application submission and TLD delegation involves several distinct phases, each with its own requirements and deadlines. Here’s what to expect and where to focus your attention.

The administrative check.

Immediately after the application window closes, ICANN will verify that all applications are complete and technically valid. ICANN anticipates that this process will take 8 weeks, though application volume may affect timing. 

Action: Ensure your designated primary contact for the application monitors the TLD Application Management System (TAMS) daily. Missing signatures or technical errors require quick corrections.

Reveal Day, Replacement String Window, and Confirmation Day.

Reveal Day, expected to occur nine weeks after the application window closes, is when ICANN will publish the full list of applied-for and replacement strings. This list will include the initial contention sets of exact matches of strings applied-for by two or more applicants.

Reveal Day kicks off a 14-day Replacement String Window where applicants with contended strings may elect to resolve contention by moving to their replacement string, providing one was submitted with the application.

Following the Replacement String Window, ICANN will publish the final list of strings on Confirmation Day.

Action: Have your contention strategy ready before Reveal Day. Waiting until after to think through your options may cost you precious time.

Community input and objections.

Confirmation Day officially kicks off several processes.

The broader community has the opportunity to review all of the applications and provide Application Comments. They may also notify ICANN if applied-for strings represent singular or plural versions of the same word in the same language, or if they are a singular or plural version of an existing string, a string from the previous round that is still being processed, or a blocked name.

The ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) will have the opportunity to review applications and issue GAC Early Warning or GAC Consensus Advice on individual applications.

Parties with standing will have the opportunity to file objections on individual applications on the grounds of string confusion, legal rights infringement, public interest, and community interest.

Action: Check ICANN’s website regularly for any comments submitted on your application and monitor ICANN’s notifications to stay on top of any deadlines. Work closely with your legal counsel as necessary to prepare robust, considered responses.

The Prioritization Draw and application processing.

Within 30 days of String Confirmation Day, ICANN will hold a Prioritization Draw to determine the order in which your application moves through evaluation and contracting. Participation requires purchasing a $100 ticket in person, even though the draw itself happens online. 

Your draw number matters because delegation works on a first-come, first-served basis. You can only enter the final queue once you’ve cleared evaluations and signed your Registry Agreement. A better draw number gives you a head start and can make the difference between launching in late 2027 or beyond. 

Action: In advance of the draw, stay abreast of ICANN announcements with regard to when tickets may be purchased and make your travel plans accordingly. 

Pre-Delegation Testing and delegation.

Before your TLD can go live, you need to prove your infrastructure can support it. ICANN’s Registry Systems Testing will verify your technical infrastructure and systems meet required stability standards.

Delegation is the point where a new gTLD is officially put into the internet’s root zone, making it live and accessible globally. As we shared in a previous post, it is likely to occur 14.5-19.5 months after Reveal Day. 

Action: Work with your Registry Services Provider (RSP) to confirm technical readiness well before the Pre-Delegation Testing begins. Gaps found during testing can delay delegation. 

Working with Identity Digital.

Identity Digital manages 460+ gTLDs, ccTLDs, and dotBrands and holds ICANN pre-approval as an RSP for the Next Round. 

Whether you’re a first-time applicant or an experienced operator, we’re ready to help support you through every phase of the process. 

Get in touch today at rsp@identity.digital or visit identity.digital/nextround.