YouTube has announced a significant increase in the entry requirements for its Partner Programme, set to take effect on February 1, 2027. Creators applying from that date will need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified public watch hours within the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the previous 90 days. Both thresholds are exactly double the current requirements, while the subscriber minimum remains unchanged.
First Major Revision Since 2018
YouTube described this as the first major revision to its Partner Programme entry conditions since 2018. The update aims to ensure the programme continues to reward creators who maintain active and growing audiences as the creator economy expands. The company reported that more than three million creators currently belong to the programme, with over 200 billion Shorts views recorded daily and more than one billion hours of content watched on television each day, according to BusinessDay.
New Shorts Threshold for Existing Members
In addition to the higher entry bar, YouTube is introducing an ongoing requirement for creators already in the Partner Programme who wish to continue earning from Shorts. From February 2027, these creators will need at least 10 million qualified Shorts views within any 90-day window to remain eligible for Shorts advertising and subscription revenue sharing. Channels that fall below this threshold will not be removed from the programme and will continue earning from long-form videos. Shorts revenue sharing will resume automatically once the channel reaches the 10 million-view mark again. Existing members will not face the new joining requirements, which apply only to new applicants.
Impact on Nigerian Creators
This announcement marks a shift from YouTube's earlier push to widen access to monetisation. Previously, the platform introduced a lower entry tier requiring just 500 subscribers, three uploads within 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or three million Shorts views in 90 days. For Nigerian creators, the higher thresholds could make earning from YouTube considerably harder, especially for smaller channels that rely on Shorts to build an audience. However, Nigerian musicians, filmmakers, and content creators with substantial followings and viewers in high-value advertising markets may be less directly affected.
The updated rules place a stronger emphasis on sustained performance and audience consistency as YouTube manages the rapid growth of its global creator base. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that X closed new sign-ups for its Revenue Sharing programme and unveiled a replacement scheme, the Original Content Rewards Programme, which focuses on compensating creators who contribute genuine ideas and perspectives to the platform.
