If you are well known or regularly covered by news outlets, apply for free verification inside the Instagram app. If you are not there yet, subscribe to Meta Verified, which needs a government ID and a monthly fee.
Neither route has a minimum follower count, and nobody outside Meta can sell you a badge.
Virat Kohli has 271 million followers and a blue tick. Nike has 290 million and a blue tick. Then there is a personal blog account with 6,541 followers and no tick at all.
Follower count is not what separates them. Verification is Instagram confirming who you are. For the free route, it also means showing that enough people care who you are. Since 2023 there is a second route: pay a monthly fee, prove your identity with an ID, and get the same badge.
Below you will find both routes with screenshots of the real application form, what each one costs, why requests fail, and the scams that go after people chasing a badge.
What the blue tick actually means
The blue tick means Instagram has confirmed the account belongs to the real person, brand, or organization it claims to be. That is all. It is a statement about identity, not about popularity or quality.
The badge also looks the same whether an account earned it for free or pays for it monthly. Viewers cannot tell the two apart, unless they know the account was verified before paid verification launched in 2023.
What you actually get
Trust: People are more likely to follow, message, or buy from an account they know is real. This matters most if you sell something or take bookings through Instagram.
Protection from copycats: Instagram verifies only one account per person or brand, so the real one stands out. Meta Verified also adds active monitoring for accounts that imitate you.
Better visibility when people search your name: Verified accounts can show up higher in search results and comment sections.
Direct support (Meta Verified only): Paid subscribers get access to support and some extra profile features, depending on region.
What the badge does not do: it does not boost your reach. Hootsuite says the badge does not change how often your posts are shown. Buffer’s writer tested Meta Verified and found little effect on content performance. If reach is your goal, start with our guide to Instagram algorithm tips.
Who can get verified on Instagram?
Anyone aged 18 or older can try, but what you need depends on the route.
Free verification: the four tests
- Authentic — The account represents a real person, a registered business, or an entity.
- Unique — Only one account per person or business can be verified, except for language-specific accounts. General-interest pages like meme or fan accounts are generally not verified.
- Complete — The profile is public, with a bio, a profile photo, and recent activity.
- Notable — The account represents a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity. In practice, Instagram looks for coverage in several news sources. Paid or sponsored coverage does not count.
Meta Verified: what you need
- You are at least 18.
- You live in a country where Meta Verified is offered.
- You have a government-issued photo ID that matches your profile name.
- Your profile photo shows your face.
- Your account has some posting history and two-factor authentication turned on.
Business accounts have extra requirements and their own plans, so read what your account shows before you subscribe.
How many followers do you need?
None. Neither route has a follower minimum. Take a look at this profile.
That is a healthy audience, and it still has no tick. A small account that gets written about in the press can qualify, while a huge account that nobody searches for by name may not. For the free route, press coverage and search demand matter far more than follower count.
Free or paid: which route fits you?
Both routes end with the same badge. The difference is who each one is built for.
| Free verification | Meta Verified | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Monthly fee, from about $11.99 on the web or $14.99 in the app for individuals |
| Built for | Notable public figures, celebrities, and brands | Almost anyone 18+ with a valid ID |
| What you submit | ID, a category, and proof of public interest | ID check, two-factor authentication, and payment |
| Decision time | Usually up to 30 days, and approval is not guaranteed | Often about 48 hours for individuals |
| Extras | The badge | Impersonation monitoring, support, and profile features (varies by region) |
| Availability | Global | Supported countries only |
Here is how that plays out in real situations.
You are a freelance photographer with a loyal audience but no press: Go with Meta Verified. The free route needs news coverage you do not have yet, and a denial costs you a month.
You are a public figure or a brand like Nike: Try the free request first. It costs nothing, and you can still subscribe later if it is turned down.
You run a bakery and someone is copying your page: Meta Verified’s impersonation monitoring is the reason to pay here, more than the tick itself.
You run a fan or meme page: Neither route is likely to work, because Instagram generally does not verify general-interest accounts.
Social media expert Ben Fingeret, quoted by Shopify, suggests smaller creators use Meta Verified as a stopgap and go for free verification later, once they have press. That order works well because you get protection now and keep the free option open.
How to apply for free verification, step by step
You can only send this request from the Instagram mobile app. The screenshots below come from a Business account. If you have a Creator account, the first menu reads “Creator tools and controls” instead of “Business tools and controls”.
