How to Apply for Instagram Verification

Chasing that blue checkmark on Instagram is a common goal, but the path to verification can feel mysterious. It’s not just about follower count, it’s about proving your account’s authenticity and public interest. This guide breaks down the official application process step-by-step and, more importantly, covers the strategic work you need to do before hitting ‘submit’ to give yourself the best possible chance of success.

What Does the Instagram Blue Check Actually Mean?

First, let’s clear up some common myths. The verified badge isn't a reward for being popular or posting great content, although those things certainly help. Instagram grants verification to confirm that an account is the authentic presence of a notable public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents. Essentially, Instagram wants its users to be able to find the real accounts for the people and brands they want to follow.

Their official criteria boil down to three main ideas:

• Authenticity: Are you really who (or what) you say you are?
• Uniqueness: Is this the one and only official account for this person or brand?
• Notability: Is this person or brand well-known, highly searched for, and featured in established news sources?

While the first two are straightforward, it’s that last one - notability - where most applications fall short. Gaining verification is less about what you do on Instagram and more about establishing credibility off the platform.

The Official Requirements Checklist: Are You Eligible?

Before you even think about applying, make sure your account meets the basic requirements. According to Instagram's terms of service, your account must be:

• Authentic: It must represent a real person, a registered business, or a legal entity. You’ll have to prove this with a government-issued photo ID (for individuals) or official business documents (for businesses), like articles of incorporation or a tax filing.
• Unique: Your account should be the single, unique presence of the individual or business it represents. Instagram only verifies one account per person or business, with the exception of language-specific accounts. That means your meme page or fan account for your own brand won't get the blue check.
• Complete: Your profile must be public - private accounts can’t be verified. You also need a full bio, a profile picture, and at least one post in your feed. A complete and professional-looking profile shows you’re actively using the platform.
• Notable: This is the most subjective and challenging requirement. Your account must represent a “well-known, highly searched for” person, brand, or entity. Instagram’s review team checks for this by looking for press coverage in legitimate, independent news outlets. Paid or promotional content doesn’t count.

How to Apply for Verification Directly in the App (The Easy Part)

The technical process of requesting verification literally takes less than five minutes. The hard part is having the right qualifications to back it up. When you feel you're ready, here’s exactly how to submit your application:

1. Navigate to Your Settings: Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon (☰) in the top-right corner. Then select “Settings and privacy.”
2. Find the Request Form: If you have a business or creator account, scroll down and find either “Business tools and controls” or “Creator tools and controls.” Tap it. From there, select “Request verification.”
3. Step 1: Confirm Authenticity: You’ll first be asked to fill in your full legal name and upload a photo of a government-issued ID, like a driver’s license or passport. For a business, you can use a utility bill, a tax document, or articles of incorporation. This information is confidential and will not be displayed on your profile.
4. Step 2: Confirm Notability: Next, you’ll show why your account is in the public interest.
   • Category: Pick a category that best describes your account (e.g., News/Media, Sports, Music, Fashion, Content Creator/Influencer, Business/Brand, etc.).
   • Country/Region: Specify the country or region where your account is most popular.
   • Audience (Optional): Briefly describe the people who follow you and why they do.
   • Also Known As (Optional): If you, your brand, or your organization is known by a different name (like a nickname or an acronym), include it here.
5. Step 3: Add Links (Crucial): This is your chance to prove your notability. You can add up to three links to news articles, social media profiles, or any other webpages that show you’re of public interest. This is the most important part of your application. Strong links are non-promotional news articles from reputable publications that are about you or your brand.
6. Submit and Wait: Once you've filled everything out, tap "Submit." Instagram will review your application and send you a notification in your Activity Tab within 30 days (though it can often be much faster).

The Real Work: Building a Strong Case Before You Apply

Simply hitting ‘submit’ isn’t enough. The success of your application depends entirely on the prep work. If you’re not a household name, you need to deliberately build a portfolio that screams "notable."

Optimize Your Instagram Profile to Perfection

Your Instagram profile is the first thing a reviewer sees. It needs to look professional and unmistakably official.

