If you’ve ever wondered how to get verified on Instagram, relax: you no longer need to be super famous (or super rich) to earn Instagram verification.
So if you want to get that coveted blue badge, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll walk you through what Instagram verification means, who’s eligible for verification, and offer our top tips for getting verified on Instagram.
What does Instagram verification mean?
Instagram verification is the process of getting a blue checkmark badge that appears next to your username on the platform. The verification badge signals to other users on the platform that an account really belongs to the user, artist, brand, or organization it represents.
Your favorite celebrity probably has a blue checkmark on their account:
Brands with a strong social media following usually have a verification badge too:
But there are actually two types of verification: traditional and paid.
Originally, verification was only available to “notable and unique” people or brands. The process of awarding that coveted blue checkmark was shrouded in mystery, and verification was usually restricted to celebrities and big brand names.
These days, users can also pay for verification through Meta Verified. That means anyone can get a verified badge on their Instagram or Facebook accounts.
Both types of verification have the same benefits:
- Legitimacy. The verification process requires a government ID, so having a verified badge establishes your account authenticity and helps the community know it’s the real you.
- Security. Meta Verified offers proactive account monitoring to help protect your account from impersonators or hackers.
- Visibility. Verified accounts appear at or near the top of comments and search results when people type in a business name. They also appear as a recommended business to follow in the Feed.
Verified accounts even have access to features such as exclusive stickers on Instagram Stories and Reels to help their content stand out.
No matter which method an account used to get verified, the blue checkmark looks the same. That means it’s impossible to know whether it was awarded to a user through traditional means or if they’re paying for the Meta Verified service.
Bonus: 14 Time-Saving Hacks for Instagram Power Users. Get the list of secret shortcuts Hootsuite’s own social media team uses to create thumb-stopping content.
Who is eligible to be Instagram verified?
Anyone can request a verified badge on Instagram. The requirements are slightly different for each type of verification.
Traditional verification requirements
Instagram is notoriously picky (and in many ways mysterious) about who actually receives a verified badge.
Instagram is blunt, saying, “Only some public figures, celebrities, and brands have verified badges on Instagram.” In other words, verification is only for “accounts with a high likelihood of being impersonated.”
Here is what we do know about eligibility.
In addition to following Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, your account also needs to be:
- Authentic. It must represent a real person, registered business or entity.
- Unique. Only one account per person or business may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific accounts. Instagram generally doesn’t verify general interest accounts.
- Complete. Your account must be public and complete. That means you must have a bio, profile photo, and active account when applying.
- Notable. Your account must represent a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity.
What counts as “notable” to one person may not be notable to another, which is why verification used to be out of reach for most Instagram users.
But don’t despair. There’s now another option: Subscribing to Meta Verified.
Meta Verified requirements
Getting a blue checkmark through Meta Verification is much more simple.
Here’s what you need to subscribe:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a public or private profile that’s associated with your full name, aligns with naming standards, and has a profile picture that includes your face.
- Meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history.
- A government-issued ID that matches your profile name and profile picture.
- Two-factor authentication enabled on your profile.
- Follow Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
If you’re relatively confident you meet the criteria for traditional verification, or you’re ready to splurge on paid Meta Verification, read on.
How to get verified on Instagram
Method 1: Apply for traditional verification
Requesting traditional verification on Instagram is actually pretty simple — just follow the steps below.
But if you’re more of a visual learner, check out our video:
1. Open your settings
Go to your Instagram profile and tap the hamburger icon in the top right corner:
To request verification:
- Tap Settings and privacy:
- Under For professionals, tap Business tools and controls
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Request verification
2. Then fill out the application form.
Step 1: Confirm authenticity
This section will list your current username and ask for your full name. Once your account is verified, you can’t change your username, so make sure you’re happy with it before you submit your application!
You’ll need to upload 1-2 identification documents that confirm your identity or that of your business. Supported document types include:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- National identification card
- Tax filing
- Recent utility bill
- Articles of incorporation
Step 2: Confirm notability
In this section, you will be asked to show that the public figure, celebrity, or brand your account represents is “in the public interest.”
- Select a category (required)
- Select the country or region (required) where the person or organization your account represents is most popular
- Describe your audience (optional)
- Add any other names by which your business is known (optional), including different names and the same name in other languages
Step 3: Add links
In this section, you can add up to 3 links that show your account is in the public interest. This can include articles, social media accounts, or other links. This section is optional but strongly recommended — and FYI, Instagram doesn’t count paid or sponsored media content as sources for review.
3. Submit your application
When you’re done, tap Soumettre at the bottom of the screen. The button will be grayed out until you’ve added all the required information.
4. Wait for a decision
According to Instagram, after their team reviews your application, you’ll receive a response in your notifications tab. Because of historical and ongoing issues with scammers, Instagram is very clear that they will never email you, ask for money, or otherwise reach out.
Within a few days or a week (some say it can take up to 30 days), you’ll receive a direct yes or no. Instagram doesn’t provide any feedback or explanation for this decision.
If your request is denied, you can submit a new request again in 30 days. Note that applying for a verified badge multiple times before receiving a decision will cancel your application.
Method 2: Pay for verification using Meta Verified
Unlike traditional verification, subscribing to Meta Verified is a more forgiving process.
