How to Get Approved for Instagram Shopping

Transforming your Instagram profile from a simple gallery into a full-fledged storefront is a significant step for any brand, and getting approved for Instagram Shopping is the key that unlocks it all. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, outlining exactly what you need to do to meet the requirements, connect your products, and turn your followers into customers.

First Things First: Do You Qualify for Instagram Shopping?

Before you begin the setup process, you need to ensure your business meets all of Meta's criteria. Instagram is protective of its user experience, so they have a strict set of requirements to maintain a trustworthy shopping environment. Think of this as your pre-flight checklist.

1. Your Business Is in a Supported Country

Instagram Shopping isn't available everywhere. Your business must be physically located in one of the countries or regions on Meta’s supported markets list. This is non-negotiable, so be sure to check their official list first to see if your location qualifies.

2. You Sell Eligible Physical Goods

Currently, Instagram Shopping is designed for businesses that sell physical products. This includes items you can ship, such as clothing, accessories, home goods, or beauty products. Services (like consulting or coaching), digital products (like e-books or software), and travel or event tickets are not eligible. If your business is service-based, you won't be able to use this feature.

3. You Abide by Meta’s Commerce Policies

This is a crucial point. Your products and your business practices must comply with Meta's Commerce Policies and Community Standards. These rules prohibit the sale of certain items, including:

• Firearms, weapons, and ammunition
• Drugs (prescription or recreational) and tobacco products
• Live animals
• Adult products and services
• Alcohol (with some limitations)
• Healthcare products that make misleading claims

Your account must also demonstrate trustworthiness. This means providing accurate business information, having a history of authentic activity, and representing your business and domain honestly.

4. You Have an Instagram Business or Creator Account

Personal Instagram profiles can't access shopping features. You'll need to convert your account to either a Business or a Creator account. This is a simple change in your settings and grants you access to professional tools like Insights and advertising capabilities, in addition to Shopping eligibility.

5. You Own the Domain You Sell From

You must sell your products from your own website. This means you cannot link your Instagram Shop to a marketplace such as Etsy, Amazon, or Redbubble. Your products need to live on a domain that you own and operate, reinforcing the direct relationship between your brand on Instagram and your official online store.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Approved

If you've checked all the eligibility requirements, you're ready to start the setup process. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth approval process.

Step 1: Convert Your Profile to a Business or Creator Account

If you haven't already, switching your account type is your first step. It's quick, simple, and unlocks the necessary tools.

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap Settings and Privacy.
3. Scroll down and tap Account type and tools.
4. Select Switch to professional account and follow the prompts. You can choose either 'Business' or 'Creator' depending on which best describes your account. For a brand selling products, 'Business' is typically the best choice.

Step 2: Connect Your Facebook Page

Instagram is part of the Meta ecosystem, so everything operates through Facebook's backend tools. You must have a Facebook Business Page linked to your Instagram account to access Commerce features.

To connect your Page:

1. On your Instagram profile, tap Edit Profile.
2. Under 'Public business information,' tap Page.
3. You can either Connect an existing page or Create a new Facebook Page. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the link.

Your Facebook Page doesn’t need to be highly active, but it must be connected to your Instagram account for the shop to function.

Step 3: Create and Connect a Product Catalog

A product catalog is the foundation of your Instagram Shop. It’s a file containing all the essential details for each product you want to sell: names, descriptions, high-quality images, prices, sizes, colors, and direct links to your website’s product pages. You have two primary options to create one.

Option 1: Use an E-commerce Platform Integration (The Easiest Way)

If you use a popular e-commerce platform like Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce, this process is very straightforward. These platforms have built-in integrations that automatically create and sync your product catalog with Meta Commerce Manager.

For example, with Shopify, you can add the 'Facebook & Instagram' sales channel directly within your Shopify dashboard. Once connected to your Facebook Business account, it will automatically pull all your product information into a catalog. This method is recommended because it automates updates - when you add a new product or change a price on your website, your Instagram catalog updates automatically.

