The Applicant Support Program (ASP) was developed as part of ICANN's New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program. The ASP is intended to make applying for a new gTLD or operating a registry more accessible to applicants who would be otherwise unable due to financial and resource constraints. The ASP is for gTLD applicants seeking financial and non-financial support.
The ASP application process is separate from the New gTLD Program application, occurring before the application submission period for the New gTLD Program: Next Round begins. This timing, as noted below, ensures that support applicants have sufficient time to apply before the opening of the application submission period for new gTLDs.
How do I Qualify? Applicants that would like more information about how to qualify are encouraged to review the ASP Handbook. The handbook provides a guide to applying for support and includes detailed information on ASP application deadlines, criteria, processes, and evaluation.
How do I Apply? Applicants seeking information about how to submit an application should review:
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19 November 2024 | The ASP application submission period begins. |
| Expected to close 19 November 2025 | The application submission period for ASP closes; no additional ASP applications will be accepted for this round. ICANN org retains the option to modify the ASP application submission period and will communicate the change accordingly. |
| Expected to open April 2026 | The New gTLD Program: Next Round application submission period opens. |
Applicants will be able to apply to the ASP beginning 19 November 2024 through 19 November 2025.
Applicants that qualify for support will be eligible for financial and non-financial assistance to apply for a gTLD including:
- An ASP capacity development program
- Access to pro bono (volunteer) professional service providers* that have agreed to volunteer their services to supported applicants.
- Resources and information for potential applicants to better understand the New gTLD Program, what it means to operate a gTLD, and how to participate in ICANN's multistakeholder community.
- Access to an Applicant Counselor to help answer questions about the gTLD application process and provide guidance on where to find available resources.
- A 75-85% reduction in New gTLD Program evaluation fees for supported applicants.
- A bid credit applied to supported applicants participating in contention resolution procedures established in the New gTLD Program: Next Round Applicant Guidebook, which could occur if two or more applications are placed in contention sets. The type of support will be determined as part of the implementation of SubPro Final Report Topic 35 (see pp. 173-182). Further detail around this will be included in the New gTLD Program: Next Round Applicant Guidebook.
- Reduced base Registry Operator fees, should the supported applicant prevail in the gTLD program evaluation and proceed to contracting and delegation.
*Pro bono service providers are independent from ICANN. Pro bono services are not endorsed or contracted by ICANN, though ICANN may play a facilitative role in making supported applicants aware of the services available, should applicants seek to utilize them. ICANN is working to identify service providers that have made themselves available and will provide a list of those vendors to supported applicants.
Important Note: Qualifying for support via the ASP does not equate to qualifying for a gTLD. Qualified supported applicants must also apply for a gTLD in April 2026 when the Next Round is expected to open and be evaluated according to the criteria in the gTLD Program: Next Round Applicant Guidebook.