Twitch Affiliate and Partner Requirements
To become a Twitch Affiliate you need 25 followers, 4 hours streamed, 4 different stream days and an average of 3 viewers on 4 different days, all within the same 30-day window, plus two-factor authentication turned on. To apply for Partner, you need 6 streams on 6 different days averaging 75 viewers, in each of two consecutive 30-day periods.
Twitch Affiliate requirements (2026)
Twitch calls this checklist Path to Affiliate. You must complete all four achievements inside the same 30-day period:
| Requirement | What counts |
|---|---|
| Reach 25 followers | Total followers. This one doesn’t reset every 30 days. |
| Stream for 4 hours | Total live time in the last 30 days. |
| Stream on 4 different days | Separate broadcast days in the last 30 days (days are counted in GMT). |
| Average of 3 viewers (on 4 different days) | 3 or more average concurrent viewers on any 4 stream days in the last 30 days. |
You also need two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled before you can start Affiliate onboarding. Twitch requires it for every Affiliate and Partner, so turn it on now and you won’t be held up later.
These numbers are lower than they used to be. With its Monetization for All update, Twitch cut the Affiliate bar from 50 followers, 8 hours and 7 stream days to 25 followers, 4 hours and 4 days. The 3-viewer average stayed. Lots of older guides still list 50 followers and 500 minutes.
How the 3-viewer average works
It means 3 people watching at the same time on average, not 3 total views. Days under 3 don’t count against you. For example, if you streamed 10 days in the last 30 and 4 of those days averaged 3 or more concurrent viewers, you’ve met the requirement. The other 6 days are ignored.
Chatbots such as Nightbot or Moobot are not viewers. They only connect to chat, so they don’t help with this achievement.
The 30-day window catches people out
The streaming and viewer goals have to land in the same rolling 30 days. If you hit the viewer average on day 5 but only reach 4 hours on day 35, you aren’t eligible. That’s because the viewer days have dropped out of the window. A stream schedule of a few hours on 4 or more separate days each month is the simplest way to stay inside it.
How to track your progress
- Open your Creator Dashboard (profile picture → Creator Dashboard).
- Go to Analytics → Achievements.
- Find the Path to Affiliate card. A checkmark means that goal was completed within the last 30 days.
- Click View 30-day stats to see the exact numbers Twitch is counting.
Your main dashboard stats are all-time, while Achievements only counts the last 30 days, so don’t be surprised when the numbers differ. Progress can take up to 48 hours to update after a stream.
What Affiliate gets you
Since 2026, every streamer can go to Creator Dashboard → Monetization → Setup and switch on subs, Bits, emotes, sub badges and Channel Points before reaching Affiliate. What Affiliate adds is the ability to get paid, plus extra tools:
- Payouts of your sub, Bits and ad revenue, Net-15, once you pass the payout minimum ($50 for most methods, $100 for wire transfer).
- Ad revenue from ads on your channel.
- Bits in Extensions, Goals, Charity and subscriber-only streams.
- Creator Sponsorships and third-party campaigns (sponsorship invites need Creator Certification), plus the Plus Program for a higher sub revenue share.
- 14-day VOD storage instead of 7, the ability to upload videos, and subscriber-only VODs.
- Priority access to transcodes (quality options for viewers) when capacity is available.
Once subs are live, plan your sub emotes and badges. Our emote guide and the emote and badge size references cover the file specs.
How to accept the Affiliate invite
Twitch sends the invite by email and as a Twitch notification, usually 24 to 48 hours after you qualify (up to 72 hours). You don’t need the email: onboarding is also in your dashboard. Have your legal name, date of birth, country, payout method and tax ID ready.
- Click the invitation, or go to Creator Dashboard → Monetization → Affiliate.
- Step 1: Enable Two-Factor Authentication. If 2FA is already on, this shows as complete.
- Step 2: Complete Your Account Detail. Enter your legal name exactly as on your tax documents, your country and date of birth, then agree to the Monetized Streamer Agreement. If you already finished monetization setup, this may already be filled in.
- Step 3: Start Earning Revenue. Complete every tax interview shown (for example the Royalty and Service tax interviews, run through Amazon Tax Central), then choose a payout method such as direct deposit, PayPal, check or wire.
- When all three steps are green you’ll see a “Welcome to the Affiliate fam!” message.
Tax interviews usually validate in 24 to 48 hours (up to 72). Use the same name and address everywhere. Mismatched details between the account form, tax interviews and payout method are the most common onboarding problem.
Twitch Partner requirements
Partner is not automatic. You complete the Path to Partner achievement, which unlocks an Apply button, and then Twitch reviews your application. The current criteria are:
| Achievement | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Last 30 days | 6 streams on 6 unique days, each averaging 75 or more viewers |
| 30 to 60 days ago | 6 streams on 6 unique days, each averaging 75 or more viewers |
In practice that’s 12 streams over two consecutive months, 6 per month, at a consistent 75+ average. Streams below 75 don’t count toward progress, but they don’t count against you either. Twitch says steady viewership (for example a reliable 70 to 80) looks better than numbers that swing between 20 and 200.
Many guides still quote 25 hours streamed on 12 days. Twitch’s current Achievements article lists the 6-streams-per-month rule above instead, so check your own Path to Partner card.
Twitch also looks at your content and history:
- Viewers from front-page promotions and embeds don’t count toward the viewership requirement.
- Your content must follow the Community Guidelines, Terms of Service and DMCA Guidelines, and suspension history is considered.
- Twitch may accept channels outside these criteria, for example after exceptional growth or with an established audience on another platform.
Partner adds 60-day VOD storage, guaranteed transcodes, a verified badge, custom Cheermotes, up to 60 emote slots, a native stream delay of up to 15 minutes, payout fees covered by Twitch and prioritized support.
Quick checklist
- Turn on 2FA today.
- Stream at least 4 separate days every 30 days, totaling 4+ hours.
- Watch Analytics → Achievements, not your all-time stats.
- Use the sub calculator to estimate what subs will earn once you can be paid out.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need Affiliate to get subs and Bits?
No. Since Twitch’s 2026 Monetization for All update, any streamer who completes monetization setup can turn on subs, Bits and Channel Points. You still need Affiliate or Partner status to actually be paid out; until then the money sits in your balance and can be spent on Twitch through Spendable Balance.
Do chatbots or embedded streams count as viewers?
Chatbots like Nightbot don’t count, because they only join chat and don’t watch. For Partner, Twitch says viewership from front-page promotions and embeds is excluded.
Why did my follower progress reset to 0/25?
If you gain no new followers for 180 days, the Achievements page shows 0/25 to signal inactivity. You haven’t lost followers; the real count shows again within 24 hours of your next new follower.
Can I become an Affiliate if I’m under 18?
Yes, if you’re 13 to 17. Twitch requires parental or guardian consent and supervision, and a parent or guardian must accept the Monetized Streamer Agreement for you during onboarding.
How long after meeting the requirements do I get the invite?
Usually 24 to 48 hours, sometimes up to 72 hours. If it has been more than three days and all four achievements show a checkmark, contact Twitch Support.
Sources: Twitch Help: Joining the Affiliate Program · Twitch Help: Achievements · Twitch Help: Affiliate Onboarding Guide · Twitch Help: Partner Program Overview · Twitch Help: About Monetization on Twitch · Twitch Blog: Monetization for All