YouTube Partner Program Requirements: Verified for 2026
Every number here comes from YouTube Help, checked on 6 October 2026, including the higher entry thresholds YouTube has announced for 1 February 2027.
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In short: to join the full YouTube Partner Program today you need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, along with 2-Step Verification, no active Community Guidelines strikes, advanced features access, an AdSense for YouTube account and residence in a YPP country or region. YouTube has announced higher thresholds for new creators from 1 February 2027.
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026
The current YPP thresholds (checked 6 October 2026)
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is how creators share in revenue from ads, YouTube Premium and fan funding. There are two levels, and the numbers below are taken directly from YouTube Help: the YPP overview and eligibility page and the “Choose how you want to monetize” page. We have not included any figure we could not find on an official YouTube page.
| Level | Subscribers | Plus | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earlier access (expanded YPP, selected countries) | 500 | 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days | Channel memberships, Super Chat & Super Stickers, Super Thanks, Shopping |
| Full YPP | 1,000 | Either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days | Everything above plus Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads and YouTube Premium revenue |
Two details catch people out:
- Shorts watch time doesn’t count towards the 4,000 hours. YouTube says watch hours from Shorts viewed in the Shorts Feed don’t count. Shorts have their own route: views, not hours.
- The 500-subscriber level isn’t everywhere. YouTube lists the expanded program for eligible creators in specific countries and regions. If you see no change in Studio, the standard program applies to you. Selecting Get notified in the Earn area of Studio makes YouTube email you when you become eligible.
YouTube has announced higher entry thresholds for new creators from 1 February 2027. They are covered in their own section below.
The other requirements (beyond the numbers)
Hitting a threshold isn’t enough on its own. YouTube’s eligibility page lists these conditions too:
- Follow the YouTube channel monetization policies. These apply to the whole channel and are checked when you apply and afterwards.
- Live in a country or region where YPP is available.
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes. If you have one, you can apply after it expires or after a successful appeal.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification for the Google Account that owns the channel.
- Have advanced features access. Established channels often qualify automatically through channel history; otherwise you can verify with an ID or a video.
- Have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to the channel, or be ready to set one up in YouTube Studio. YouTube advises creating a new one only from inside Studio.
One more rule: views and watch time from paid ad campaigns don’t count towards the thresholds. YouTube says only follow-on views, meaning organic views from people who watch more of your videos after seeing a promoted one, count.
How warnings, strikes, appeals and Copyright School work is explained in our YouTube strikes guide.
What counts as “qualified” watch hours and Shorts views
YouTube uses the word “qualified” deliberately. According to its eligibility page:
| Counts | Doesn’t count | |
|---|---|---|
| Watch hours | Watch hours from long-form videos you have set to public | Private, unlisted or deleted videos; ad campaigns; Shorts; livestreams that are unlisted, deleted or not converted to video on demand |
| Shorts views | Qualified views from public Shorts that appear in the Shorts Feed | Private, unlisted or deleted Shorts; ad campaigns; Image Posts appearing in the Shorts Feed |
So if you delete old videos or make them private to “clean up” the channel, you may also remove watch hours that count towards your threshold. YouTube also notes that changing privacy settings or deleting videos can affect an application that is already in progress.
You can track your progress in the Earn section of YouTube Studio. Our free YouTube money calculator also includes a quick check of how far you are from each route.
Changes announced for 1 February 2027
YouTube’s page on changes to the YouTube Partner Program sets out updates that start on 1 February 2027. If you are planning a channel now, they matter:
| Requirement | Now | From 1 February 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Joining YPP for ads and Premium (new creators) | 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours in 12 months, or 10M Shorts views in 90 days | 1,000 subscribers + 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days |
| Fan funding, Shopping, Creator Partnerships | No change: 500 subscribers and either 3,000 qualified watch hours in the last year or 3M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days | |
| Earning from the Shorts Creator Pool each month | Accept the Shorts Monetization Module | Also maintain 10M qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days |
| Counting as an active channel | YouTube may turn off monetization after 6 months or more without uploads or posts | Any one of: 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days, 1M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, or 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts uploaded every 90 days |
Key points from YouTube:
- If you are already in YPP, the new entry thresholds don’t affect your status.
- Partners need to review and accept updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027 (the Watch Page Monetization Module, the Shorts Monetization Module and, where relevant, the Commerce Product Module). If you don’t, you stop earning from those features from 1 February 2027 until you accept; your YPP status isn’t affected.
- Missing the Shorts views threshold doesn’t remove you from YPP or affect long-form earnings.
- Channels that drop below the activity threshold get an extended 90-day window to get back above it.
Practical takeaway: if you are close to the current thresholds, it is worth applying before 1 February 2027. YouTube also says that once you have met the threshold and applied, your channel is still reviewed even if your numbers drop while you wait.
How to apply, step by step
When you are eligible, YouTube’s steps work on desktop or mobile:
- Sign in to YouTube and open YouTube Studio from your profile picture.
- Select Earn in the left menu.
- Select Apply now.