1. Open your professional settings
Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines) at the top right. In Settings and activity, scroll to For professionals and tap Business tools and controls.
2. Tap Request verification
Scroll to the bottom of the Business screen. The blue Request verification link sits just under Edit profile. It is easy to miss, so keep scrolling.
3. Confirm your authenticity
The form opens with a Before you start note. It says this form is for notable individuals and prominent brands, and it links to Meta Verified for everyone else. Read it honestly: if you do not fit, the link beside it is your better route.
Step 1 asks for your full name and one or two ID documents. Pick a document type and tap Add file. Options include a driver’s license, passport, national ID card, tax filing, utility bill, or articles of incorporation.
4. Confirm your notability
Step 2 asks you to show that the person or brand is in the public interest. Choose a Category and your Country/region.
Two boxes are marked optional, but fill them in. Audience lets you explain who follows you and why. Also known as is where you list every name you go by, including the same name in other languages. A reviewer who has more context has more reasons to say yes.
5. Add your links and submit
Add articles, social accounts, and other links that show you are in the public interest. The form itself warns that paid or promotional content will not be considered.
You get three link boxes, each with a type and a URL. Add link gives you more. Tap Submit when you are done.
What happens after you submit
Instagram usually replies within about 30 days, and you will see the result in your notifications. Do not submit a second request while the first is pending, because extra requests can cancel the first one. If you are turned down, you can apply again after about 30 days.
Build your proof before you apply
The link boxes decide most free requests, so treat them like a small press kit. Three strong sources beat ten weak ones.
What works: news articles that are mainly about you or your brand from known outlets, interviews, features, profiles, and your verified accounts on other platforms. Ben Fingeret’s point in Shopify’s guide is that a story about you counts for much more than a roundup where you are one name in a list.
What gets ignored: paid posts and sponsored articles, press releases you wrote and published yourself, and your own website as your only proof.
Two habits help every application. First, use the exact same name on your ID, your Instagram profile, and your press links. A mismatch is one of the easiest ways to get rejected. Second, earn coverage with something newsworthy. Shopify’s examples include hosting a fundraiser, publishing original research, and appearing on a notable podcast or TV show.
Keep your own proof safe: Save copies of your best press mentions and back up your own content for your media kit. Our Instagram reels downloader, photo downloader, and story downloader can help you save your own posts.
How to get verified with Meta Verified
This route skips the press requirement. You can reach it from the Request verification screen in Step 3 above by tapping Subscribe to Meta Verified, or straight from the menu on your profile.
- Open Meta Verified: Tap your profile photo, then the menu, then Meta Verified.
- Pick the account: You can verify one Instagram profile and one Facebook profile.
- Subscribe and pay: On iPhone, Apple handles the billing. Once you pay, you have three days to finish the remaining steps. If you miss that window, Meta refunds you.
- Turn on two-factor authentication: Meta requires it.
- Check your name and photo: Both must match your ID, and you should avoid editing them while the review is running.
- Submit your ID: Photograph the front and back of a valid ID in good light, with all four corners visible.
- Wait for approval: Individuals are often approved within about 48 hours. Businesses can take around three business days.
Watch the billing each platform is billed separately, so verifying both Instagram and Facebook can mean two subscriptions. In some countries you may also hit a waitlist before you can subscribe.
What Instagram verification costs in 2026
The free route costs nothing, but approval is not guaranteed.
For Meta Verified, Hootsuite and Buffer report that individual plans start at about $11.99 a month when you sign up on the web and about $14.99 a month through the iOS or Android app. Over a year that is roughly $143.88 on the web versus $179.88 in the app, so signing up on the web can save about $36. Business plans come in tiers and cost more.
Prices change by country, currency, and plan, so check the number on your own sign-up screen before you pay.
Why verification requests get rejected, and how to fix them
Free route
- Weak proof that you are widely known, or links that are paid or promotional.
- A profile with a missing bio, no photo, or little recent activity.
- A name that differs between your ID, your profile, and your press links.
- Unclear or weak identification documents.
Meta Verified
- Two-factor authentication is off.
- The ID photo is dark, blurry, cropped, glary, or shows an expired ID.
- The payment failed because of an expired card, low funds, or a method Meta does not accept.
- You did not finish the steps within three days.
- Your profile name does not match the name on your ID.
