YouTube has announced stricter eligibility requirements for new content creators seeking to join its Partner Programme and earn revenue from their content.
According to US technology website TechCrunch, the new policy will take effect on February 1, 2027, requiring new creators to accumulate 8,000 hours of eligible watch time over the previous 365 days or 20 million eligible YouTube Shorts views within 90 days.
Previously, creators were required to complete 4,000 hours of watch time or secure 10 million Shorts views over a 90-day period to qualify for the YouTube Partner Programme. However, YouTube has not changed the minimum subscriber requirement.
New creators will still need at least 1,000 subscribers, along with the other eligibility criteria, to qualify for the programme.
Creators who are already part of the YouTube Partner Programme will not be affected by the new requirements.
YouTube said the revised criteria have been introduced in response to the growing volume of content and increasing number of viewers on the platform.
More than three million creators worldwide currently earn revenue through the YouTube Partner Programme.
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