IPv4 Transfer Policies: ARIN, RIPE, APNIC Explained

Why IPv4 transfer policies matter

The free pool is gone. Has been for years now. So if your organization needs IPv4 transfer policies explained, it’s probably because you’re trying to buy or sell blocks on the secondary market—and that means dealing with Regional Internet Registries. ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC. Each one runs its own rulebook. Eligibility, paperwork, fees—they all differ. Get something wrong and the transfer gets bounced. Or worse, addresses de-registered entirely. I’ve seen it happen. The stuff below should help you avoid that. And if you’d rather skip the headache, IP4 Market runs a platform with pre-verified sellers and handles a lot of the compliance legwork.

ARIN transfer policies

ARIN covers North America. Their IPv4 transfer policies live in the Number Resource Policy Manual—NRPM, if you want to sound like you’ve done this before.

Eligibility requirements

• Buyer and seller both need an ARIN account (or membership).
• The seller must have held the block for at least 12 months. Mergers and acquisitions are the exception.
• The buyer has to show actual need. A utilization plan or proof of immediate use.
• No flipping. You can’t have received the block just to turn around and sell it.

Documentation and fees

Sellers file the transfer request through ARIN Online. You’ll need a bill of sale and proof of ownership at minimum. There’s a non-refundable fee—$500 per prefix block for /24 or larger, as of 2025. Expect 10–14 business days for processing, assuming nothing trips them up.

Inter-RIR transfers

Can you move addresses from ARIN to RIPE or APNIC? Yes. But only if the receiving registry allows inbound transfers. And ARIN still wants that needs-based justification from the buyer, even when the block is leaving their region entirely.

RIPE NCC transfer policies

RIPE covers Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia. Policy reference: RIPE-664. If you’ve only dealt with ARIN before, RIPE will feel different. Slower. More paperwork.

Eligibility requirements

• The seller needs to have held the addresses for 24 months. Yes, twice as long as ARIN. (Mergers/acquisitions excepted, as usual.)
• The buyer must be a RIPE NCC member with a valid LIR account—or become one.
• Both sides sign a “Transfer Agreement” acknowledging they’re following policy.
• The buyer has to justify need within 6 months, or show they’re already using the space.

Documentation and fees

Requests go through the LIR Portal. No separate transfer fee, which sounds great—until you remember the buyer needs a paid membership. That’s €2,000–€5,000/year depending on category. Processing takes 4–6 weeks. Manual validation, and they don’t rush it.

Inter-RIR transfers

RIPE takes inbound from ARIN and APNIC. Outbound? Very limited. Only to other RIRs under specific criteria. And the buyer has to prove the space will actually be used within the RIPE service region—not just parked.

APNIC transfer policies

APNIC handles the Asia-Pacific region. Policies are in APNIC-138 and APNIC-139. In my experience, APNIC tends to be the most straightforward of the three.

Eligibility requirements

• Seller holding period: 12 months.
• Buyer needs an APNIC account (or membership).
• Both parties sign a Transfer Declaration.
• Buyer must justify need for at least 50% utilization within 12 months—or show immediate use.

Documentation and fees

AUD 500 per /24 equivalent, minimum. Processing is fast: usually 5–10 business days. If the block has a questionable history, though, expect additional due diligence—and the buyer foots that bill.

Inter-RIR transfers

APNIC allows transfers both directions with ARIN and RIPE, as long as the receiving registry signs off. One notable difference: APNIC doesn’t require a needs test for outbound transfers. ARIN does. That asymmetry matters depending on which direction you’re moving addresses.

Comparison table of key requirements

Practical tips for smooth transfers

1. Check holding periods early. RIPE’s 24-month requirement surprises people constantly. Verify your ownership dates before you even think about listing.
2. Use escrow. Direct transfers between strangers are risky. IP4 Market provides escrow and handles policy compliance checks—cuts down on rejections significantly.
3. Check the block’s history. WHOIS lookup. Blacklist scan. A dirty past will kill an ARIN transfer faster than anything else.
4. Have your docs ready. Signed transfer agreements, invoices, letters of authorization—each RIR wants slightly different things. Digital copies, organized, before you start.
5. Consider leasing. If the holding period is a problem, leasing through a verified platform like IP4 Market might be faster and more flexible than a full transfer.

Working across ARIN, RIPE, and APNIC doesn’t have to be a mess. The rules differ—holding periods, fees, what “need” actually means—but they’re knowable. Figure out which registry you’re dealing with, match their requirements, and you’ll be fine. If you’d rather not figure it out alone, IP4 Market has a vetted platform with verified sellers and competitive pricing. Browse the listings when you’re ready.