Why are SSL certificate validity periods changing?
If you manage a website, you need to know about upcoming changes to SSL/TLS certificates. Here's what you need to know in plain English.
SSL validity periods are getting much shorter
The industry is mandating significantly shorter validity periods for SSL/TLS certificates—those digital credentials that enable the secure "https" connection on your website. These aren't proposals anymore; they're hard deadlines that are quickly approaching.
When are these changes happening?
| Date | Certificate Validity Length | Reissue and Reinstall Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Current | 398 days | Once a year |
| March 15, 2026 | 200 days | Twice a year |
| March 15, 2027 | 100 days | Five times a year |
| March 15, 2029 | 47 days | 12 times a year |
What this means in practice
Let's break down what "shorter cycles" actually means for you: Right now, you install your certificate once per year and you're done. Starting March 2026, you'll need to re-issue and re-install your certificate twice a year. By March 2027, that jumps to five times per year. And by 2029, you'll be managing certificate renewals monthly - 12 times per year.
Without automation, this quickly becomes unmanageable. Imagine trying to remember to manually renew and reinstall certificates every month across multiple websites!
Why the change?
While more frequent renewals sound like extra work, shorter certificate lifecycles actually bring meaningful benefits:
- Provides enhanced security: Compromised certificates become useless much faster, giving bad actors less time to exploit vulnerabilities
- Provides flexibility: Need to update your encryption standards or domain structure? Shorter cycles make changes easier to implement.
- Adds to operational efficiency: Outdated cryptographic standards and organizational information get refreshed automatically.
- Forces better practices: The shorter timeline makes automation essential rather than optional—and automation reduces human error.
You have time - but start now
Here's the good news: You have time to adjust, and the sooner you start, the better positioned you'll be. Remember, don't let perfect be the enemy of good. You don't need to overhaul everything overnight.
Start with your most critical systems and certificates first. If you only manage a handful of certificates, consider moving them to an automated solution now while the stakes are low and you have time to learn the process. Waiting until these deadlines hit means you'll be making changes under pressure when the risk of something going wrong is much higher.
GoDaddy can help make the transition easy
To help customers prepare, we've launched our new Deluxe Automated SSL solution, specifically designed for this changing landscape.
This isn't just your standard SSL certificate. It includes powerful features to make your life easier:
- Automated Re-installation: After your initial setup, the certificate automatically re-installs for future renewals using the industry-standard ACME protocol—no more manual intervention needed for those 2x, 5x, or even 12x annual renewals.*
- GoDaddy Airo™ AI Support Agent: Get intelligent installation and troubleshooting assistance whenever you need it
- Advanced Trust Seal: Display a professional trust seal showing visitors their data is encrypted and protected.
- Certificate Lifecycle Management Dashboard: Track and manage your certificates from one central location.
- SSL Change Monitoring + Alerts: Receive immediate notifications if your SSL goes down or if any changes are made to your certificate—whether by you or by a potential attacker.
Ready to future-proof your website security?
Contact us to learn about solutions that can make this transition as easy as possible for you while you have time to test and adjust—your future self will thank you.
Existing GoDaddy customers can log in to their SSL account for full details and to try this new automated SSL solution today. Make the switch now while you have time to test and adjust—your future self will thank you.