Amazon Affiliate Disclosure Requirements: The Exact Rules for 2026
Two separate sets of rules apply to Amazon affiliate content — Amazon's own Operating Agreement and FTC endorsement guidelines. Both must be satisfied simultaneously. Getting one right and missing the other still exposes you to enforcement.
The Required Amazon Disclosure — Exact Language
"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
This is Amazon's mandated disclosure language from the Associates Program Operating Agreement. It must appear on any page, post, or content containing Amazon affiliate links. Paraphrasing it or substituting generic affiliate disclosure language does not satisfy the requirement.
Placement rules by content type
Blog post / website
Disclosure must appear at the top of the page, before any affiliate links or product mentions. Sidebar or footer placement does not satisfy the requirement.
Not OK: Disclosure only in the footer after 1,500 words of product recommendations.
YouTube video
State the disclosure verbally in the first 30 seconds of the video and include it in the video description before any affiliate links.
Not OK: Only "#ad" buried in the description after the links.
TikTok / Instagram Reels
State disclosure verbally or on-screen text in the first few seconds. Include in the caption before any mention of the product. '#TikTokShopAffiliate' satisfies TikTok's rule but not Amazon's — both must appear.
Not OK: Disclosure only in a pinned comment.
Email newsletter
Disclosure must appear at the top of the email before any product recommendations or affiliate links.
Not OK: Disclosure in the email footer after all product links.
Social media post (static)
Disclosure in the first line of the caption — before any link or recommendation. Not cut off by the 'more' fold on mobile.
Not OK: Disclosure after the affiliate link in the caption.
What does NOT satisfy the disclosure requirement
"#ad" alone
Does not satisfy Amazon's specific language requirement. May satisfy FTC's disclosure requirement if clear and conspicuous, but Amazon's Operating Agreement requires their specific phrase.
"affiliate link" or "aff link" in caption
Generic affiliate disclosure that does not identify Amazon as the program. Amazon's Operating Agreement requires naming the Associates program.
Bio or profile page disclosure only
A static disclosure in your bio does not cover individual posts. FTC requires per-post disclosure for each piece of affiliate content.
Disclosure after the affiliate link in a caption
Placement after the link means a viewer could click and purchase before seeing the disclosure. FTC requires it to appear before the recommendation.
Verbal disclosure at the end of a video
End-of-video disclosures come after the product recommendation has already influenced the viewer. FTC requires disclosure before or at the point of recommendation.
FTC rules that apply on top of Amazon's requirements
Clear and conspicuous
FTC requires disclosures to be impossible to miss. Small font, buried in bio, or below a long caption does not meet the 'clear and conspicuous' standard.
Before the recommendation
Disclosures must appear before the affiliate recommendation in the content — not at the end after you've already influenced a purchase decision.
Every piece of content
A disclosure in your bio or profile page does not cover individual posts. Every post, video, or page containing affiliate links needs its own disclosure.
Received product = paid relationship
If you received the product free to review, even without cash payment, that's a material connection the FTC requires you to disclose — regardless of Amazon's rules.
Check every piece of Amazon affiliate content for disclosure compliance
BanProof flags missing, misplaced, or non-compliant disclosures across your scripts, captions, and listing copy.
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 and FTC Endorsement Guides as of 2026 — verify current requirements at associates.amazon.com.