• Craft a Killer Bio: Clearly state who you are and what you do. Use keywords that identify your niche or industry. Your bio should instantly communicate your value and authority.
• Use a Professional Profile Picture: Use a clear, high-quality headshot for a personal brand or a crisp logo for a business. Avoid blurry, distant, or unprofessional-looking photos.
• Have a Strategy with a Link-in-Bio: Direct your profile link to a professional website, a media kit, or a landing page with more information about you or your work. It serves as home base for anyone (including an Instagram reviewer) wanting to learn more about you.

Build a Powerful Presence Off Instagram

This is where verification is really won or lost. Instagram verifies accounts that are being talked about in the wider world, not just within its app. Your goal is to create a trail of evidence across the internet that proves your impact.

Get Genuine Press Coverage

You need to be featured in multiple, legitimate news sources. The key word here is independent. Sponsored articles, press releases you paid to distribute, or guest posts you wrote yourself do not count. The reviewer needs to see that a real publication decided you were newsworthy.

Actionable advice:

• Start Local: Pitch stories to local newspapers or niche industry blogs. If you’re a chef, getting featured in a well-respected food blog carries weight. If you’re a startup founder, a story in a tech publication is powerful.
• Use HARO: Sign up for Help A Reporter Out (HARO). It’s a free service that connects journalists with sources. Respond to relevant queries, and you might get quoted in articles from major publications.
• Offer Unique Value: Don’t just ask for a feature. Reach out to writers in your field with a compelling story, original data, or a unique expert opinion they can’t get elsewhere.

Strengthen Your Google Search Results

An Instagram reviewer will almost certainly Google you. What will they find? An empty search results page is an almost guaranteed rejection. Your online footprint should reflect notability.

Actionable advice:

• Launch a Website: Your personal or business website is your digital HQ. It helps legitimize your brand and often becomes the top search result for your name.
• Get a Wikipedia Page: This is a very strong signal of notability, but it's hard to get. Don’t try to create your own page - that's a conflict of interest. Genuine Wikipedia pages are created organically by editors when someone or something meets their strict notability guidelines (which often require significant press coverage).
• Contribute and Be A Guest: Appear as a guest on podcasts, speak at virtual events, or weigh in on respected forums in your industry. Each one of these creates another Google-able mention of your name tied to your expertise.

Common Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

A simple mistake can lead to a quick rejection, damage your standing, or even get your account permanently shut down. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Attempting to Buy Verification: If anyone ever offers to sell you a blue checkmark, they are a scammer. The only legitimate way to get verified is through the official process in the app. Trying to buy it can lead to Instagram disabling your account.
• Using Paid Press Links: Instagram explicitly states they do not accept paid or promotional content as proof of notability. An Instagram reviewer can spot a sponsored "article" from a mile away. It will hurt, not help, your application.
• Providing Misleading Information: Don't fudge any details. Lying on your application by providing false documents or pretending to be from another country is a major violation and can result in your verification being removed or your account being banned.
• Applying Over and Over: If you get rejected, you have to wait 30 days before you can apply again. Don’t waste this time. Go back to building your online presence and gathering new press links. Submitting the same failed application multiple times will not work.

Final Thoughts

Securing an Instagram verification badge is less about following a simple checklist and more about building a public and credible brand. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, centered on proving your authenticity and notability both on and off the platform. By focusing on your content strategy, optimizing your profile, and strategically growing your online footprint, you position yourself as a legitimate candidate worthy of that blue checkmark.

Building that brand authority requires unwavering consistency in your content and engagement, which can be a heavy lift. At Postbase, we believe managing your socials should be straightforward, not exhausting. My team designed our simple, modern platform so you can plan content in our visual calendar, schedule posts reliably across Instagram and other platforms, and manage all your conversations from a single inbox. This means you can focus your time on creating truly valuable content that establishes your expertise and grows your presence without getting bogged down by the daily chaos - letting us handle the logistics so you can focus on building a brand worth verifying.