How to propose a new emoji to Unicode
Anyone can submit an emoji proposal — but very few are accepted. Here is how the process actually works, who reviews it, and what makes a proposal succeed, sourced to the Unicode Consortium.
Every year, a handful of new emoji land on phones around the world. They don’t appear by magic — each one is a character standardised by the Unicode Consortium, the non-profit that maintains the universal text-encoding standard. And here’s the part most people don’t know: anyone can submit a proposal.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Proposals are reviewed by volunteers, judged against strict criteria, and most are declined. This guide walks through the real process so your idea has the best possible chance.
Who decides what becomes an emoji
New emoji are evaluated by the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, a group within the Consortium. They assess submissions, shortlist candidates, and pass recommendations up to the Unicode Technical Committee, which gives final approval. Once a code point is approved, individual vendors — Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and others — design their own artwork for it.
This is why the same emoji looks different on every platform: Unicode standardises the meaning and code point, not the picture.
What reviewers actually look for
The Consortium publishes its selection factors openly. A strong proposal has to argue, with evidence, that the emoji will be widely used. The main factors weighed are:
- Expected frequency of use — search and usage data suggesting high, sustained demand.
- Distinctiveness — it should represent something visually distinct that existing emoji can’t already convey.
- Completeness — does it fill an obvious gap in an existing set?
- Multiple uses — open-ended, metaphorical meanings beat one narrow literal use.
Just as important are the factors that get a proposal rejected: it’s too specific, it’s a logo, brand, deity or specific person, it’s a passing fad, or it could be represented by combining existing emoji.
The submission process, step by step
1. Check it doesn’t already exist
Search the current emoji list and any candidates already in progress. Duplicates are declined immediately.
2. Write the proposal document
Unicode provides a template. You’ll need a clear description, sample colour and black-and-white images at the required sizes, a name and keywords, and — crucially — evidence of expected usage such as Google Trends data and search volumes.
3. Submit during the open window
Proposals are accepted through an online form during a published submission period each year. Outside that window the form is closed.
4. Wait for review
The subcommittee reviews submissions over several months. If accepted as a candidate, the emoji may ship to devices roughly a year or more later, once vendors have designed and rolled out their artwork.
Practise with what already exists
While you wait, the existing library is huge. Tap any character below to copy it — every entry here is verified to render with no “tofu” boxes:
The honest takeaway
Proposing an emoji is a real, open civic process — not a popularity contest you can game overnight. The proposals that win are well-researched, fill a genuine gap, and prove broad demand. If yours does too, the form is open to you just as much as to anyone else.