How to Get a Blue Check on Facebook

That little blue checkmark next to a name on Facebook isn't just for celebrities, it’s a powerful symbol of authenticity and public interest. While its meaning has evolved with the introduction of paid subscriptions, the original verification badge remains a coveted goal for brands, creators, and public figures. This guide will walk you through exactly what you need to do to get the classic blue check, step by step, and how to build a stronger case if your first application is denied.

What the Facebook Blue Check Really Means

First, let’s clear up some confusion. Today, there are two ways to get a blue check on Facebook, and they mean very different things.

• Meta Verified (The Subscription): This is a newer, paid subscription service available to the general public. For a monthly fee, you can get a blue checkmark by verifying your identity with a government-issued ID. This proves you are who you say you are, but it does not signify public notability.
• The Notability Badge (The Original): This is the classic blue checkmark awarded to Pages and profiles that Facebook deems are of public interest. This is the badge that signifies that a person or brand is well-known, frequently searched for, and considered a notable entity. This guide is about how to get this badge.

Earning the original checkmark signals to your audience, potential partners, and Facebook itself that your Page or profile is an authentic and significant presence for a person or brand. It’s a stamp of credibility that can’t be bought.

Meeting the Official Eligibility Requirements

Before you even think about hitting the "submit" button, you need to be sure your Page or profile meets Facebook’s strict, non-negotiable criteria. Think of this as your pre-flight checklist. If you can’t confidently say "yes" to all of these, your application will almost certainly be rejected.

Authentic

This is the simplest requirement. Your Page or profile must represent a real person, a registered business, or a legitimate entity. You will have to prove this with official documentation.

• For a person: You'll need a clear photo of a government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license, passport, or national identification card.
• For a business or organization: You’ll need a copy of an official document like a utility bill in the business’s name, articles of incorporation, or tax documents.

The name on your documents must match the name on your profile or Page. No exceptions.

Unique

Facebook will only verify one profile or Page per person or business. Your page must be the sole official presence of the entity it represents. The only major exception is for language-specific Pages, where a global brand might have pages like "Brand USA" and "Brand France." For most individuals and small businesses, you can only have one verified home base.

Complete

Your profile should look active, professional, and lived-in. Incomplete or barely-used profiles are a red flag and signal that the account isn’t a primary point of contact for the public. Your Page or profile must have:

• An About section that is filled out.
• A profile photo.
• A cover photo.
• At least one recent post.

Most importantly, the Page or profile must be public and have followers. Private profiles cannot be verified.

Notable

This is where most applications fail. Authenticity and completeness are straightforward, but "notability" is subjective, and it's what Facebook’s review team scrutinizes the most. A notable account must represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity.

So, how does Facebook measure notability? Through your off-platform PR. They want to see that the world recognizes you as important, independent of your social media activity. Specifically, they look for applicants who are featured in multiple, independent, and credible news sources.

Let's break that down:

• Multiple Sources: One mention isn't enough. You need to show a pattern of media coverage. Three to five strong articles are a good start.
• Independent Sources: This is critical. The coverage cannot be paid, sponsored, or promotional content. An article based entirely on a press release you sent out doesn't count. An interview you paid a magazine to feature you in doesn't count. It needs to be genuine, earned media where a journalist decided you were newsworthy enough to write about on their own accord.
• Credible Sources: Local blogs or small niche publications generally won't move the needle unless they are highly respected within a specific industry. You should aim for well-known, established outlets like national newspapers (The New York Times, The Guardian), major digital magazines (Forbes, Wired, Entrepreneur), or significant broadcast media channels.

Simply having a lot of followers, a Wikipedia page (unless it’s well-sourced and established), or mentions on other social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok are not considered proof of notability by Facebook’s verification team.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Verification

If you've checked all the boxes above and feel confident you have the press to back it up, you're ready to submit your application. It’s a straightforward process, but every detail matters.

Step 1: Find the Verification Form

The form is tucked away in the Help Center. The easiest way to find it is to go to the Facebook Help Center and search for "Request a verified badge." This will usually bring up a support article with a direct link to the application form. You must be logged into the account you want to verify.

