A multi-year SSL isn't one long certificate - the industry no longer allows that. It's a plan: you get a shorter certificate now and reactivate it free before each expiry until your paid term is used up. This keeps your price locked in for years while staying within the rules.
Why validity is capped
CA/Browser Forum rules limit how long a single certificate can be valid, and that limit keeps shrinking - certificates issued after 15 March 2026 last around 200 days, heading shorter still. A multi-year purchase spreads across that with free reissues.
How the plan works
- You buy, say, a 3-year plan and a limited-validity certificate is issued now.
- Before it expires, you reactivate - a free reissue that gives you the next certificate.
- This repeats until the full term is used. You pay once for the whole plan.
The reactivation window
You reactivate within roughly 30 days before each expiry. We send reminders at 30, 14 and 3 days so it never sneaks up on you, and your dashboard shows a live countdown to the next reactivation.
What happens if it lapses
If a certificate expires before you reactivate, it simply pauses - HTTPS stops until you reactivate, but you don't lose any of your remaining plan time. Reactivate and you're back.
How to reactivate with us
From your dashboard, click Reactivate on the certificate; you'll re-run the CSR and validation as a renewal, and the new certificate issues against your existing plan.