How to Get Verified on Instagram

That little blue checkmark next to an Instagram username is more than just a status symbol, it’s a stamp of authenticity from the platform itself. Obtaining one can feel like trying to get into an exclusive club, but the process is more straightforward than you might think. This guide will walk you through exactly what Instagram looks for, how to build your profile to meet their standards, and the step-by-step process to request verification.

What Does the Instagram Blue Check Actually Mean?

Before we get into the details, it's important to understand what Instagram verification is - and what it isn’t. The blue checkmark simply confirms that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents. It doesn't mean Instagram endorses the account, nor does it give the account special treatment in the algorithm or extra features.

Getting verified is about building trust with your audience. It helps you stand out from fan accounts, impersonators, and parody pages, making it clear to users that they've found the real deal. In short, it’s about authenticity, not importance.

Common Myths About Instagram Verification

• Myth 1: You need hundreds of thousands of followers. Follower count is not an official requirement. Instagram is more interested in your off-platform notability than your on-platform numbers. There are verified accounts with fewer than 10,000 followers.
• Myth 2: You can pay to get verified. You cannot buy a verification badge from Instagram, and anyone who offers to sell you one is running a scam. The only way to get the legacy blue check is by applying directly through the app and meeting the criteria. (Note: Meta Verified, the paid subscription service, offers a blue check but is different from the traditional verification badge earned through notability.)
• Myth 3: You have to be a celebrity. While A-list celebrities get verified easily, you don't have to be a household name. You just need to be a public figure, a noteworthy brand, or an entity that is highly searched for and featured in news sources.

The Four Pillars of Instagram Verification

Instagram is pretty clear about its requirements. To even be considered, your account must comply with their Terms of Service and Community Guidelines, and it must satisfy these four conditions:

1. Authentic

This is the most basic requirement. Your account must represent a real person, a registered business, or a legitimate entity. This is why Instagram asks you to submit a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) for personal accounts or official business documents (like a tax filing or utility bill) for brand accounts.

2. Unique

Your account needs to be the one-and-only presence of the person or business it represents. Instagram typically doesn't verify general interest accounts (e.g., @cutepuppies). A few exceptions are language-specific accounts for a global brand, but for most individuals and businesses, only one account will be granted a badge.

3. Complete

This is simple housekeeping. Your account must be public, have a clear bio, a profile picture, and at least one post. An incomplete, private, or brand-new account will be rejected immediately. Your profile should look active and professionally managed, as it reflects the seriousness of your request.

4. Notable

This is where most people get tripped up. It's the most subjective and influential factor in the verification decision. Being “notable” means your account must represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity.

Instagram reviews accounts that are featured in multiple, legitimate news sources. They are very clear that paid or promotional content does not count. This means guest posts you paid for, sponsored articles, and "press releases" that are just thinly veiled advertisements won't move the needle. The review team is trained to spot these.

How to Prove You Are "Notable" (The Real Work)

If you don't automatically qualify for notability, you have to build it. Getting verified isn’t something you just *do* one afternoon, it's the result of months or even years of consistent brand building. Think of the application as the final step in a much longer process.

Step 1: Get Genuine Press Coverage

The human reviewer at Instagram is going to Google you. What will they find? The better your search results, the higher your chance of approval. You need a digital footprint that screams "legitimacy."

• What Counts: Features, interviews, or mentions in recognizable publications (think Forbes, Entrepreneur, The New York Times, TechCrunch, or well-respected trade journals in your industry). These should be organic articles where a journalist decided you or your brand was newsworthy.
• What Doesn't Count: Paid-for press release distribution services, sponsored content, blog posts on your own site, or brand mentions in user-generated content like Wikipedia (which anyone can edit).
• Actionable Tip: Use services like Help a Reporter Out (HARO), where journalists actively look for sources for their stories. Responding thoughtfully to relevant queries is a fantastic way to get quoted in major publications for free.

