Partner Federation Glossary — last updated September 2026
Cookie Duration is how long the tracking cookie set on a visitor’s browser after clicking a partner’s link stays valid. If the visitor comes back and converts — signs up, deposits — within that window, the referral is credited to the partner; if they come back after it expires, it isn’t. Typical ranges run 30 to 90 days depending on the program, with forex programs often running longer than faster-converting verticals, since evaluating a broker takes traders more time than a typical retail purchase decision.
A smaller number of brokers go further and offer a lifetime cookie: once a client is first attributed to a partner, that attribution never expires, no matter how long the client takes to convert or how many times they return before signing up. This is the exception rather than the norm — it’s worth confirming directly with each broker rather than assuming it applies, since most programs still run on a fixed window.
Why It Matters for Partners
Cookie duration is one of the first things worth checking in any program’s terms, and one of the easiest ways for a generous-looking headline commission to be worth less in practice — a 30-day cookie loses far more slow-converting traders than a 90-day one. Browser privacy restrictions and ad blockers can also shorten the effective window regardless of what a program states, which is why more programs now supplement cookies with server-to-server tracking as a backstop rather than relying on cookie duration alone.
For the full breakdown of how tracking and attribution actually work together, see Tracking & Attribution.