What is the Escrow fee when submitted a new gTLD application to the ICANN?

When submitting a new gTLD application to ICANN, the primary fee is the evaluation fee, which is expected to be USD $227,000 for the next round. This fee is intended to cover the costs associated with the entire New gTLD Program, including processing applications, delegation, communications, and other operational expenses.

While the $227,000 is the main application fee, it's important to note:

• It's a baseline: This fee doesn't include additional costs for elective assessments, such as Community Priority Evaluations or those seeking .Brand TLD status.
• Cost-recovery model: ICANN operates on a cost-recovery basis for the New gTLD Program, meaning the fee is set to ensure the program is fully funded and not subsidized. If more applications are received than projected, ICANN may issue rebates.
• Escrow fees (for auctions): While not part of the initial application fee, if there are competing applications for a gTLD and an auction is required to resolve contention, there will be separate escrow fees associated with managing those auction proceeds. Historically, these fees have been relatively small in comparison to the application fee.

In summary, the most significant upfront cost you'll encounter for a new gTLD application is the evaluation fee of USD $227,000. Additional costs, like escrow fees, would typically arise in specific circumstances such as contention resolution through auctions.