Step 2: Fill Out the Initial Information

The form will first ask what you're verifying - a Profile or a Page - and then require you to select which specific Page if you manage more than one. You'll then need to confirm your authenticity by uploading your official documents.

Document Tips:

• Be Clear: Use a high-resolution image. Make sure the entire document is visible, with no corners cut off and no glare obscuring the text.
• Match Names: Make sure the name on your ID or business document perfectly matches the name of your Page or Profile. This is a common and avoidable reason for rejection.

Step 3: Establish Your Notability

This is the most important part of the application.

1. Choose a Category: Select the category that best describes your Page or Profile (e.g., News/Media, Sports, Business/Brand, Influencer, etc.).
2. Specify Your Country/Region: Note the primary country where your entity or person is most well-known.
3. Craft Your Audience Description (Optional but Recommended): Briefly explain who follows you and why. Keep it concise. For example: "Our audience consists of small business owners in the United States seeking advice on digital marketing."
4. Provide Your Social & News Links: This is your moment to prove you’re notable. You can add up to five links. Prioritize links that showcase your earned media coverage in strong, national, or major industry publications. Do not use this section to link to your other social media profiles. Links to Instagram, TikTok, or your own website are worthless here. Focus only on news articles about you or your brand.

If you have over five potential articles, pick your strongest and most recent ones that come from the most reputable sources.

Step 4: Submit and Wait

After you submit, the waiting game begins. The review process can take anywhere from 48 hours to a few weeks. You'll receive a notification about the decision. If you're denied, don't panic. You can reapply in 30 days.

What to Do if Your Verification Request is Denied

It's incredibly common to be denied on your first (or even second) try. Instead of being discouraged, view it as feedback. The denial almost always comes down to one thing: a lack of sufficient proof of notability. That 30-day waiting period before you can re-apply is your opportunity to build a stronger case.

Focus on Earning More Press

Your single most productive activity is to increase your footprint in legitimate media. The verification badge isn’t the goal, it's the result of being viewed as an authority. How can you do that?

• Public Relations: If you have the budget, work with a freelancer or PR agency to help get your story in front of journalists.
• Help a Reporter Out (HARO): This is a free service that connects journalists with expert sources. Responding to queries in your area of expertise is a great way to earn mentions and quotes in articles.
• Create Newsworthy Content: Publish compelling data, unique industry reports, or create insightful commentary that journalists in your field might want to reference.
• Guest Appearances: Seek guest spots on respected podcasts or YouTube channels in your industry. While not as strong as a print article, it helps build your public profile and can lead to other opportunities.

Build a Better On-Platform Presence

While Facebook reviews your off-platform notability, they also want to see that you're running a professional, high-quality Page. Use the time to refine your content strategy. Post consistently, engage with your audience in the comments, and ensure your branding is sharp and clear. Think of your Page as your "digital HQ." When the review team looks at it, they should immediately understand who you are and why you matter.

Ask yourself: Does our Page look like it belongs to a leader in our field? If not, work on that. A checkmark on a messy or inactive page is worthless.

Moving Beyond the Blue Check

It’s easy to get fixated on the blue check as the ultimate sign of success, but it's important to remember what it really represents. The badge is a symbol of the trust and authority you've already built. It doesn't create authority, it confirms it.

Instead of chasing the badge, chase an authentically engaged audience. Focus on creating value, building a genuine community, and becoming the go-to resource in your niche. When you successfully do that, the media will take notice. And once the media takes notice, Facebook's verification team will, too. The blue check will simply become a reflection of the hard work you’ve already done.

Final Thoughts

Getting a blue check on Facebook comes down to methodically meeting the platform's requirements for authenticity and completeness, while overwhelmingly proving your notability through legitimate, independent media coverage. If you're denied, keep your focus on building your brand’s public profile and strengthening your case before trying again.

While the verification process hinges on your achievements outside of Facebook, building a rock-solid, professional presence on the platform is just as important. For that, we built Postbase to make it easy to create and keep up with a stellar content plan. With a simple visual calendar, you can schedule quality content consistently, so your Page always looks dynamic and authoritative - exactly what reviewers, and your audience, want to see.