YouTube Monetization Requirements (2026): The Full YPP Picture

Most guides to YouTube monetization stop at the subscriber number. That's the part people remember, but it's not the part that gets channels rejected. YouTube reviews your whole channel against its policies, and there's an earlier route in some countries that many creators don't know exists. Here's the full set of requirements, from YouTube's own help centre.

The YouTube monetization requirements in full

YouTube lists six things you need before you can join the YouTube Partner Program, usually shortened to YPP:

1. Follow the YouTube channel monetization policies.
2. Live in a country or region where YPP is available.
3. Have no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
4. Turn on 2-Step Verification for your Google Account.
5. Have access to advanced features on YouTube.
6. Have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel, or be ready to set one up inside YouTube Studio.

Only once those are in place do the audience thresholds come into play. YouTube's advice on AdSense is worth repeating: if you need a new AdSense for YouTube account, create it from YouTube Studio during the application rather than separately.

YouTube monetization thresholds: the two main routes

YouTube gives you two ways to reach the standard threshold, and you only need one:

Route	What you need	Time window
Long-form	1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours	Last 12 months
Shorts	1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified Shorts views	Last 90 days

The two don't mix the way people hope. YouTube says watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed don't count towards the 4,000 hours, so a channel that's mostly Shorts should aim for the views route instead. If you'd like YouTube to tell you when you qualify, select Get notified in the Earn area of YouTube Studio.

The expanded YouTube Partner Program route

In some countries there's an earlier way in. The expanded YPP lets creators apply with 500 subscribers and 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days, plus either 3,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.

This earlier tier unlocks fan funding and Shopping: channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, gifts and the Shopping features. It doesn't include ad revenue. Sharing in ads and YouTube Premium revenue still needs the 1,000 subscriber thresholds above.

The expanded program covers a listed set of countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Hong Kong. If you're elsewhere, YouTube says nothing changes and the standard route applies.

YouTube monetization policies that decide your review

This is where most rejections come from. YouTube expects monetized content to be your original creation, and if you borrow material you need to change it significantly to make it your own. It also expects content not to be mass-produced, generic, repetitive or manipulative.

Reviewers can't watch everything, so YouTube says they may focus on your channel's main theme, most viewed videos, newest videos, the videos with the biggest share of watch time, your titles, thumbnails and descriptions, and your About section. Make sure those areas show your best, most original work before you apply.

• Reused content. Repurposing material already on YouTube or elsewhere without significant original commentary or changes isn't eligible.
• Inauthentic content. On July 15, 2025 YouTube renamed its repetitious content policy to inauthentic content, to make clear it covers repetitive or mass-produced videos, including templated AI content without your own insight.
• Advertiser-friendly guidelines. Anything earning from ads also needs to meet these, which govern topics, language and imagery.

Similar formats are fine. YouTube's own examples include a series with recurring characters or a product review channel, as long as each video has its own focus or storyline.

Where YouTube monetization is available

You need to live in a country or region on YouTube's availability list. It covers a long list, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines and South Africa. New sign-ups from Russia are currently paused. Check the full list on YouTube's page, because some features, such as Super Chat or memberships, have shorter lists of their own.

How to get monetized on YouTube, step by step

1. Sign in to YouTube and open YouTube Studio.
2. Select Earn from the left menu.
3. Click Apply Now and accept the Base terms.
4. Set up an AdSense for YouTube account, or link an active one.
5. Wait for the review. In Progress at the Get Reviewed step means YouTube has your application.

Your channel then goes into a queue where automated systems and human reviewers look at it as a whole. YouTube says a decision typically takes about 1 month, though it can be longer when volumes are high or reviewers disagree.

If you're turned down, you can appeal within 21 days, or keep uploading original content and re-apply after 30 days. After a second rejection the wait becomes 90 days. Use that time to fix whatever the reviewers are likely to have seen, rather than re-applying unchanged.

After YouTube monetization is approved

Joining YPP doesn't switch everything on at once. You choose modules in YouTube Studio and accept their terms. Under the Watch Page Monetization Module, YouTube pays partners 55% of net revenue from ads on their public videos; under the Shorts Monetization Module, 45% of the revenue allocated to them from the Creator Pool. Fan funding features sit under a separate Commerce Product Module.

Payment runs through AdSense for YouTube. Finalised earnings appear between the 7th and 12th of each month and are paid by the 21st to 26th once you pass the threshold, which is 100 US dollars for a US dollar account or 60 pounds for a pound account. Every monetizing creator must submit U.S. tax information wherever they live; without it, Google may deduct up to 24% of earnings worldwide. YouTube can't give tax advice, so check your own position with an accountant.

And stay active. YouTube says it may turn off monetization on channels that haven't uploaded a video or posted to the Posts tab for 6 months or more.

Getting ready for YouTube monetization

If your numbers are close but not there yet, focus on watch time from long videos or views from Shorts, not both at half strength. If your Shorts views have stalled, my guide to why a Shorts view count gets stuck at zero covers the common causes. For the channel-building side, my breakdown of a YouTube marketing strategy that built a brand shows what consistent publishing looks like, and once you're in, my guide to what YouTube pays for live streams explains another way to earn.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get monetized on YouTube?

Join the YouTube Partner Program from the Earn section of YouTube Studio once you meet a threshold, accept the terms, link AdSense for YouTube and pass a review of your whole channel against YouTube's policies.

What are the YouTube monetization requirements?

1,000 subscribers with 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, plus following the monetization policies, living where YPP is available, no active strikes, 2-Step Verification, advanced features and an AdSense for YouTube account.

Can you get monetized with 500 subscribers?

In expanded YPP countries, yes, for fan funding and Shopping. You need 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. Ad revenue still needs the 1,000 subscriber thresholds.

How long does YouTube take to review a monetization application?

YouTube says typically about 1 month, but it can take longer when application volumes are high or reviewers disagree.

What happens if my YouTube monetization application is rejected?

You can appeal within 21 days or re-apply after 30 days. If it isn't your first rejection, the wait is 90 days.

Do Shorts watch hours count towards monetization?

Not towards the 4,000 hours. YouTube says watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed don't count there, so Shorts channels use the 10 million views route.