Step 2: Optimize Your Online Presence (Beyond Instagram)

Instagram wants to see that you are a notable public figure on the internet as a whole, not just on their platform. Showing up strong elsewhere reinforces your case.

• Create a Professional Website: Your main hub outside of social media. It should look clean, professional, and tell a clear story about who you are and what you do.
• Aim for a Google Knowledge Panel: That box that appears on the right side of Google search results for a person or brand? That's a huge sign of notability. While you can't create one directly, having press mentions and a full Wikipedia page can help trigger one.
• Be Active on Other Platforms: Maintain a consistent, professional brand presence on platforms like LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, or TikTok. This shows you're an established figure in the digital space. If your brand is only on Instagram, it's harder to argue for notability.

Step 3: Tell a Consistent Story

An Instagram reviewer has a very short amount of time to assess your notability. Your story must be immediately clear. Your Instagram bio, your website's "About" page, your LinkedIn headline, and the way you're described in news articles should all align. If they have to connect the dots, they likely won't.

For example, if you're an artist, your bio should say "Artist," your website should showcase your portfolio, and press links should reference you as an "emerging artist in the digital art space." Inconsistency creates doubt.

Step 4: Clean Up Your Profile

Your Instagram profile itself must look the part. Before you apply:

• Write an outstanding bio: Clearly explain who you are or what your brand does.
• Use a high-quality profile picture: A professional headshot or a clean logo.
• Create consistent, high-value content: Show that you take the platform seriously and actively provide value to your audience. A dormant or messy account is a red flag.

How to Apply for Verification: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve put in the work to build your notability, the application itself is the easiest part. You can do it directly in the Instagram app.

1. Navigate to your profile and tap the Menu icon (the three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap on “Settings and privacy.”
3. If you have a business or creator account, tap on “Business tools and controls” or “Creator tools and controls.”
4. Scroll down and tap “Request verification.”
5. The application form will appear. You'll need to confirm your identity.
   • Step 1: Fill out your full name and upload a photo of an official government ID (like a driver’s license or passport) or an official business document.
   • Step 2: Confirm your notability. Select the category that best fits your account (e.g., News/Media, Sports, Music, Fashion, Content Creator) and specify the country/region where you're most known.
6. This next part is the most important: the “Links” section. This is your chance to provide evidence of your notability. Add up to five links to news articles, features, or other public profiles that prove you're a public figure. Prioritize your strongest, non-promotional press coverage.
7. Once you've filled everything out, tap "Submit."

What Happens Next?

After you submit your application, all you can do is wait. Instagram states that you'll receive a notification in your "Activity" tab within 30 days, but it's often much faster (a few days to a week).

If You're Approved...

Congratulations! The blue badge will appear on your profile automatically. There is nothing else you need to do. Just remember verification can be revoked if you violate Instagram’s terms or change your username.

If You're Rejected...

Don't be discouraged. An initial rejection is common. Instagram will send a notification saying your account "doesn't meet the criteria." This doesn't mean you can never be verified. You can re-apply again after 30 days.

Use that month productively. Look critically at your digital presence. Pitch yourself to more publications, work on growing your authority in your niche, and continue strengthening your case. A rejection is just feedback that you're not quite there yet. Keep building, and try again when you have new, stronger evidence to present.

Final Thoughts

Getting verified on Instagram isn't about finding a magic trick or a shortcut, it's a reflection of the brand authority and credibility you've built both on and off the platform. By focusing on creating value, seeking out genuine media coverage, and maintaining a consistent online presence, you're not just working towards a blue check - you're building a brand that's authentically notable, which is far more valuable in the long run.

Building that kind of notable presence requires incredible consistency, something that's hard to maintain when you’re juggling multiple platforms. At Postbase, we built our visual calendar to solve this exact problem. By laying out all your content for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and beyond in one place, you can see your entire strategy at a glance, spot gaps in your schedule, and ensure your brand voice stays consistent. It turns the chaos of daily posting into a calm, streamlined process, freeing you up to focus on the big-picture work - like getting noticed.