ICANN coordinates the Internet's unique identifiers – domain names and IP addresses – across the world and defines policies for how these identifiers should run (learn more). Policies for generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are developed within the Generic Names Supporting Organization's (GNSO) Policy Development Processes (PDPs). Once the policy recommendations emerging from these PDPs are adopted by the ICANN Board, ICANN's Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) implements them according to guidelines established in the Consensus Policy Implementation Framework (v2018) (CPIF).

How is Policy Implemented?

The CPIF is a five-stage process designed to make implementations predictable and transparent. During each implementation project, GDS staff consults with the wider community by:

1. Assembling a team of volunteer experts—an Implementation Review Team (IRT), in the relevant subject matter to provide advice and support.
2. Conducting public comment periods on proposed implementation plans and/or Consensus Policies.

 

Implementation Projects In Progress

Implementation Project	Expected Completion Date
Expedited Policy Development Process for Internationalized Domain Names	2026
IGO-INGO Curative Rights	2026
Privacy and Proxy Services Accreditation	2027
Registration Data Policy for All gTLDs (EPDP Phase 1 Implementation)	2025
Rights Protection Mechanisms Implementation	2026
Subsequent Procedures Implementation	2025

Implementation Projects In Queue

Project	Expected Start Date
Translation and Transliteration of Contact Information	2026
EPDP Phase 2A on the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data	2026

Implementation Projects Pending Board Action

Project
ccNSO Policy Development Process 4 (ccPDP4) (De-) selection of IDN ccTLD Strings
GNSO Internationalized Domain Names EPDP Phase 2
Transfer Policy Review

Policy Development Processes

The following are GNSO PDPs currently in progress which may result in consensus policy recommendations. If the ICANN Board adopts these policy recommendations, they will become implementation projects to be carried out by GDS staff:

Project	Expected Completion Date
Latin Script Diacritics Policy Development Process	2026

Implementation Projects Timeline

Updated 16 October 2025

Click here to download the PDF version of the Implementation Projects Timeline with clickable links.

Policy Effective Dates

Policies developed within the GNSO and implemented by GDS affect many companies and organizations in the domain name industry. ICANN has committed to simplifying implementation via the Policy Change Calendar Initiative [PDF, 166 KB], which aims to provide contracted parties with a consistent, predictable timetable for updating their operations to meet new policy requirements.

Since May 2015, GDS has worked to bundle the announcement and effective dates for related policies. Policies within a bundle are announced together, which triggers a window of at least six months for contracted parties to update their operations to ensure compliance with the new policies. Effective dates are the same for all policies in a bundle, which are noted in the announcement.

Policy Status Reports

Per the mandate of the "Support and Review" phase of the CPIF, ICANN org and the GNSO Council periodically produce and review Policy Status Reports in order to assess the effectiveness and impact of an implemented Consensus Policy.

Policy Status Report: Policy Status Report: GNSO Policy & Implementation Working GroupRecommendations

Policy Status Report: Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy

Policy Status Report: Expired Domain Deletion Policy and Expired Registration Recovery Policy

Resources

• Repository and archive of implementation documents
• Latest Status Update/Briefings:
  • Status Update: New gTLD Program: Next Round (ICANN84 Version)
  • Policy Research and Stakeholder Programs (PRSP) Pre-ICANN84 Update Briefing

Contact Information

For questions or comments please contact: globalsupport@icann.org