To become a YouTube Partner, meet the eligibility requirements shown for your country in YouTube Studio, satisfy YouTube’s account and channel policies, apply from the Studio Earn tab, and pass a review of your channel. There are two main thresholds: an earlier level for certain fan-funding and Shopping features, and a higher level that can unlock Watch Page and Shorts Feed ad revenue sharing and YouTube Premium revenue sharing. Neither threshold guarantees acceptance.
Which YouTube Partner Program level do you need?
YouTube’s 2026 requirements offer two alternative ways to meet the audience threshold at each level: public watch hours from eligible long-form content, or qualified Shorts views. These are separate paths, not totals to combine. The expanded program is available only in eligible countries and regions; check the Earn section of your own YouTube Studio account for local availability and your channel’s progress.
| Level | Subscribers and uploads | Choose one audience path | Potential feature access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP, earlier access | 500 subscribers and at least 3 valid public uploads in the previous 90 days | 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the prior 12 months, or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the prior 90 days | Eligible features may include channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and Shopping. Each feature has its own requirements and availability. |
| Higher threshold, ad revenue eligibility | 1,000 subscribers | 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the prior 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the prior 90 days | Potential eligibility for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing, as well as available lower-level features. |
The thresholds are YouTube’s published 2026 figures. Reaching one makes a channel eligible to apply at that level; YouTube still reviews the channel, and feature access can depend on region and feature-specific eligibility.
What counts toward the long-form path?
Shorts-feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000-hour or 3,000-hour public watch-hour paths. YouTube excludes, among other things, watch time from private, unlisted, or deleted videos, ad-campaign videos, Shorts, and certain livestreams. Use the eligibility progress shown in YouTube Studio rather than assuming every view or stream contributes.
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What counts toward the Shorts path?
Qualified Shorts views are subject to YouTube’s counting rules. Among the exclusions YouTube identifies are views on private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, ad-campaign views, and image posts appearing in the Shorts Feed.
What must be in place besides subscribers and views?
YouTube lists several account, policy, and location prerequisites. Before applying, confirm that your channel:
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- Follows YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
- Is based in a country or region where the YouTube Partner Program is available.
- Has no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- Has 2-Step Verification enabled on the Google Account.
- Has access to YouTube’s advanced features.
- Has an active AdSense for YouTube account linked, or is ready to set one up through YouTube Studio.
If you need a new AdSense for YouTube account, YouTube instructs creators to create it through Studio. Do not assume that the expanded YPP features or thresholds are available in every country: check the Earn tab for the options displayed to your account.
How to apply in YouTube Studio
- Check your progress: Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Earn. Review the threshold progress and any local eligibility or “Get notified” option shown for your channel.
- Complete the prerequisites: Resolve any missing account-security or advanced-feature requirements, and confirm there are no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- Start the application: When eligible, open Earn and select Apply Now.
- Accept the base terms: Review and accept the YouTube Partner Program terms presented in Studio.
- Link or set up AdSense for YouTube: Connect an active account, or create a new one through Studio if needed.
- Wait for review: Studio will show the application as in progress in the review step. YouTube says automated systems and human reviewers assess the channel as a whole for policy compliance.
The subscriber and view thresholds do not themselves secure acceptance. Review covers the channel, so make sure the material across it is consistent with YouTube’s monetization policies rather than focusing only on the videos that contributed most to the threshold.
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YouTube’s overview says a creator may appeal within 21 days or continue publishing original content and reapply after 30 days. The applicable route and timing can depend on the rejection path, so read the current notice in Studio and the current YPP help page before choosing what to do.
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What can YouTube Partners earn from?
Acceptance does not automatically turn on every monetization feature. Creators select eligible options in Studio and accept the relevant module terms. Options can include Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, memberships and Supers, Shopping, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing; requirements and availability vary by feature.
| Module or feature group | YouTube’s published share | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Page ads | 55% of net revenue | For partners who accept the Watch Page Monetization Module. |
| Shorts Feed ads | 45% of the revenue allocated to a creator based on their share of views from the Shorts Creator Pool | A share of the allocated Creator Pool revenue, not 45% of all Shorts ad revenue. |
| Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks | 70% of net revenue | Under the Commerce Product Module. |
These are YouTube’s stated module shares, not estimates of what an individual channel will earn. YouTube says the partner agreement does not guarantee how much—or whether—a creator will be paid; payment depends on revenue generated and eligibility.
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Shorts monetization: accept the module and note the announced 2027 change
To share in Shorts ad revenue, a partner must accept the Shorts Monetization Module. Views accrued before acceptance are not eligible for revenue sharing under that module. YouTube describes non-original uploads, artificial or fake views, and content inconsistent with advertiser-friendly guidance as examples of views that are ineligible for payment calculations.
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Tips for documentary creators who want to qualify and stay eligible
Build around original work and clear rights
Documentary channels often use interviews, archival footage, photographs, music, news clips, and other material made by someone else. Before publishing, establish that you have the necessary rights or permission for each element and follow YouTube’s copyright and monetization policies. A copyright claim or permission to use a clip does not, by itself, establish that a channel meets all monetization requirements. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole.
Choose the threshold path that fits your format
If your channel primarily publishes full-length documentaries, track eligible public watch hours in Studio; if it primarily publishes Shorts, track qualified Shorts views. A mix of formats can support a channel’s audience, but Shorts-feed watch time will not fill the public-watch-hours requirement. The figures use different measurement windows, so compare the path your actual publishing format can satisfy rather than treating the metrics as interchangeable.
Keep the channel active and policy-compliant
YouTube says it continuously checks channels for monetization-policy compliance. It also reserves the right to turn off monetization for channels that have not uploaded a video or posted to the Posts tab for six months or more. Keep publishing or posting, and respond to policy issues even after acceptance.
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Keep a documentary livestream running while you work on eligibility
A 24/7 stream is not a shortcut to YPP: the qualified watch-hour rules exclude certain livestreams, and meeting any threshold still leads to a channel-wide policy review. If you use a livestream as part of your channel, make sure you have rights to the material and check Studio to see whether its viewing activity contributes to your eligibility.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos or a playlist. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; the cloud keeps looping the video without a computer or home connection staying on. It supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly price is $9.99 per month. It plays uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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