Latest from MyHotips Fresh reads while you browse
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Be first to rate

YouTube's Shopping affiliate programme lets eligible creators tag products in their videos, Shorts and livestreams, and earn commission when viewers buy. It opened to UK creators in August 2026, and on 3 November Amazon said UK creators can now tag its products too.

This article explains who can join, how tagging and commission work, when money arrives and how to label posts in the UK. It is based on YouTube's own announcements and trade reporting, and no earnings figures here are a promise of what you will make. Details checked on 8 November 2026.

Quick Overview

  • The UK joined the programme on 6 August 2026, according to PPC Land.
  • Launch retailers included Wayfair, Currys, Debenhams, Boots, M&S and Etsy.
  • Amazon said on 3 November 2026 that UK creators can now tag its products.
  • You need to be in the YouTube Partner Programme, from 500 subscribers.
  • Each retailer sets its own commission, and returns can reverse it.
  • Payment goes through AdSense, typically 60 to 120 days after the purchase.

What the programme is

Tagging products

Creators choose products from participating retailers and tag them in long-form videos, Shorts and livestreams. Viewers tap through to the retailer's own site to buy, and the creator earns commission on completed sales. YouTube said at CreatorFest 2026 that creators can also go back and tag older videos.

Why Amazon matters

Before Amazon joined, UK creators were limited to the launch retailers. Retail Tech Innovation Hub reported on 3 November 2026 that Amazon is joining YouTube's programme in the UK, which widens the range of products that can be tagged. Exact Amazon commission rates for UK tags were not given in the coverage.

Who can join in the UK

Partner Programme first

The affiliate programme is tied to the YouTube Partner Programme. Since March 2026, entry has been possible from 500 subscribers, along with watch-time or Shorts-view thresholds, according to PPC Land's summary of YouTube's briefing. Check the current requirements in YouTube Studio, as they can change.

Who is excluded

PPC Land reports that music channels, Official Artist Channels and channels set to Made for Kids, or with many such videos, are not eligible. Channels managed by a content owner need that owner to accept the programme agreement.

No fee to join

There is no fee to join. Meeting the thresholds is a starting point, not a guarantee of approval, and YouTube reviews channels against its own policies.

How commission is set and paid

Set by the retailer

Each retailer sets its own commission rate and attribution window for each product, and you can see these in the tagging tool before you tag. Some retailers also offer custom rates or campaigns to particular channels, and creators are not required to take part.

The launch incentive

PPC Land reports that YouTube is temporarily passing 100% of merchant commission to creators at launch. YouTube has said this is temporary and that rates may fall later, with no end date given. Do not plan around it lasting.

A creator at a home desk looking at a laptop showing a simple earnings chart and calendar, notebook beside them, calm daylight, no platform logos.

When the money arrives

Commission is paid through AdSense for YouTube, typically 60 to 120 days after the purchase. Returns, cancellations and refunds can reverse commission before it is settled, so the figure you see early on is an estimate, not money in the bank.

What to expect realistically

Small channels

The 500-subscriber entry point makes the programme open to smaller channels, but commission depends on how many viewers buy, the retailer's rate and how many orders are returned. No reliable UK earnings figures have been published, so judge it by your own results over a few months rather than by anyone else's screenshots.

A small home filming setup: a phone on a tripod pointed at a desk with two everyday products, ring light, plain wall, natural light.

Tag what you use

Tag products you actually use or recommend in the video. Viewers are more likely to trust and buy from a recommendation that is genuine.

Check the rate first

Look at the commission rate and attribution window in the tagging tool before you build a video around a product.

Related read: TikTok Shop Affiliate in the UK: How Shoppable Carousels Work and What Creators Can Earn

Labelling affiliate content in the UK

Make it obvious

The ASA's guidance for influencers says affiliate content counts as advertising and must be clearly labelled. It recommends #ad as the simplest label and says disclosure should be upfront, not hidden at the end or in small text.

Use YouTube's tools too

YouTube requires creators to follow its paid product placement policies where they apply. Its own labels do not replace the need to make the commercial relationship clear in the video. Read the current ASA and CAP influencer guidance. This is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can UK creators tag Amazon products now?

Amazon said on 3 November 2026 that UK creators can tag its products through YouTube's programme. Check the tagging tool in YouTube Studio to see what is available on your channel.

How many subscribers do I need?

Entry to the Partner Programme is possible from 500 subscribers, along with watch-time or Shorts-view thresholds. Check YouTube Studio for the current figures.

How much commission will I get?

Each retailer sets its own rate. You see it in the tagging tool before you tag a product.

When will I be paid?

Through AdSense, typically 60 to 120 days after the purchase. Returns and refunds can reverse commission before then.

Verdict

Worth switching on if you qualify

If your channel is already in the Partner Programme and you regularly mention products, it costs nothing to join and Amazon's arrival makes it far more useful. Treat early figures as estimates, expect a delay before you are paid, check each retailer's rate before tagging and label every video clearly. Keep building an audience you own, such as an email list, alongside it.

Related read: Affiliate Email Funnel Blueprint