A theoretical analysis was conducted of convective instability driven by buoyancy forces under transient temperature fields in an annular porous medium bounded by coaxial vertical cylinders. Darcy’s law and Boussinesq approximation are used to explain the characteristics of fluid motion and linear stability theory is employed to predict the onset of buoyancy-driven motion. The linear stability equations are derived in a global domain, and then cast into in a self-similar domain. Using a spectral expansion method, the stability equations are reformed as a system of ordinary differential equations and solved analytically and numerically. The critical Darcy-Rayleigh number is founded as a function of the radius ratio. Also, the onset time and corresponding wavelength are obtained for the various cases. The critical time becomes smaller with increasing the Darcy-Rayleigh number and follows the asymptotic relation derived in the infinite horizontal porous layer.