Run this checklist before you submit
- My account is public.
- My profile has a clear photo and a bio that says who I am or what I do.
- I have posted recently.
- The name on my ID matches my profile name.
- Two-factor authentication is on.
- My ID is valid and not expired, and my photo shows all four corners.
- Free route: I have three or more strong news links that are not paid.
- Meta Verified: my payment method works.
- I have no other verification request still waiting for a decision.
A 30-day plan after a free-route rejection
- Week 1: fix the basics.Update your bio and photo, and make your name match your documents.
- Weeks 2 and 3: build proof.Pitch journalists, publish real news, and go after interviews or features.
- Week 4: decide.Reapply with better links, or subscribe to Meta Verified now and try the free route again later.
What changes after you get verified
Your name and username may get locked
Some verified accounts cannot change their username. With Meta Verified, edits to your name or photo can also trigger a new review, so check before you change anything. Pick your handle before you apply. If you are still deciding, our Instagram username ideas can help.
The badge can be taken away
Instagram can remove it if you break the rules, if you got verified with false or misleading information, or if you switch to an account type that is not eligible. A Meta Verified badge also disappears if you cancel the subscription or a payment fails.
Verification scams to avoid
Instagram will never message you to offer a badge. You always start the request yourself, from inside the app. Only two routes are real: the in-app Request verification form, and a Meta Verified subscription bought through Instagram, Facebook, or your app store.
Treat any of these as a scam:
- Someone asks you to pay them directly for a “verified badge”.
- A message asks for your password or a login code.
- An email or DM says you must verify now or lose your account.
- A link leads to a site that is not Instagram or Meta.
- Someone claims to have an inside contact at Meta.
- A third-party app promises a free badge.
If you clicked a bad link: change your password right away, turn on two-factor authentication, log out of other devices, report the account, and check your email for changes you did not make. If you lost money, contact your bank.
Buying an account that already has a badge also breaks Instagram’s Terms of Use and can get it disabled. And a badge alone does not prove an account is safe, since the same tick appears whether it was earned or paid for.
What if you can’t get verified?
You are under 18
Meta Verified requires you to be at least 18, and the major guides treat 18+ as the rule for the free request too. For now, keep your account secure with a strong password and two-factor authentication, and report any account that pretends to be you.
You run a fan, meme, or niche page
Instagram generally does not verify general-interest accounts. You can still build trust with a clear bio, consistent branding, a link to your website, and steady posting.
Build trust without a badge
- Use a clear, high-quality profile photo. You can check how any profile photo looks at full size by using Instagram DP downloader.
- Use the same name and branding on your website and your other platforms.
- Post consistently so the account looks active and real.
- Earn mentions from other trusted accounts and outlets over time.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need to get verified on Instagram?
None. Neither route sets a minimum. Free verification depends on press coverage and people searching for you by name, and Meta Verified depends on your ID and subscription.
Can a normal person get verified on Instagram?
Yes, through Meta Verified, if you are 18 or older, live in a supported country, and pass the ID check. The free route is for notable people and brands.
How long does Instagram verification take?
Free requests usually get a decision within about 30 days. Meta Verified is often approved within about 48 hours for individuals, and business reviews can take a few days longer.
Can you pay to get verified on Instagram?
Yes, but only through Meta Verified, bought inside Instagram or from Meta’s own pages. Anyone else offering to sell you a badge is running a scam.
Can I apply for verification more than once?
Yes, but wait for a decision first, because a second request while the first is pending can cancel it. After a denial, you can try again after about 30 days.
Can you lose the blue tick?
Yes. Instagram can remove it if you break the rules,give false information,or switch to an account type that is not eligible. A Meta Verified badge also ends when you stop paying.
Does the blue tick help your reach?
Not directly. Hootsuite and Buffer both report no confirmed boost to how often posts are shown. The badge can help with trust and with how you appear in search and comments.
Is Meta Verified worth it?
It is worth it if impersonators worry you, you want direct support, or you need the credibility and have no press coverage yet. If you only want more reach, the evidence says it will not deliver that.
Final thoughts
If you are notable, ask for free verification. If you are not yet, Meta Verified is the realistic route. And never pay or share your login with anyone who contacts you offering a badge.
Your next step is the checklist above. Get your profile and proof ready, then submit once. For more free tools to manage your Instagram content, visit the Insta Rivo homepage.