Paid verification is open to anyone who meets the following requirements:
- Have a public or private profile that’s associated with your full name, aligns with naming standards, and has a profile picture that includes your face.
- Meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history.
- A government-issued ID that matches your profile name and profile picture.
- Two-factor authentication enabled on your profile.
- Follow Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
- …oh, and you’ll have to pay for it. The cost varies by region and plan, ranging from $15/month all the way up to $350/month.
Here’s how to get verified using Meta Verified:
1. Open your settings
Go to your Instagram profile and tap the hamburger icon in the top right corner:
2. Click Meta Verified
3. Select personal profile or business profile
4. To apply for verification on a personal profile:
1. Select the profile(s) you’d like to subscribe
2. Confirm and pay
Here’s what the confirmation panel looks like for a single profile:
You can also sign up your Instagram and Facebook profiles for Meta Verified for a discount:
Here’s what the confirmation panel looks like when signing up two profiles:
After you submit your payment, you’ll need to complete the remaining verification steps in the Instagram mobile app.
Note: Once you begin, you’ll have 3 days to complete the verification process. If you don’t complete this process within 3 days, your subscription will be canceled, and your payment will be automatically refunded.
5. Wait for your verified badge
It will take about 48 hours for Meta to verify your identity and issue your blue checkmark.
Reminder: Once you begin the verification process and submit your initial payment, you won’t be able to change your username or date of birth on Instagram. If you want to update this information, you must cancel your subscription and re-subscribe.
To apply for verification on a Business Profile:
In order to sign your business up for Meta Verified for Business, you must:
Tips to get verified on Instagram
1. Follow the rules for verification
Whether you’re applying for traditional verification or subscribing to Meta Verified, make sure to follow the rules!
No matter which type of blue checkmark you have, Instagram can remove verified badges at any time or even disable your account if you:
- Advertise, transfer or sell your verified badge
- Use your profile picture, bio or name section to promote other services or activities that violate our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use
- Switch your account from public to private too many times
- Attempt to verify your account through a third party
2. Don’t try to buy an Instagram verification badge from a third party
Wondering what Instagram means by third-party verification? It’s all those scammy-looking apps or random accounts that offer instant verification and “full refunds” for failed applications:
Beware of anyone who DMs you to sell you their badge because they “don’t need it anymore.” Instagram scammers know that people and businesses feel outsized emotions about the blue check, and some are pretty effective at appearing legit, so stay on your guard. And remember that Instagram will never request payment when you apply for a verified badge the traditional way.
3. Be honest
This tip should be a no-brainer, but because the consequences are dire we feel compelled to highlight it. Whether you’re applying for traditional verification or subscribing to Meta Verified, you have to be truthful above all else:
- Use your real name
- Choose an appropriate category
- Don’t falsify any government documents
If you stretch the truth anywhere in your application, Instagram says that it will not only deny your request, but it may delete your account as well, so don’t risk it!
How to stay verified on Instagram
To stay verified, your account has to follow Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines. Here’s a quick primer:
Instagram’s Terms of Use
Instagram’s Terms of Use are designed to keep the platform and its users safe. This means:
- You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum legal age in your country) to use Instagram
- Instagram must not have previously disabled your account for violation of law or any of their policies
- You can’t impersonate others or provide inaccurate information
- You can’t do anything unlawful, misleading, or fraudulent or for an illegal or unauthorized purpose
- If you post branded content, you must comply with Meta’s Branded Content Policies
- You can’t sell, license, or purchase any account or data obtained from Instagram or Meta
There’s lots more to know, so make sure to read the Terms of Use in full.
Instagram’s Community Guidelines
Instagram’s Community Guidelines are intended to create a positive atmosphere on the app. Users agree to:
- Share only photos and videos that they’ve taken or have the right to share
- Post photos and videos that are appropriate for a diverse audience
- Foster meaningful and genuine interactions
- Follow the law
- Respect other members of the Instagram community
- Maintain a supportive environment by not glorifying self-injury
- Be thoughtful when posting newsworthy events
Accounts that violate Instagram’s Terms of Use and/or Community Guidelines might lose their verified badges or even be terminated, disabled, or deleted.
FAQ about Instagram verification
How many followers do you need to get verified on Instagram?
Traditional verification is available to people or brands that Instagram deems “notable and unique.” There’s no minimum follower requirement, but the higher your follower count, the likelier you are to get verified.
Just don’t try to take a shortcut and buy your Instagram followers. (Plus, breaking the Community Guidelines and then asking Instagram to examine your account is a very effective way to get your account shut down.)
You don’t need to meet any minimum follower requirements to sign up for Meta Verification.
Can a normal person get verified on Instagram?
Yes! Any user can sign up for Meta Verified. This subscription-based service is available for creators and businesses on Instagram and Facebook.
Why can’t I see the Meta Verified option in my Settings?
Meta Verified for businesses is slowly rolling out and isn’t available for everyone yet. If you don’t have this option for your business account, keep checking back.
How do I get a blue check on Instagram?
Any public figure, celebrity, brand or “notable” account can apply for traditional verification. Any user can subscribe to Meta Verified.
How do I get my IG verified?
Follow the steps above to apply for traditional verification or to subscribe to Meta Verified.
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