How to Become an Amazon Ads Verified Partner in 2026

If you manage Amazon advertising for brands whether as an agency, a technology provider, or a managed services consultancy, the Amazon Ads Partner Network is the most credible external signal of expertise available in the space.

Most agencies know the programme exists. Fewer understand how the tier system works, what each status actually unlocks, and what the progression from Partner to Verified to Advanced Partner means in practice.

This guide covers the fundamentals of becoming Amazon Ads Verified Partner, including an important update on what is changing in 2026.

What Is the Amazon Ads Partner Network and How Does It Work? 

The Amazon Ads Partner Network is Amazon's official programme for agencies, tool providers, and managed service companies that work with Amazon advertisers. It gives partners access to Amazon's advertising infrastructure, educational resources, directory listings, and, at higher tiers, exclusive benefits like beta access, co-marketing support, and specialisation badges.

Importantly, it is also how brands looking for Amazon advertising expertise find and evaluate agencies. Partners listed in Amazon's Partner Directory are searchable by brands looking for verified, Amazon-assessed expertise making the programme both a credibility signal and a lead generation channel.

There are three tiers: Partner, Verified Partner, and Advanced Partner. Each tier unlocks a distinct set of benefits and carries a different level of Amazon endorsement.

Amazon Ads Partner Network Tiers: Partner, Verified and Advanced Explained 

The Amazon Ads Partner Network operates across three tiers, each unlocking a distinct set of benefits and carrying a different level of Amazon endorsement. Every company starts at Partner by default and progresses through Verified and Advanced based on Amazon's assessment. 

Tier 1: Amazon Ads Partner- What You Get When You Enrol 

Partner is the entry-level tier, and it is where every company in the programme starts. When you enrol in the Amazon Ads Partner Network, you become a Partner by default. No separate application is required for this tier.

As a Partner, you get access to:

• Amazon Ads logo: Use the logo in your marketing materials

• Amazon Ads API: Request access to manage advertisers and automate advertising tasks

• Partner opportunities: Access actionable insights for your advertisers through the Opportunities page or the Amazon Ads API

• Partner Directory profile: Showcase your products and services to prospective clients on Amazon's Partner Directory

• Product and service validation: Earn verification on your directory profile for validated products and services

• Specialisation badges: Demonstrate expertise through badges on your directory profile and marketing materials

• Amazon Ads certifications: Access and display Amazon Ads certifications for your team

• Educational resources: Guides, case studies, and videos from Amazon's content library

• Webinars and videos: Live webinars, on-demand webinars, and videos created exclusively for partners

This base tier gives agencies and tool providers the foundational infrastructure to operate as recognised Amazon Ads partners and be discoverable on the Partner Directory.

Amazon Ads certifications are one of the strongest credibility signals on your Partner Directory profile. For a complete breakdown of how Amazon's ad types and campaign structures work:

Read our full guide on Amazon Sponsored Ads → 

Tier 2: Amazon Ads Verified Partner- What It Is and What It Unlocks 

Verified Partner is the first earned status in the programme,  it is not automatic on enrolment. Amazon assesses your company against qualification criteria before granting Verified status, and you can use the Verified Partner badge in your marketing materials once achieved.

Verified Partners receive everything in the Partner tier, plus:

• Verified partner status badge: Distinguishes your company with the verified badge across marketing and directory profile

• Amazon Ads Partner Awards eligibility: Winners and finalists receive badges on their directory profile

• Beta access: Participate in Amazon Ads betas by invitation

• Exclusive events: Invitations to exclusive partner events and priority registration

• Sponsorship programs: Access to event sponsorship opportunities with Amazon Ads

• Co-marketing support: Access to co-marketing opportunities by invitation

The Verified Partner status is the tier that most brands look for when evaluating an Amazon agency. It signals that Amazon has formally assessed the partner's expertise and compliance standards,  not just that they enrolled in the programme.

Tier 3: Amazon Ads Advanced Partner- The Highest Tier and Its Exclusive Benefits 

Advanced Partner is the highest tier in the Amazon Ads Partner Network. It requires Amazon's assessment and approval beyond Verified status, and carries the strongest signal of expertise and track record in the programme.

