What changes—and when
YouTube announced changes to its Partner Program on August 10, but the higher entry requirements take effect February 1, 2027. Creators should distinguish today’s application requirements from the rules announced for next year.
For new applicants seeking advertising and Premium revenue, the watch-time requirement will increase to 8,000 qualified hours over 365 days. The alternative Shorts route will require 20 million qualified views over 90 days. The subscriber requirement remains 1,000. Existing partners will not lose membership because of this entry-threshold change.
The requirements currently in effect
As of September 13, 2026, YouTube’s eligibility page lists 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours over 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views over 90 days.
Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward the long-form requirement. Private, unlisted and deleted videos, along with advertising campaigns, do not contribute eligible watch hours. Meeting the audience thresholds allows an application; it does not guarantee approval.
How to check eligibility and apply
Open YouTube Studio and select Earn. Creators who are not yet eligible can request a notification. Eligible applicants can start the application, accept the program’s base terms and connect an active AdSense for YouTube account.
Before applying, check that two-step verification and advanced features are enabled, the channel has no active Community Guidelines strikes, and it follows monetization policies. YouTube reviews the channel after the required application steps are complete. Application status appears in the Earn section.
What existing partners need to do
Review the updated monetization terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027. Missing the deadline stops earnings from the affected features beginning February 1; accepting the terms later restores access.
From February 1, Shorts revenue eligibility requires 10 million qualified views over the preceding 90 days. Falling below that figure does not remove a channel from the program or stop its eligible long-form earnings. YouTube says Shorts revenue sharing resumes when the channel crosses the threshold again.
The company says entry requirements for fan funding and shopping remain unchanged. Creators should check each feature’s eligibility separately in Studio.
Updated September 13, 2026
This guide consolidates our earlier coverage of the same announcement and adds current eligibility, application steps and the terms deadline, checked against YouTube’s own documentation.
Sources and further reading
YouTube: August 10 announcement of 2027 Partner Program changes ↗