---
id: "applicant"
kind: "glossary-term"
title: "applicant"
language: "en"
category: "TLD types and programs"
updated: "2026-10-10T09:10:26Z"
canonical: "https://tldlog.com/glossary/applicant/"
translations:
  es: "https://tldlog.com/es/glosario/solicitante/"
  de: "https://tldlog.com/de/glossar/bewerber/"
  fr: "https://tldlog.com/fr/glossaire/candidat/"
  it: "https://tldlog.com/it/glossario/richiedente/"
  pt-BR: "https://tldlog.com/pt/glossario/candidato/"
  ru: "https://tldlog.com/ru/glossariy/zayavitel/"
  zh-Hans: "https://tldlog.com/zh/cihui/shenqingren/"
---

# applicant

An organization that has sent ICANN an application to run a new gTLD. In the 2026 Round the applicant must pass background, financial and operational checks and use a back-end provider that has passed ICANN's technical evaluation. It becomes a registry operator only after it signs a Registry Agreement.

## related terms

- [applied-for string](https://tldlog.com/glossary/applied-for-string/)
- [Applicant Guidebook](https://tldlog.com/glossary/applicant-guidebook/)
- [registry operator](https://tldlog.com/glossary/registry-operator/)
- [evaluation (new gTLD application)](https://tldlog.com/glossary/application-evaluation/)
- [contracting](https://tldlog.com/glossary/contracting/)