- Select Start to review and accept the base terms.
- Select Start to set up an AdSense for YouTube account, or link an existing active one.
- When the Get reviewed step shows In progress, your application is in the queue.
After you are accepted, you choose how to earn by accepting individual modules in the Earn section: Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads and the Commerce Product Module for fan funding. Our YouTube Shorts monetization guide explains how Shorts revenue sharing works once you accept the Shorts module.
How the review works, and what to do if you are rejected
Once you accept the terms and link AdSense for YouTube, YouTube’s automated systems and human reviewers look at the channel as a whole. YouTube says a decision typically arrives in about one month, though it can take longer when application volumes are high or reviewers disagree.
Its monetization policies say reviewers may focus on your channel’s main theme, most viewed videos, newest videos, the videos with the biggest share of watch time, video metadata (titles, thumbnails and descriptions) and the About section. Make sure those represent your best, most original work.
If you are rejected, YouTube’s rejection FAQ explains the options:
- Appeal within 21 days if you believe the decision was wrong.
- Re-apply after 30 days if it was your first rejection, or after 90 days if you have been rejected before or have already re-applied.
- Read the rejection email. It names the policies YouTube believes your channel breaks. Review videos, titles, descriptions, thumbnails and tags against them, and edit or remove what doesn’t comply before trying again.
YouTube is clear that fixing issues doesn’t guarantee acceptance; it gets the channel to a point where it can be judged fairly.
The policies that most often stop channels
- Reused content. Repurposing content from YouTube or elsewhere without significant original commentary, substantive changes, or educational or entertainment value. YouTube says this applies to the channel as a whole and even applies when you have permission from the original creator.
- Inauthentic content. In July 2025, YouTube renamed its “repetitious content” policy to “inauthentic content” to make clear it covers repetitive or mass-produced videos, such as templated slideshows or generic AI-generated videos without the creator’s own insight.
- Advertiser-friendly guidelines. Content monetizing with ads must meet them; on Shorts, only views of content that does are eligible for revenue sharing.
- Community Guidelines. Content that breaks them isn’t eligible for monetization and is removed.
The safest path is simple to say and harder to do: make original videos that are clearly yours, in a consistent theme, with honest titles and thumbnails.
A realistic plan to reach the threshold
- Choose your main route. Long-form watch hours suit tutorials, reviews and explainers that people search for. The Shorts route suits fast, highly shareable formats, but needs very large view counts.
- Use Shorts to feed long-form. Shorts views don’t add watch hours, but they can bring subscribers and send viewers to related long videos.
- Publish on a schedule you can keep. Steady uploads also matter for staying active once you are in.
- Improve titles and thumbnails. Draft options with our YouTube title generator and find topics with the Reels and Shorts ideas generator.
- Check progress monthly in Studio’s Earn section, and model income with the YouTube money calculator using your own RPM.
If you want help with the work itself, our YouTube channel management plan covers 15 Shorts and 15 community posts a month, with research, scripts, editing from your footage, SEO titles and descriptions. YouTube decides who joins YPP, so we never promise acceptance or earnings. Start with a free social media audit or ask for a custom quote. If you prefer chat, message us on WhatsApp at +91 8827409728. See also our YouTube Shorts agency service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many subscribers do you need for the YouTube Partner Program?
For the full program with ad revenue, 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. An earlier level at 500 subscribers unlocks fan funding and Shopping in selected countries.
Do Shorts count towards the 4,000 watch hours?
No. YouTube says watch hours from Shorts viewed in the Shorts Feed don’t count towards the 4,000 hours. Shorts count through the separate 10 million Shorts views route.
Do views from YouTube ads count towards YPP?
No. Views and watch time from paid ad campaigns don’t count. YouTube says only follow-on views, the organic views from people who go on to watch more of your videos, count.
What if my subscribers or watch hours drop after I apply?
YouTube says it doesn’t matter if your counts drop below the threshold while you wait; your channel is still reviewed. Changing privacy settings or deleting videos can affect the application, though.
How long does the YPP review take?
YouTube says it typically takes about one month, with possible delays when application volumes are high or reviewers disagree.
Can I re-apply if I am rejected?
Yes. You can appeal within 21 days, or re-apply after 30 days for a first rejection and after 90 days if you have been rejected before or already re-applied.
Am I earning from ads that appear on my videos before I join YPP?
No. YouTube can show ads on any content, but you only earn a share once you are in YPP and have turned on the relevant monetization features.
Will the February 2027 changes affect me if I am already in YPP?
Your YPP status isn’t affected by the new entry thresholds, but YouTube asks partners to accept updated terms by 31 January 2027 to keep earning from the related features, and new activity and Shorts Creator Pool rules apply.
Sources
- YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility
- YouTube Help: Choose how you want to monetize
- YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube Help: YouTube channel monetization policies
- YouTube Help: My channel was rejected for monetization FAQs
- YouTube Help: Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators
- YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program availability
- YouTube Help: YouTube Shorts monetization policies
Sources checked on 6 October 2026.
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