Advanced Partners receive everything in the Verified tier, plus:

• Advanced partner status badge: The highest-tier badge available, usable in marketing materials and directory profile

• Case studies: Submit success stories directly in Partner Network to be developed into official Amazon Ads case studies

• Feature relevant content on directory profile: Showcase case studies and your company's LinkedIn profile directly on your Amazon Partner Directory listing

The Advanced Partner badge is the most visible differentiator in the Partner Directory and in competitive agency pitches. For brands evaluating agencies, it is the clearest signal that the partner has demonstrated sustained advertising performance and expertise at a level Amazon formally recognises.

Amazon Ads Partner Network 2026 Update: What Is Changing and What It Means for Agencies 

At Amazon's unBoxed 2025 conference, Amazon announced a new tiering and benefits structure for the Partner Network launching in 2026.

As of the time of writing, new Verified and Advanced partner status decisions are paused while Amazon finalises the new structure. Current partner statuses remain unchanged, existing Verified and Advanced partners retain their status. Amazon has indicated that full details on the new structure, qualification criteria, and benefits will be shared in Q3 2026.

For agencies and tool providers currently at Partner tier and working toward Verified status, the practical implication is that new applications for status elevation are on hold until the new structure is published. The programme remains fully operational at the Partner tier level, enrolment, directory listings, API access, certifications, and educational resources continue as normal.

This is worth knowing before investing significant effort in a tier progression application,  wait for the Q3 2026 update before submitting.

How to Join the Amazon Ads Partner Network: Step-by-Step Enrolment Guide 

Joining the programme at Partner tier is straightforward:

Step 1: Visit the Amazon Ads Partner Network portal Go to advertising.amazon.com and navigate to the Partner Network section. The enrolment process is managed through Amazon's advertising portal.

Step 2: Create or log in with your Amazon Ads account You need an active Amazon Ads account to enrol. If you manage advertising for multiple clients, you can enrol your agency account rather than individual client accounts.

Step 3: Complete your Partner Directory profile Once enrolled, build out your directory profile, your company description, service offerings, specialisations, client industries, and marketplaces you operate in. A complete, well-optimised directory profile is what makes you discoverable to brands searching for Amazon advertising expertise.

Step 4: Complete Amazon Ads certifications Amazon Ads certifications demonstrate your team's expertise across ad types and campaign management. Certifications are accessible through the Partner Network portal and display on both your team members' profiles and your company's directory listing.

Step 5: Pursue product and service validation Validated products and services earn a verification mark on your directory profile, a credibility signal for brands evaluating your capabilities before making contact.

Once these foundations are in place, your company operates as a recognised Amazon Ads Partner with access to the full base tier benefit set. Progression to Verified and Advanced status follows Amazon's assessment process, details of which will be updated when the new structure launches in Q3 2026.

Why Amazon Ads Partner Network Status Matters When Choosing an Agency 

For brands evaluating Amazon advertising agencies, the Partner Network tier is one of the clearest objective signals available in a market full of self-declared experts.

A Partner Directory listing means the agency is enrolled and operating within Amazon's ecosystem. A Verified Partner badge means Amazon has formally assessed their expertise. An Advanced Partner badge means Amazon recognises them at the highest tier of demonstrated performance and capability.

When every agency claims to be "Amazon experts," the Partner Network tier is the signal that carries external validation rather than self-assessment.

For brands evaluating what to look for beyond the Partner badge when choosing an Amazon agency in the UK:

Read our full guide on Amazon Account Management Services in the UK → 

Pinnacle Growth Consulting: Amazon Ads Advanced Partner and SPN Verified

Pinnacle Growth Consulting holds Advanced Partner status in the Amazon Ads Partner Network, the highest tier available. This reflects our track record managing Amazon advertising for 70+ brands across 13 Amazon marketplaces globally, including Amazon UK, Amazon India, Amazon UAE, Amazon US, and nine other markets.

Our Advanced Partner status sits alongside Amazon SPN (Service Provider Network) verification, making Pinnacle one of a select group of agencies carrying both designations.

For brands looking for an Amazon advertising partner whose credentials have been formally assessed and recognised by Amazon at the highest level:

Book a Free Amazon Advertising Audit →