NetMoneyLab ยท Oct 17, 2026
Bottom line: joining the YouTube Partner Program is free, but it takes 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days) and about a month of review.
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the gateway to ad revenue and other earning features. According to YouTube's help page, you need:
Some numbers look like they count but do not:
You can appeal within 21 days or reapply after 30 days. After a repeat rejection, or a rejection on reapplication, the wait before trying again is 90 days.
The program overview lists several sources, each with its own requirements:
Joining costs nothing. The real cost is time: producing, publishing and waiting for the channel to reach the goals.
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