Internationalized DomainNames (IDNs)

An Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) is a domain name that contains characters from non-Latin scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Hebrew, or other languages. This allows users to register and access domain names in their native language.

For example, instead of example.com, you could have example.中国 or .السعودية.

ICANN supports 26 scripts for IDN gTLD applications:

Variant strings are different visual representations of the same word or character sequence. For example:

• Chinese variants: Simplified (简体) vs Traditional (繁體) characters
• Arabic variants: Different forms of the same character depending on position
• Japanese variants: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji representations

ICANN's Root Zone LGR (Label Generation Ruleset) process handles variants to ensure users reach the correct domain regardless of which variant they type.

The Root Zone Label Generation Ruleset (RZ-LGR) is ICANN's methodology for determining valid IDN labels and managing variants:

• Integration: Scripts must be integrated into the RZ-LGR before delegation
• Community Panels: Expert panels for each script develop generation rules
• Variant Management: Defines which strings are variants of each other
• Validity: Determines which strings are technically permissible

If your script is not yet integrated, you'll need to go through the integration process before your TLD can be delegated.

The base $227,000 application fee is the same for IDN applications. However, additional costs may include:

• Variant Analysis: $10,000 - $30,000 for expert variant string analysis
• Script Integration: If the script is not yet in RZ-LGR
• Community Panel: For new script applications
• Translation: Application materials in multiple languages
• Consulting: IDN specialist consulting fees

IDN-specific technical requirements:

• Punycode Conversion: IDNs are converted to ASCII (Punycode) for DNS
• EPP Protocol: Must handle UTF-8 in Extensible Provisioning Protocol
• WHOIS/RDAP: Must display IDNs correctly in query services
• DNS Servers: Must support UTF-8 and proper IDN handling
• Registrars: Must support IDN registration in native scripts