Last updated: 5 October 2026.
The YouTube Partner Programme requirements in the UK come in two tiers. With 500 subscribers, three recent uploads and 3,000 watch hours (or 3 million Shorts views) you can unlock fan funding such as memberships and Super Chat. With 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days) you can apply for ad revenue sharing.
There’s an important deadline coming: from 1 February 2027, YouTube is raising the ad-revenue entry bar for new applicants to 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. This guide covers both tiers, the upcoming changes, how much YouTube pays, UK tax and payment basics, and how to reach 4,000 watch hours faster.
What are the YouTube Partner Programme requirements in 2026?
You need to hit a subscriber threshold plus either watch hours or Shorts views, and meet a set of account requirements. The numbers below come from YouTube’s official YouTube Partner Programme overview and its page on the expanded YouTube Partner Programme, which lists the United Kingdom as an eligible country.
| Requirement | Fan-funding tier | Ad-revenue tier |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 500 | 1,000 |
| Recent uploads | 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days | Not specified as a separate threshold |
| Long-form path | 3,000 qualified watch hours in the past 12 months | 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the past 12 months |
| Shorts path | 3 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days | 10 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days |
| What it unlocks | Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, Jewels and gifts, Shopping | Revenue sharing from watch page ads and Shorts feed ads, plus the fan-funding features |
Account requirements for both tiers
- Follow YouTube’s channel monetisation policies.
- Live in a country or region where the programme is available (the UK is).
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification for your Google Account.
- Have access to advanced features on YouTube.
- Have an active AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel.
Do Shorts watch hours count towards 4,000 hours?
No. YouTube says watch hours from Shorts viewed in the Shorts feed don’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours threshold. The long-form and Shorts routes are separate: you qualify through one or the other, not a mix.
Watch hours from private, unlisted and deleted videos, from ad campaigns, and from live streams that are unlisted, deleted or not kept as a video afterwards don’t count either.
What is changing on 1 February 2027?
YouTube is raising the entry thresholds for new ad-revenue applicants and adding activity and Shorts earning requirements for existing partners. The details are on YouTube’s changes to the YouTube Partner Program page.
- Higher entry bar for new applicants: 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, still with 1,000 subscribers. Channels already in the programme aren’t affected by this.
- Activity requirement: partner channels must have 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days, or 1 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, or upload 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts every 90 days. Channels that fall below get a 90-day window to get back on track.
- Shorts earnings minimum: to earn from the Shorts Creator Pool each month, channels will need to maintain 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days. Below that, you stay in the programme and keep earning on long-form content.
- New terms: partners need to accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027 to keep earning from the affected features.
- Fan funding unchanged: YouTube says there are no changes to the fan-funding eligibility requirements.
What this means for UK creators close to 4,000 hours: the current thresholds still apply today, so if you’re near them it’s worth pushing to qualify and apply well before February. YouTube says reviews typically take about a month, and its help pages don’t spell out how applications still in review on 1 February will be handled, so leave yourself a buffer.
How much does YouTube pay partners?
YouTube shares a fixed percentage of revenue rather than paying a set rate per view. According to YouTube’s revenue sharing page:
| Revenue source | Creator share |
|---|---|
| Ads on long-form videos (watch page) | 55% of net revenue |
| Shorts feed ads | 45% of the revenue allocated to you from the Creator Pool, based on your share of views |
| Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks | 70% of net revenue |
What you actually earn per 1,000 views varies widely by niche, audience location, video length and time of year, so be wary of anyone quoting a single “YouTube pays £X per view” figure.
How to apply for the YouTube Partner Programme
You apply inside YouTube Studio once you’re close to or meet the thresholds. The process takes a few minutes; the review takes longer.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and open the Earn section.
- Select Apply now, then review and accept the Base Terms.
- Set up or link an AdSense for YouTube account.
- Submit your channel for review.
Reviewers look at your channel as a whole, including its main theme, most-viewed videos, newest videos and metadata such as titles, thumbnails and descriptions. Channels built on reused or mass-produced content are a common reason for rejection. If you’re turned down, YouTube says you can appeal within 21 days, or keep uploading original content and reapply after 30 days.
Getting paid and UK tax: the basics
YouTube pays partners through AdSense for YouTube. Google’s payment threshold for GBP accounts is £60, so earnings roll over until you pass it.
US tax information and Form W-8BEN
Google asks monetising creators worldwide to submit US tax information. UK individuals generally submit Form W-8BEN through AdSense. YouTube’s guide to US tax requirements for YouTube earnings explains that with valid tax info, only earnings from US viewers are subject to withholding. Without it, Google may withhold up to 24% of your total worldwide earnings.
The UK has a tax treaty with the US, and eligible creators can claim treaty benefits on the form to reduce withholding. Google recommends confirming your eligibility with a tax adviser.
Paying UK tax on YouTube income
YouTube income is taxable in the UK. The trading allowance lets individuals earn up to £1,000 a year from self-employment or casual income tax-free; above that, you’ll typically need to register for Self Assessment. HMRC explains the £1,000 trading allowance and when you need to register for Self Assessment. This isn’t tax advice, so speak to an accountant if you’re unsure.
How to get 4,000 watch hours faster
Watch hours come from two levers: more views and longer viewing sessions. Focus on videos that people search for and stay with. For a full strategy, see our guide on how to grow a YouTube channel.
- Make longer videos worth finishing. A 12-minute tutorial watched halfway adds far more watch time than a 3-minute video watched in full.
- Protect the first 30 seconds. Skip long intros and show the payoff early to improve retention.
- Target search. “How to” and problem-solving videos keep collecting views for months.
- Build playlists. Group related videos so one view leads to the next.
- Use end screens and cards. Point viewers to your next most relevant video, not just your latest.
- Go live and keep the replay. Live streams can run for an hour or more; just keep them public and saved as a video afterwards, as deleted or unlisted streams don’t count.
- Use Shorts as a funnel. Shorts views don’t count towards the 4,000 hours, but they can bring in subscribers who then watch your long-form videos. Our guide to getting more YouTube subscribers for free has more ideas.
One warning: don’t try to shortcut the thresholds with artificial watch time. YouTube’s fake engagement policy prohibits anything that artificially increases views or other metrics, and reviewers assess the channel as a whole.
Want to see what the Partner Programme could pay you once you qualify? Our free YouTube money calculator gives an estimate based on your views, and the YouTube title generator can help your next uploads get found in search.
Frequently asked questions
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube in the UK?
You need 500 subscribers (plus the upload and watch-time or Shorts requirements) to unlock fan-funding features, and 1,000 subscribers for ad revenue sharing.
How long does YouTube take to review a YPP application?
YouTube says a decision typically takes about one month, although delays are possible when application volumes are high.
Do YouTube live streams count towards watch hours?
They can, if the stream stays public and is kept as a video afterwards. Live streams that are unlisted, deleted or not converted to a video don’t count, and neither do private videos or Shorts.
Will the 2027 changes remove me from the programme?
Not automatically. Existing partners aren’t affected by the higher entry thresholds, but from 1 February 2027 channels need to meet at least one activity requirement and accept the new terms by 31 January 2027.
Do I need a UK bank account to get paid?
You’re paid through AdSense for YouTube to the payment method you set up there. For GBP accounts, payments are issued once your balance reaches the £60 threshold.
Reaching the Partner Programme is a milestone worth celebrating, and it comes from consistent, original videos. Once you’re monetised and promoting your channel, our YouTube services can add social proof to support your launches, but never use them to hit YPP thresholds.