YouTube Monetization in Canada: Partner Program Requirements Explained
What a Canadian channel needs before YouTube will share ad revenue, and what does and does not count towards the thresholds.
Canada is an eligible country
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is available in Canada. You need a channel that follows YouTube's monetization policies, two-step verification on your Google account, an AdSense account linked to the channel, and no active Community Guidelines strikes.
The two eligibility levels
YouTube currently has two entry points. Always confirm the exact numbers in YouTube Studio under Earn, because YouTube updates them from time to time.
| Early access (fan funding) | Full YPP (ad revenue) | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 500 | 1,000 |
| Uploads | 3 public videos in the last 90 days | — |
| Long-form | 3,000 public watch hours in 12 months | 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months |
| or Shorts | 3 million Shorts views in 90 days | 10 million Shorts views in 90 days |
The first level unlocks features like channel memberships, Super Thanks and Super Chat. Ad revenue sharing starts at the second.
What counts and what does not
- Only public watch time counts. Unlisted, private and deleted videos do not.
- YouTube filters out views it considers invalid. Bought views do not help you qualify, and YouTube reviews channels by hand before approval.
- Reused content without meaningful changes of your own is a common reason channels are rejected.
Taxes for Canadian creators
Earnings from YouTube are business income in Canada and should be reported to the CRA. YouTube will also ask you to submit US tax information in AdSense, because part of the income can come from US viewers. If you are unsure how this applies to you, talk to an accountant.
How to get there faster
- Find one topic you can publish about every week and stick to it.
- Write titles and thumbnails for one viewer, not for the algorithm.
- Use Shorts to get discovered and point viewers to your long videos.
- Read Audience retention in YouTube Analytics and cut the parts where people leave.
Where a boost fits in
Paid YouTube views, likes or subscribers can make a new channel look less empty to the first real visitors. They will not get you monetized, and you should not buy them for that reason. Monetization comes from real viewers watching real hours.
Put the next step into practice
Continue with Read YouTube Audience Retention Before Editing Your Next Video for a separate practical workflow.
Frequently asked questions
How many subscribers do I need to make money on YouTube in Canada?
Do bought views count towards watch hours?
Do I pay tax on YouTube income in Canada?
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