There is no single fixed timeline for an ARIN IPv4 transfer. The timing depends on how quickly the buyer and seller submit their requests, respond to ARIN, and provide any required documentation. ARIN generally responds to transfer pre-approval requests within two business days. Once the transfer has been approved, all required fees are paid, and any required Registration Services Agreement (RSA) is signed, ARIN normally completes the registry transfer within two business days. Incomplete organization records or missing documentation can extend the process.

For a standard ARIN specified recipient transfer under NRPM 8.3, the buyer must demonstrate a legitimate operational need for the IPv4 addresses. ARIN evaluates that need using projected usage over a period of up to 24 months. For larger initial blocks or additional IPv4 space, the buyer generally needs to document that at least 50% of the requested addresses will be used within 24 months. Organizations that already hold ARIN IPv4 space may also need to demonstrate efficient utilization of their existing addresses. ARIN’s minimum IPv4 transfer size is a /24.

Both parties need valid ARIN Online accounts connected to the appropriate organization records and authorized Points of Contact. The seller must be the registered holder of the IPv4 addresses and is typically required to provide a signed and notarized Officer Acknowledgement Letter. The buyer may need to provide IPv4 utilization information, network growth projections, deployment plans, or other documentation supporting its 24-month need. ARIN may also request corporate records when it needs to verify ownership, organizational authority, or the history of the address block.

For an ARIN NRPM 8.3 transfer, the source organization currently pays a $500 non-refundable transfer request fee. The recipient also pays a separate transfer processing fee based on the size of the IPv4 block being received. That fee currently starts at $187.50 for a /24 and increases for larger transfers. Annual ARIN registration fees may also apply based on the recipient’s total Internet number resources. Any outstanding ARIN fees must generally be resolved before the transfer can be completed.

ARIN does not use one universal holding period for every IPv4 block, but several transfer restrictions can affect when addresses are eligible to move. For a standard NRPM 8.3 transfer, the source generally cannot have received an IPv4 transfer, allocation, or assignment from ARIN during the previous 12 months. Transfers resulting from qualifying mergers and acquisitions under NRPM 8.2 are treated differently. IPv4 space received through the ARIN Waitlist has a separate restriction and generally cannot be transferred under NRPM 8.3 or 8.4 for 60 months. Checking the registration history before a sale helps avoid eligibility problems later in the transaction.

ARIN pre-approval is not the transfer itself, but it can make the acquisition process more predictable. During pre-approval, ARIN reviews the buyer’s projected IPv4 need before a specific transfer is submitted. An approved request is valid for two years, and ARIN generally does not require the buyer to repeat the same needs review for qualifying NRPM 8.3 or 8.4 transfers submitted during that period. Once a seller and block are identified, the buyer and seller still need to submit the appropriate transfer requests through ARIN Online.