Option 2: Manually Create a Catalog in Meta Commerce Manager

If your e-commerce platform lacks a direct integration or you prefer a hands-on approach, you can create a catalog manually within Meta Commerce Manager.

1. Go to Meta Commerce Manager and click Add Catalog.
2. Select your catalog type (usually E-commerce) and configure your settings.
3. You can then add products manually one by one, upload a data feed from a spreadsheet, or connect a Meta Pixel.

While this approach offers full control, it can be more time-consuming and requires careful management to keep your product information accurate and current.

Step 4: Submit Your Account for Review

Once your professional account is set up, your Facebook Page is linked, and your product catalog is ready, it's time to request approval. You'll do this directly from the Instagram app.

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon.
2. Tap Settings and Privacy.
3. Tap Business (or Creator).
4. Select Set up Instagram Shopping.
5. Follow the steps. You'll be asked to connect your business account, select your product catalog, and verify your website domain.
6. After reviewing the details, tap Submit for Review.

And now, you wait. The review process can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of weeks. You'll receive a notification in your 'Professional dashboard' once your account has been approved (or if more information is needed).

"Why Didn't I Get Approved?" Common Issues and How to Fix Them

An initial rejection can be disappointing, but it's often due to a simple oversight that you can correct. If your application isn't approved, Instagram usually provides a general reason. Here are the most common issues and what to do about them:

• Violating Commerce Policies: This is a frequent reason for rejection. Carefully review your product catalog. Are you inadvertently trying to sell a supplement with exaggerated health claims or a product in a restricted category? Remove any questionable items from your catalog and resubmit.
• Missing Business Information: Your account should appear as a legitimate, established business. Ensure you have a complete bio, an up-to-date profile picture, a contact method (email or phone), and a link to your website.
• Insufficient Presence or Trust: If your account has very few followers, no posts, or zero engagement, Meta's systems might flag it as not being an "established presence." Before reapplying, focus on growing your account authentically - post regularly, engage with your audience, and build a genuine following.
• Domain Ownership Issues: Make sure the website you're directing customers to is owned by you and verified in your Facebook Business Manager settings. The links in your product catalog must point to this verified domain.

After fixing the issue, you can request a second review in your account settings. Return to the 'Shopping' section of your professional dashboard, where there should be an option to appeal or request a new review.

Now You're Approved! Start Selling with Confidence

Congratulations! Once you see the approval notification, you're ready to enable the features and start making sales.

Tag Products in Your Content

The core of Instagram Shopping is product tagging. You can now tag products in nearly every type of content:

• Feed Posts: When creating a post, you'll see an option to 'Tag Products'. Tap on the image to place a tag, similar to tagging a person. You can tag up to five products per single image post or 20 for a multi-image post.
• Stories: Use the "Product" sticker to feature an item from your catalog directly in your Story. Viewers can tap the sticker to learn more and make a purchase on your website.
• Reels: When editing a Reel, you can tag products from your catalog, making your videos shoppable.

Build and Customize Your Instagram Shop

Your profile now includes a 'Shop' tab, which serves as your dedicated digital storefront. Organize your shop by creating collections - curated groups of products such as "New Arrivals," "Best Sellers," or seasonal themes. This helps customers browse your offerings more easily and discover items they might have missed in your feed.

Final Thoughts

Getting approved for Instagram Shopping involves several steps, from verifying your eligibility to setting up a product catalog and waiting for approval. While it requires patience and some adjustments, the benefit of having a direct, shoppable storefront for your brand on one of the world's most popular social platforms is well worth the effort.

Once your shop is approved, success relies on a consistent, compelling content strategy. We built Postbase because we know that scheduling engaging content day after day is the hard part. Our visual calendar helps you plan shoppable Feed posts, Reels, and Stories weeks in advance, and our reliable, modern scheduler ensures they go out on time. You can focus on creating great content while we handle the consistency.