What are the extra costs for reviews in the 2026 ICANN new gTLD application round?

For the 2026 ICANN new gTLD application round, the base evaluation fee is expected to be USD $227,000. However, there are indeed extra costs for certain types of reviews or evaluations that an applicant may choose or be required to undergo. These are often referred to as "conditional evaluations" or "elective assessments."

Here are the primary types of extra costs associated with reviews:

1. Community Priority Evaluation (CPE):
   • Purpose: If an applicant wants their gTLD to be recognized as a "community gTLD" (e.g., .paris, .lgbt), they can apply for a Community Priority Evaluation. This evaluation assesses the legitimacy of the community claim and the applicant's commitment to serving that community.
   • Cost: This is an additional fee. While the exact amount for the 2026 round will be finalized in the Applicant Guidebook (AGB), in the previous round, this was a significant additional cost (e.g., around $60,000 in the 2012 round). It's designed to cover the costs of the specialized panel that reviews these applications.
2. .Brand TLD Status Evaluation:
   • Purpose: If an applicant wants their gTLD to operate under specific rules and protections afforded to ".brand" TLDs (e.g., .google, .apple), they may need to undergo an evaluation to qualify for this status. This can involve demonstrating full control over registrations and a commitment to brand protection.
   • Cost: Similar to CPE, this is an additional fee to cover the specific review process.
3. Objection Filings and Dispute Resolution:
   • Purpose: If your gTLD application receives an objection from another party (e.g., a trademark holder, a community, or a government), you will likely incur significant legal and administrative costs to participate in the dispute resolution process.
   • Cost: These costs are not fixed fees paid directly to ICANN as part of the application but rather fees paid to the dispute resolution service providers and your own legal counsel. These can vary widely depending on the complexity and duration of the dispute, potentially ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
     • Legal Objections: Filed by trademark holders.
     • String Confusion Objections: Filed if the applied-for string is too similar to an existing TLD or trademark.
     • Community Objections: Filed if a community believes the gTLD string belongs to them or that the applicant does not adequately represent their interests.
     • Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Early Warnings: While not direct objections with a fee, a GAC Early Warning can indicate a potential issue that you might need to address, potentially leading to further costs in responding or modifying your application.
4. Extended Review/Appeals:
   • Purpose: If an application does not pass an initial evaluation, the applicant may have the option to request an extended review or file an appeal.
   • Cost: These processes typically involve additional fees to cover the costs of further evaluation or review by an independent panel.

It's crucial for prospective applicants to budget not only for the base application fee but also for these potential additional costs, especially if they anticipate objections or plan to seek special status for their gTLD (like community or .brand). The final Applicant Guidebook (AGB) for the 2026 round will contain the definitive fee schedule for all these evaluations.