What 'reside in an eligible country' actually means
It is the first rule in Instagram's Partner Monetization Policies. To use a money-making tool, you must live in a country where that specific product or feature is available, and you can lose access if you move or if Instagram changes where the product is offered[1].
The key words are 'the product or feature'. There is no single list of countries for all of Instagram monetization. Each tool has its own rules, so you can be eligible for one and not another.
Which Instagram tools are open in India
| Tool | Minimum followers | India | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gifts on reels | 500[2] | Listed[2] | Listed[2] |
| Subscriptions | 10,000[3] | Listed[3] | Listed[3] |
| Reels Play bonus | Invite only | Stopped in March 2023[4] | Stopped in March 2023[4] |
| Holiday and New Year bonus tests | Invite only | Not offered | Invite-only test[5] |
| Paid partnerships with brands | No fixed number | Brands pay you directly | Brands pay you directly |
8 checks when a monetization tool won't show
- Switch to a professional account (Creator or Business). The Professional dashboard only appears on these.
- Open Professional dashboard, then Monetization status. It shows whether your account is eligible or limited, and why[6].
- Check the follower minimum for the exact tool: 500 for Gifts[2], 10,000 for Subscriptions[3].
- Confirm you are 18 or older on your account[2].
- Set up a payout account. Without it you can see gifts but can't receive the money[2].
- Check your content type. Accounts that mainly post content focused on children can't use Gifts or Subscriptions, and collab posts can't earn Gifts[2].
- Remove signs of fake engagement. Instagram can remove monetization if your audience includes many fake likes, follows or views[1].
- Don't use a VPN to change country. It doesn't change your account's monetization country[6], and it can make the account look suspicious.
Moved between India and the US?
Eligibility follows where you live, not where your followers are[1]. If you moved from India to the US, or the other way, your tools can change. Both countries are on the Gifts and Subscriptions lists[2], so those usually stay open. Bonus invites, when they run, have been tested only in the US, South Korea and Japan[5].
If the dashboard still shows the wrong country after a move, update your contact and payout details first, then contact Instagram support from inside the app rather than making a new account.
How Indian creators earn even without Instagram's tools
- Paid partnerships: brands pay you directly for reels and stories. Use the paid partnership label.
- Affiliate links: share links to products you use and earn a commission on sales.
- Your own product or service: workshops, presets, consultations or physical products.
- UGC work: make videos for brands' own accounts and ads without posting them on your profile.
Sources
Every statistic in this article comes from one of these publications. Links open the original source in a new tab.
- 1Instagram Partner Monetization Policies You must reside in an eligible country where the product or feature is available, and may lose access if you move.
- 2How to earn money on Instagram Gifts 500 followers, 18+, professional account, payout account. $0.01 per Star. India and the United States are on the country list.
- 3Eligibility requirements for Instagram Subscriptions 10,000 followers, 18+, professional account. India and the United States are on the country list.
- 4Instagram Reels Play bonus program New and renewed Reels Play deals stopped in the US and India on 9 March 2023.
- 5Giving more creators around the world ways to earn money Instagram's holiday and New Year bonuses were invite-only tests in the United States, South Korea and Japan.
- 6How to fix Instagram monetization not showing Check Monetization status first; a VPN does not change the account's monetization country.
This article is for general information and isn't financial or legal advice. Figures are as published by each source on the date shown.