From 2026, the maximum validity of SSL certificates will be drastically reduced. Here’s what you need to know.
What happens?
The industry behind SSL/TLS certificates has decided to significantly reduce the maximum validity period of certificates over the coming years. This is a global change affecting all websites and hosting providers.
Time table for changes
| Date | Maximum validity |
|---|---|
| 15. march 2026 | 200 days |
| 15. march 2027 | 100 days |
| 15. march 2029 | 47 days |
Why these changes?
The purpose of shorter validity periods is to:
- Increase automation of certificate management
- Reduce the risk of compromised certificates
- Minimize issues with manual handling and renewal
- Improve security through faster rotation of cryptographic keys
