The YouTube Partner Program allows creators to earn money on YouTube and access additional tools such as fan funding, Shopping features, and creator support. YouTube has expanded the program in certain regions to give more creators earlier access to monetization features.
What the YouTube Partner Program Offers
Once accepted into YPP, creators may be able to:
- Earn revenue from ads shown on their videos
- Access fan-based monetization tools (like memberships and Super features)
- Sell products through Shopping integrations (if eligible)
- Receive access to Creator Support
- Use advanced monetization tools inside YouTube Studio
Basic Requirements to Join YPP
To be considered for the program, your channel must meet several baseline requirements:
- Follow all YouTube monetization policies
- Live in a country or region where YPP is available
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes
- Enable 2-Step Verification on your Google account
- Have access to YouTube advanced features
- Link an active AdSense for YouTube account (or create one during application)
Eligibility Thresholds
Before applying, your channel must meet one of the following milestones:
Option 1 (Long-form content path)
- At least 1,000 subscribers, and
- 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months
Option 2 (Shorts content path)
- At least 1,000 subscribers, and
- 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Note: Views from Shorts in the Shorts feed do not count toward watch-hour requirements.
How to Apply
Once eligible, you can apply through YouTube Studio:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio
- Go to the “Earn” section
- Click “Apply Now”
- Accept the Base Terms
- Link or create an AdSense for YouTube account
- Submit your application for review
After submission, your channel enters a review queue.
How the Review Process Works
After applying, YouTube reviews your channel using both automated systems and human reviewers. They evaluate your entire channel to confirm it follows all policies and guidelines.
- Review time is typically around 1 month
- Some applications may take longer due to volume or additional checks
- You can track progress in YouTube Studio under the Earn section
If approved, monetization features will become available. If rejected, you will receive feedback explaining why.
If Your Application Is Rejected
If your channel is not accepted:
- You may appeal within 21 days (if you believe it was an error)
- First-time applicants can reapply after 30 days
- Subsequent applications may require a 90-day waiting period
Before reapplying, you should improve your channel by reviewing policies and removing or editing content that may not comply.
How Earnings Work After Approval
Once accepted into YPP, creators can choose which monetization features to enable, including:
- Watch Page ads
- Shorts ads revenue sharing
- Channel memberships
- Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks
- Shopping features
Each feature may have its own eligibility requirements and requires acceptance of additional terms.
Ongoing Eligibility
YouTube continuously reviews channels in the program to ensure ongoing compliance. Channels that stop uploading or engaging for long periods (for example, 6 months or more) may lose monetization access.
The YouTube Partner Program is designed to reward consistent, original, and policy-compliant creators. Meeting the thresholds allows you to apply, but approval depends on the overall quality and safety of your content—not just subscriber or view counts.
