it lasts for five years i think. some places have a three-strikes system.
here, there's also a system that allows you to basically cancel your debt if it gets overwhelming. if you qualify, you can sign up to let the state take all the money you make above the level of minimum subsistence for five years, which they use to pay off your debt as far as possible, and after that the remaining debt is zeroed. there are a bunch of criteria, there basically has to be no way for you to pay it off by selling things, but it's there.