Amazon Associates Requirements: What You Need to Join and Stay In
Getting approved for Amazon Associates is straightforward. Staying approved — without a termination that claws back your commissions — requires understanding the ongoing compliance obligations Amazon doesn't highlight during signup.
Eligibility requirements to apply
Active website, blog, app, or social channel
Must have existing original content. A brand-new site with no posts is rejected. Social channels must have a posting history.
Age 18 or older
Account holder must be 18+. Associates under 18 require a parent or guardian to hold the account.
Valid tax information
US associates need a valid SSN or EIN for the W-9. Non-US associates need W-8BEN documentation.
US-accessible content
Your primary content must be accessible to US audiences even if you're based outside the US. Region-locked content may be rejected.
Original content, not primarily affiliate links
Amazon reviews content quality. Sites built primarily around affiliate links with minimal original content are rejected or closed post-approval.
No prohibited content
Content involving sexually explicit material, hate speech, illegal activities, or violence is not eligible regardless of traffic volume.
The 180-Day Rule: What Most New Associates Miss
After approval, you have 180 days to generate at least 3 qualifying purchases through your affiliate links. If you don't hit that threshold, Amazon closes your account — no warning, no appeal, just termination. The 180-day clock starts the day you're approved, not the day you post your first link. Many associates get terminated during this window simply because they didn't know the deadline existed.
Check your approval date in Associates Central. Count 180 days forward. That's your qualification deadline.
Ongoing compliance rules after approval
Display the required disclosure on every piece of content
"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." — required on every page, post, or video containing affiliate links. Not once in your bio. Every piece.
No paid traffic to affiliate links
Sending paid ad traffic (Google, Meta, TikTok, any platform) directly to Amazon affiliate URLs is an immediate termination-level violation.
No link cloaking or URL masking
Affiliate links must display the Amazon domain. Hiding them behind shorteners, redirect services, or custom domains violates the Operating Agreement.
No trademark use in domains or advertising
Using "Amazon", "Alexa", or any Amazon trademark in your website domain, business name, or ad copy is prohibited.
No incentivized purchases or reviews
Offering rewards, discounts, or products in exchange for purchases through your links or reviews of linked products is a termination-level violation.
Price accuracy — no showing specific Amazon prices
You cannot display specific Amazon prices in your content as they change constantly. You can say 'check Amazon for current pricing' but not state a dollar amount.
What most affiliates don't know until they're terminated
Commissions forfeit at termination
Amazon claws back all unpaid commissions when an account is terminated. There is no grace period or payment of earned-but-unpaid commissions.
One account per household
Amazon allows one Associates account per household. Spouses, parents, or roommates using the same address or payment method may be flagged as duplicates.
Your website is reviewed after approval
Amazon's team reviews your site content after you're approved — not before. Sites with thin content, no original posts, or primarily affiliate-only content are frequently closed in the first 30 days.
Commission rates change without notice
Amazon can and does change commission rates unilaterally. The Operating Agreement permits this. Affiliate income built on high-commission categories can drop overnight.
Stay compliant — audit every piece of affiliate content before it goes live
BanProof checks your scripts, captions, and descriptions against the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement before you publish.
BanProof.io is an independent AI compliance tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon.com, Inc. Requirements are based on the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement — verify current requirements at associates.amazon.com.