YPP Requirements 2025: The Full List
YouTube has two tiers of Partner Program membership, each with different requirements and features:
| Requirement | YPP Standard Tier | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 subscribers | YouTube Studio → Channel Dashboard |
| Watch Hours (long-form) | 4,000 public watch hours (last 12 months) | YouTube Studio → Analytics → Reach |
| Shorts Views (alternative) | 10M public Shorts views (last 90 days) | YouTube Studio → Analytics → Content |
| Community Guidelines | No active strikes | YouTube Studio → Channel → Violations |
| 2-Step Verification | Enabled on Google account | Google Account → Security |
| AdSense Account | Linked Google AdSense account | YouTube Studio → Earn |
| YPP-available Country | Located in a YPP-eligible country | YPP help page (100+ countries supported) |
The watch hours requirement is specifically for public long-form videos. Private, unlisted, and Shorts videos don't count toward the 4,000-hour threshold. Make sure your content is set to public and that older content hasn't been privated accidentally.
How to Apply for the YouTube Partner Program
Once you meet all requirements, the application process is straightforward:
- Open YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com)
- Click Earn in the left sidebar (or "Monetization")
- YouTube will show your progress toward YPP requirements. Once all boxes are checked, an "Apply Now" button appears.
- Click Apply Now and review the YouTube Partner Program terms
- Accept the terms and click Submit for review
- Connect or create a Google AdSense account if prompted
YouTube will then review your channel to ensure it complies with advertiser-friendly content guidelines, community guidelines, and spam policies. This review is done by a combination of automated systems and human reviewers.
How Long Does YPP Review Take?
YouTube states that YPP reviews typically take up to 30 days. In practice:
- Most approvals: 1–14 days for channels with clear, policy-compliant content
- More complex cases: 14–30 days for channels with borderline content, unusual topics, or limited content history
- Edge cases: Up to 60 days in rare situations, particularly for appeals after initial rejection
YouTube does not provide status updates during review. If you haven't heard after 30 days, check YouTube Studio's Earn section — it will show the current status (Under Review, Approved, or Rejected with explanation).
Why YPP Applications Get Rejected
Common reasons for YPP rejection include:
- Reused content without added value — Channels that simply compile or re-upload others' content without meaningful commentary or transformation
- Spam or artificial engagement — Purchased views, subscribers, or watch hours trigger automatic rejection
- Policy violations — Content that violates YouTube's community guidelines, even if no strike was issued
- Insufficient original content — Channels with very few videos may be rejected for insufficient content history to evaluate
- Deceptive practices — Misleading thumbnails, titles, or descriptions that don't match video content
- Made for Kids misclassification — Content incorrectly classified in audience settings
After rejection, you must wait 30 days before reapplying. Use the time to address the specific issues YouTube identified in their rejection email.
What Happens After YPP Approval?
After YPP approval, you can immediately enable monetization on your videos. Here's what to do:
- Enable monetization on each video — Go to YouTube Studio → Content → click a video → Monetization tab → turn on
- Enable all ad formats — For maximum revenue, enable skippable, non-skippable, bumper, overlay, and sponsored card ads
- Set up mid-roll ads — For videos 8+ minutes, add manual or automatic mid-roll ad breaks
- Connect AdSense properly — Verify your AdSense account is fully set up with payment information, tax details (W-9 for US or W-8 for international), and identity verification
- Wait for first payment — Your first AdSense payment releases after you cross the $100 threshold, paid around the 21st of the following month