Title application

A title application is the administrative process through which a verifiable sporting achievement is submitted so FIDE, the International Chess Federation, can formally approve or register the title. It does not replace the sporting requirements. Instead, it assembles and submits the evidence showing that those requirements were met. The exact process depends on how the entitlement was earned.

For Grandmaster (GM), International Master (IM), Woman Grandmaster (WGM), and Woman International Master (WIM) earned through norms, the current rules use the IT2 title application together with the relevant IT1 result certificates. IT1 and IT2 are codes for FIDE's official forms. The player's national federation submits the application and is responsible for the fee. FIDE states that applications should be submitted at least 45 days before the meeting where they will be considered; applications submitted after that deadline are considered at the next meeting. Full details must be posted on the FIDE website for at least 30 days before finalization so objections can be raised.

Direct titles follow a different administrative route based on the event report, while rating-based titles are handled through rating officials. If a player's federation refuses to apply for a title that is due, the regulations allow the player to appeal to FIDE and apply while paying the fee.