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YouTube Partner Program Requirements (2026)

Check your YouTube monetization eligibility free. Enter your channel stats and instantly see whether you meet the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requirements — and exactly what you still need to qualify.

Your Channel Stats
Enter your current numbers to check eligibility for both monetization paths.
Early Access (Fan Funding) — 500 subscribers
Not yet eligible
Unlock memberships, Super Thanks, and Shopping before you reach full ad monetization.
Subscribers
0 / 500

0.0% complete

Plus 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours (you have 0) or 3M Shorts views (you have 0).

You need 500 more subscribers to reach early access.

Path 1: Long-form (Standard)
Not yet eligible
Monetize through ads on long-form videos, memberships, Super Chat, and more.
Subscribers
0 / 1K

0.0% complete

Watch Hours (12 months)
0 / 4K

0.0% complete

You need 1K more subscribers and 4K more watch hours.

Path 2: Shorts
Not yet eligible
Earn revenue from the Shorts ad revenue sharing program based on views.
Subscribers
0 / 1K

0.0% complete

Shorts Views (90 days)
0 / 10M

0.0% complete

You need 1K more subscribers and 10M more Shorts views.

YouTube Partner Program Requirements in 2026

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) allows creators to monetize their content through ads, memberships, Super Chat, and other revenue features. To join the program, YouTube requires channels to meet specific eligibility thresholds that demonstrate an established and active audience.

Standard Monetization (Long-form Videos)

To monetize through traditional ad revenue on long-form videos, your channel must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months. Watch hours from Shorts, unlisted videos, and deleted videos do not count toward this threshold. Once both requirements are met, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program and begin earning from ads placed on your videos.

Shorts Monetization

YouTube also offers a Shorts-focused monetization path. To qualify, your channel needs at least 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. This path gives creators access to the Shorts ad revenue sharing model, where revenue is distributed based on the share of Shorts views a creator contributes to total Shorts watch activity.

Early Access: Get Started at 500 Subscribers

You don't have to wait for full ad monetization to start earning. YouTube's early-access tier unlocks fan-funding features — channel memberships, Super Thanks, and Shopping — once you reach 500 subscribers, have posted 3 public videos in the last 90 days, and have either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past year or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Full ad revenue still requires the 1,000-subscriber thresholds above, but early access lets smaller channels start earning sooner.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

The YouTube Partner Program is available in dozens of countries and regions across North and South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. You must reside in a location where YPP has launched to apply — if it isn't available in your country yet, you won't be able to join until it is. Check YouTube's official eligibility list for the current set of supported countries.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Beyond subscriber and view thresholds, YouTube also requires channels to comply with all YouTube monetization policies, have no active Community Guidelines strikes, have an AdSense account linked to their channel, reside in a country or region where the YouTube Partner Program is available, and have 2-Step Verification enabled on their Google Account. Meeting the numeric requirements alone does not guarantee acceptance — YouTube reviews each application for policy compliance.

How Long Does It Take to Get Monetized?

After you apply, YouTube typically reviews applications within one month, though the process can take longer during periods of high volume. Some channels are reviewed in as few as a few days, while others may wait several weeks. You can check the status of your application in YouTube Studio under the Earn tab. Not sure when you'll hit 4,000 watch hours? Use our YouTube watch hours calculator to estimate your date from your current pace.

Frequently asked questions

What are the YouTube Partner Program requirements in 2026?

For ad revenue you need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days. You must also live in an eligible country, follow YouTube's monetization policies, have no active Community Guidelines strikes, link an AdSense account, and turn on 2-Step Verification.

How many watch hours do you need to get monetized on YouTube?

4,000 valid public watch hours in the previous 365 days, alongside 1,000 subscribers, for the standard ad-revenue path. Watch time from Shorts, private or unlisted videos, ads, and paid promotions does not count toward the total.

Do YouTube Shorts count toward the 4,000 watch hours?

No. Shorts watch time does not count toward the 4,000-hour threshold. Shorts have their own path instead: 1,000 subscribers plus 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Can you get monetized with 500 subscribers?

Yes, through YouTube's early-access tier, which unlocks fan-funding features such as memberships, Super Thanks, and Shopping at 500 subscribers — with 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past year or 3 million public Shorts views in 90 days. Full ad revenue still requires the 1,000-subscriber thresholds.

Which countries are eligible for the YouTube Partner Program?

YPP is available in dozens of countries and regions across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. You must reside in a supported location to apply; if YPP hasn't launched in your country yet, you can't join until it does. Check YouTube's official list for the current set of eligible countries.

How long does it take to get 4,000 watch hours?

It depends entirely on your upload frequency and average view duration — some channels take a few months, others over a year. Estimate your own date from your current daily watch-hour pace with our watch hours calculator. After you apply, YouTube usually reviews within about a month.

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