AdSense Requirements and Eligibility

Before you can start earning with Google AdSense, you need to meet specific requirements and get your account approved. This lesson covers everything you need to know about eligibility and how to prepare your site for a successful application.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Google has established minimum requirements that all publishers must meet before applying.

Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old to participate in AdSense. This is non-negotiable and applies worldwide. If you're under 18, you can have a parent or guardian create and manage the account on your behalf.

Content Ownership

You must own or have legal rights to the website where you want to display ads. This means:

• You own the domain
• You have administrative access to the site
• You have the right to monetize the content
• The content isn't stolen from other sources

Website Requirements

Your website must meet Google's quality standards:

Technical Requirements:

• A top-level domain (example.com, not example.blogspot.com for new accounts)
• Working SSL certificate (HTTPS)
• Accessible to Google's crawlers
• Mobile-friendly design
• Fast loading speed

Content Requirements:

• Original, high-quality content
• At least 20-30 pages of substantial content (recommended)
• Regular content updates (at least 3-6 months of history)
• Clear navigation structure
• Essential pages (About, Contact, Privacy Policy)

Content Quality Standards

Google evaluates your content carefully during the approval process.

What Makes Quality Content

Your content should demonstrate:

Originality:

• Written by you or your team
• Not copied from other websites
• Not spun or AI-generated low-quality content
• Unique perspectives or information

Value:

• Solves problems for readers
• Provides useful information
• Entertains or educates
• Answers questions thoroughly

Depth:

• Articles of substantial length (500+ words minimum, 1000+ ideal)
• Comprehensive coverage of topics
• Supporting details and examples
• Proper research and accuracy

Content That Causes Problems

Certain content types will lead to rejection or account suspension:

Prohibited Content:

• Adult or sexually explicit material
• Violent or graphic content
• Hate speech or discrimination
• Illegal activities or products
• Copyrighted material without permission
• Hacking or cracking information
• Drug-related content
• Weapons and ammunition
• Gambling (in most regions)

Low-Quality Content:

• Thin content (very short articles)
• Duplicate content from other sites
• Auto-generated content
• Doorway pages (made only for SEO)
• Excessive ads with little content

Essential Pages for Approval

Google looks for specific pages that demonstrate legitimacy and transparency.

Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is mandatory. It should explain:

• What data you collect from visitors
• How you use cookies (including for ads)
• Third-party advertising partners
• How users can opt out of tracking
• Contact information for privacy concerns

Tip: You can use free privacy policy generators, but customize them for your site.

About Page

Your About page builds trust by explaining:

• Who you are or what your organization is
• What your website is about
• Why visitors should trust your content
• Your expertise or qualifications (if relevant)

Contact Page

Provide a way for visitors to reach you:

• Contact form or email address
• Physical address (optional but adds credibility)
• Social media links (optional)

Terms of Service (Recommended)

While not strictly required, terms of service add legitimacy:

• User conduct expectations
• Content ownership and usage rights
• Limitation of liability
• Dispute resolution

Technical Requirements in Detail

Let's examine the technical aspects Google evaluates.

Domain Requirements

Acceptable:

• Your own domain (mysite.com)
• Subdomains of your own domain (blog.mysite.com)
• Certain free platforms with good standing

Not Acceptable:

• Free hosting subdomains (mysite.freehost.com)
• URL shorteners
• Parked domains with no content

Site Structure and Navigation

Your site should have:

• Clear menu or navigation
• Logical category organization
• Working internal links
• No broken pages (404 errors)
• XML sitemap (recommended)

Mobile Optimization

With mobile traffic dominating, your site must:

• Be responsive or mobile-friendly
• Pass Google's Mobile-Friendly Test
• Have readable text without zooming
• Have appropriately sized tap targets

Page Speed

Slow sites frustrate users and hurt approval chances:

• Aim for under 3-second load times
• Optimize images
• Minimize unnecessary scripts
• Use caching where possible

The Approval Process Timeline

Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations.

Typical Process

1. Application Submission: Day 1
2. Initial Review: 1-3 days
3. Detailed Review: 1-2 weeks (sometimes longer)
4. Decision: Email notification of approval or rejection

Factors Affecting Timeline

Faster Approval:

• Established website (6+ months old)
• Substantial content library
• Clear niche and purpose
• Good traffic levels

Slower Approval:

• New websites
• Minimal content
• Technical issues
• Previous rejections

Common Rejection Reasons

Understanding why sites get rejected helps you prepare better.

Insufficient Content

The most common rejection reason. Solutions:

• Add more articles (aim for 30+)
• Increase article depth (1000+ words)
• Cover topics comprehensively
• Ensure content is genuinely useful

Navigational Issues

Google can't evaluate what it can't find. Fix:

• Add clear menus
• Include a sitemap
• Fix broken links
• Ensure all pages are accessible

Policy Violations

Content that violates AdSense policies. Address by:

• Reviewing all content against policies
• Removing or modifying problematic content
• Checking images and embedded content
• Reviewing comment sections

Low-Value Content

Content that doesn't provide unique value. Improve by:

• Rewriting thin articles
• Adding original insights
• Including examples and case studies
• Demonstrating expertise

Preparing Your Site for Approval

Follow this checklist before applying:

Content Checklist

• Minimum 20-30 quality articles
• Each article 500+ words (1000+ preferred)
• All content is original
• Content provides genuine value
• No policy-violating content
• Regular posting schedule established

Technical Checklist

• Own domain with SSL (HTTPS)
• Mobile-friendly design
• Fast loading speed
• Clear navigation menu
• Working internal links
• No major technical errors

Essential Pages Checklist

• Privacy Policy published
• About page completed
• Contact page with working form
• Terms of Service (optional but recommended)

User Experience Checklist

• Clean, professional design
• Easy to read content
• No intrusive pop-ups
• Logical site structure

Key Takeaways

• You must be 18+ and own rights to your website content
• Quality, original content is the most important factor
• Essential pages (Privacy Policy, About, Contact) are required
• Technical requirements include HTTPS, mobile-friendliness, and good speed
• Most rejections come from insufficient or low-quality content
• Prepare thoroughly before applying to avoid rejection delays
• The approval process typically takes 1-2 weeks but can vary

What's Next

With your site prepared and ready, the next module walks you through the actual process of creating your AdSense account and getting approved.