The Freename Forum

The Internet administration ICANN has opened the application phase for the Applicant Support Programme (ASP). Potential applicants for a new generic top-level domain can look forward to financial support and a range of other economic benefits.

The window of opportunity to submit applications for a new domain extension to ICANN is expected to open in Q2 2026 for the second time since 2012 and only for a few weeks. The details of the procedure are governed by the Applicant Guidebook (AGB), which is currently being prepared and should be available by May 2025. These details include the application fee, which is expected to range between US$ 208,000 and US$ 293,000; at the current exchange rate, this would be between EUR 199,000 and EUR 280,000. Many interested parties are in danger of failing because of this fee alone, not to mention the other costs of the application process and the operation of a registry. This is where ICANN's ASP comes in by providing ‘financial and non-financial support’ to certain particularly qualified and authorised applicant groups. Overall, ICANN wants to make the gTLD programme more accessible and broaden the circle of potential applicants. The ASP process is separate from the application process for a new domain extension, so that interested parties know in advance whether it is economically viable to submit an application.

Members of the following five categories of organisations are initially eligible to apply under the funding programme: ‘non-profit, charity or equivalent’, ‘intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)’, ‘indigenous/tribal peoples’ organisations’, “social impact or public benefit micro- or small-sized business” and “micro- or small-sized business from a less-developed economy”. Participation can be particularly worthwhile for non-profit organisations within the meaning of Section 52 of the German Fiscal Code. The financial benefits include a ‘75-85% reduction in applicable gTLD evaluation fees’, a ‘Bid credit (pending outcome of contention resolution)’ and ‘Reduced base registry agreement fees’. Further economic benefits of a non-financial nature include ‘Training materials (e.g. applying for a gTLD, becoming a registry operator)’, a ‘capacity development programme’, access to an application consultant and an address list of voluntary professional TLD service providers. The ASP's resources are not unlimited: ICANN has limited them to 40 to 45 interested parties. Once an application has been submitted to the ASP, the review should be completed within 12 to 16 weeks.

The application phase for the ASP runs for 12 months and ends on 19 November 2025. Applicants are strongly advised to seek support early. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to be offered a place. And the earlier an applicant is accepted into the ASP, the more likely they are to be able to take advantage of the support offered before the application window opens.

Further information on the ASP can be found at:
https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/en/app ... round2/asp