OnlyFans Requirements: What You Need to Start, From Age and ID to Getting Paid
To start an OnlyFans you need to be 18 or older, pass identity verification with a government photo ID and a selfie, confirm an email, and add a bank payout method. US creators also complete a W-9 tax form. Creating the account itself is free. This page is the full checklist, with what each step actually asks for and how long approval takes. Then use the directory search to see how verified creators set up and present their pages.
Once you are verified, getting listed in the directory puts your page in front of fans searching your niche.
What are the requirements for OnlyFans? The short answer
To become an OnlyFans creator you must be at least 18 years old, verify your identity with a valid government-issued photo ID and a selfie, confirm a working email, and add a bank account or payout method to get paid. Creators in the United States also fill out a W-9 tax form. There is no fee to create the account. Once your documents are approved, usually within 24 to 72 hours, you can set a price and start posting.
Last updated June 2026. Reflects OnlyFans standard creator onboarding for United States creators.
The OnlyFans requirements checklist
There are six things OnlyFans actually requires before you can earn. None of them are difficult, but a couple surprise new creators, like the W-9 tax form and the selfie step. Here is the whole list in one place, with what each item needs and whether it is mandatory.
| Requirement | What you provide | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Be 18 or older | Proof of age through your ID. No exceptions, even at 17. | Yes |
| Government photo ID | A valid passport, driver's license, or national ID card. | Yes |
| Verification selfie | A clear selfie, often holding your ID, so your face matches it. | Yes |
| Email address | A working email you confirm to activate the account. | Yes |
| Payout method | A bank account for direct deposit so OnlyFans can pay you. | Yes, to get paid |
| Tax form (W-9) | US creators complete a W-9. Non-US creators file a W-8BEN. | Yes, in the US |
| A phone or camera | Any modern phone to shoot content and upload it. No studio needed. | Practical, not enforced |
That is the entire list. Everything below explains each item, what OnlyFans does with the information, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Each OnlyFans requirement, explained
The platform builds its whole onboarding around one goal: proving every creator is a real adult who legally agrees to the terms and can be paid and taxed correctly. Here is what that means for each requirement.
The age requirement
You must be at least 18 to create a creator account, and your ID has to prove it. There is no path in at 17, and accounts found to belong to a minor are removed. Your real date of birth on the ID is how the platform confirms this.
A government photo ID
A passport, driver's license, or national ID card works. It must be current, not expired, and the name on it has to match the name on your account. Photograph it in good light so the text and your date of birth are fully readable.
A verification selfie
OnlyFans matches your face to your ID with a selfie, frequently one where you hold the document next to your face. This is the step that stops people from using someone else's ID, and it is why a clear, well-lit photo matters.
Email and account basics
You confirm a working email and set a username and password. OnlyFans may also ask you to link a public social profile during verification. Pick a username you are happy to promote, since it becomes the handle on your public page.
A bank payout method
To receive money you add a bank account for direct deposit in your banking settings. You can browse and set up a page before this, but you cannot withdraw earnings until a valid payout method is on file and approved.
A W-9 tax form (US)
US creators complete a W-9 so OnlyFans can issue a 1099 at tax time. It catches many new creators off guard. It is normal, it is required, and it is why keeping your own income records from day one pays off.
How OnlyFans verification works, step by step
Meeting the requirements happens during a short onboarding flow. Most creators finish the active part in well under ten minutes, then wait for review.
Create the account
Sign up with your email, set a username and password, confirm your email, and accept the terms. This part is free and takes a minute.
Submit ID and selfie
Upload a clear photo of your government ID and take the verification selfie when prompted. Good lighting and a readable ID are what get you approved on the first try.
Add tax and payout details
Complete the W-9 if you are in the US and add your bank account for payouts. These let OnlyFans pay you and report your income correctly.
Wait for approval
Review usually takes 24 to 72 hours, sometimes only minutes. Once approved, set your subscription price and post your first content.
For the full walkthrough of setting up the page after you pass verification, read how to start an OnlyFans, and for how the identity check protects your privacy, see OnlyFans age verification. Passing verification is only the first requirement: staying on the platform means keeping inside the content rules, so it is worth knowing the restricted words moderation flags and what actually happens when an OnlyFans account is banned.
What OnlyFans does not require
Just as useful as the real list is knowing what you can ignore. Plenty of advice online invents barriers that do not exist. None of the following are required to start.
No following or audience
You do not need existing followers, a big social media account, or a fan base to open a creator account. Most creators start from zero and build an audience after the page is live.
No fee, LLC, or business
Creating the account costs nothing, and you do not need an LLC, a registered business, or a business bank account to begin. You can start as an individual and formalize later if you grow.
No agency or manager
You do not need to sign with a management agency to be allowed on the platform. Agencies are optional services creators choose, not an entry requirement.
No requirement to show your face
Your ID and selfie are for private verification only and are never shown to fans. On your public page you can stay faceless if you choose. Many successful creators do.
If privacy is your concern, our guide on running an OnlyFans without showing your face and on staying anonymous on OnlyFans cover how to keep your identity private while still passing verification.
Country eligibility and getting paid
OnlyFans is available to creators in most countries, including the United States, where it is fully supported. What changes by country is the tax form and the payout details. US creators complete a W-9 and are paid by direct deposit to a US bank. Creators outside the US complete a W-8BEN instead and may have different payout options. If your country or your bank is not supported, you will see that during the payout setup, before you have committed any time to building a page.
Once you are paid, that income is yours to report. In the US, OnlyFans treats you as self-employed and sends a 1099 based on your gross earnings, so it helps to understand how much OnlyFans takes and how OnlyFans taxes work before your first payout. For the mechanics of linking a bank and withdrawing, see how you get paid on OnlyFans.
OnlyFans requirements, questions answered
Met the requirements? Get found by fans
Verification gets you on OnlyFans. Getting listed in the OnlyFinds directory gets you discovered. Put your verified page in front of people searching your niche, free.