How long does an NDA last?
“Two years” in an NDA can mean two different things — how long you'll exchange information, or how long you must keep it secret. Some obligations can last indefinitely. Here's how to read the duration clauses before you sign.
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Common set-ups
Fixed period
For example: confidential for 3 years after disclosure. Clear and common.
Term plus survival
The NDA runs 1 year, and confidentiality survives 2–5 years after it ends.
Indefinite
“For as long as the information remains confidential” — typical for trade secrets.
Reading the duration clause
Find these three things in the NDA.
1
The term
How long the parties will share information under the NDA.
2
The confidentiality period
How long you must keep it secret — often longer.
3
Exceptions
Trade secrets and personal data may have no end date.
Why there are two clocks
The term decides when new information stops being covered. The confidentiality period decides how long you must protect what you already received. A clause like “this agreement terminates after one year; obligations survive for three years” means information shared in month eleven stays protected for years afterwards.
How long is normal?
Business NDAs commonly protect information for somewhere between one and five years; faster-moving industries tend to use shorter periods. Trade secrets are often protected for as long as they stay secret, because their value depends on it.
What to check before signing
Is there an end date at all? Does it make sense for the information involved? Does the NDA say what happens to documents at the end — return or deletion? If the period seems out of proportion, ask for a shorter one or for trade secrets to be listed separately.
NDA duration questions
What if the NDA says nothing about duration?+
Then it's unclear, and the answer depends on local law. Ask for a clear period before signing.
Can an NDA last forever?+
Obligations for genuine trade secrets often have no fixed end. For ordinary information, courts in many places look critically at unlimited periods.
Is this legal advice?+
No. It explains common NDA terms; for your situation, ask a lawyer.
What does it cost?+
Free to try. Downloading your signed PDF costs €2.99 a month or €24.99 a year, and you can cancel anytime.