How to Verify a Facebook Profile

That coveted blue check next to a Facebook name isn't just for celebrities and global brands anymore. Getting verified is a tangible way to signal authenticity and authority to your audience. This guide provides a complete walkthrough of the criteria you need to meet, the exact steps to apply, and actionable advice for strengthening your application.

First Things First: What is Facebook Verification?

The blue verification badge is a small but mighty symbol. Its primary purpose, according to Meta, is to let people know that a Page or Profile of public interest is the real deal. It’s a stamp of authenticity. Essentially, Facebook is confirming that the account you're looking at is the genuine presence of the public figure, creator, or brand it represents.

It's important to understand what the blue check is not. It's not an endorsement from Facebook. It doesn't unlock special features or guarantee better reach in the algorithm. Its sole job is to combat impersonation and add a layer of trust for users. When you see that badge, you know you’re interacting with the official source and not a fan account or a fraudulent page.

You might have also heard about "Meta Verified," a newer subscription service that offers a verification badge for a monthly fee. While it also provides a blue check, its criteria are different - it primarily verifies your identity through a government-issued ID. The traditional verification process, which this article focuses on, is free and based on proving that you are a "notable" and authentic public figure or business.

Are You Eligible? Understanding Facebook's Verification Criteria

Before you even think about filling out the application, you need to be honest about whether you meet Facebook's strict criteria. Simply wanting the badge isn't enough, you must prove you qualify. These requirements fall into four main categories.

1. Authentic: Representing a Real Person or Business

This is the simplest requirement to meet. Your Profile or Page must represent a real person, a registered business, or a legitimate entity. You can’t verify a meme page or an account for your pet (unless your pet is a world-famous public figure with significant media coverage, of course). You will have to prove this with official documentation like a government-issued photo ID for a person or tax documents and articles of incorporation for a business.

2. Unique: The Only Official Presence

Facebook will only verify one Profile or Page per person or business. The idea is to direct users to a single, authoritative source. There are a few exceptions here, mainly for language-specific or region-specific Pages owned by a large global brand (for example, Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Spain might both be verified). For most individuals, creators, and small businesses, however, you get one official presence. You can't have five different Pages for your personal brand and try to get them all verified.

3. Complete: A Fully Filled-Out Profile

This is an easy but often overlooked step. Facebook wants to verify accounts that are active and professionally managed. An incomplete or dormant profile looks suspicious and isn't a good candidate for verification. Your Page or Profile must have:

• An About section with accurate information.
• A profile photo and cover photo that are professional and representative of your brand.
• Recent activity, demonstrated by having at least one recent post.
• Pages must also have followers, although there is no hard public number given by Meta.

4. Notable: The Make-or-Break Factor

This is where most applications succeed or fail. "Notable" is a subjective term, but for Meta, it has a specific meaning: your Page or Profile must represent a "well-known, often searched for" person, brand, or entity. In plain English, they want to see proof that people outside of your immediate circle know and care about who you are or what you do.

How do you prove notability? Meta's review team looks for evidence that you've been featured in multiple, independent, and credible news sources. The key word here is independent. Articles on your own blog, paid newswire press releases (like PR Newswire), and content you sponsored do not count. Sponsored "article" placements in online magazines are also a red flag for reviewers.

What they're looking for are genuine, earned media mentions. Here are some examples of what works:

• Feature articles about you or your business in major national publications (e.g., The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company).
• Substantial profiles in respected industry-specific magazines (e.g., TechCrunch for a startup founder, Variety for an actor, Billboard for a musician).
• Several local or regional news stories about your work, brand, or community impact.
• A well-maintained Wikipedia page that follows the platform's notability guidelines and cites reliable, independent sources.

Think of it this way: Meta wants to verify accounts that are at risk of being impersonated because enough people are paying attention to them. If you can't provide several examples of legitimate news organizations talking about you, you likely won't be considered notable enough for verification, even if you meet all the other criteria.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Verifying Your Facebook Profile or Page

If you're confident that you meet the criteria above, it’s time to apply. The process is relatively straightforward, but attention to detail is critical. Ensure you have your identification documents and press links ready before you begin.

Finding the Application Form

The form itself can be tricky to find through settings menus. The most reliable method is to use the direct link provided in Facebook's own Help Center. The official request form is the same for both Pages and Profiles.

You can access the form directly here: Request a blue verification badge.

Filling Out the Application Form: What You'll Need

Once you open the form, you’ll be prompted to follow a few simple steps. Here’s what each section requires:

Step 1: Confirm Authenticity - What are you verifying?

First, you’ll choose whether you're applying for a Profile or a Page. If you manage multiple pages, you'll need to select the correct one from a dropdown menu. Then, you'll provide documentation to prove your identity.

• For a Person (Profile): You'll need a clear photo of a government-issued ID that shows your name and date of birth. This can be your driver's license, passport, or national identification card.
• For an Organization (Page): You’ll need a document with the official name and seal of your organization. Examples include articles of incorporation, tax documents, or a recent utility bill.

Pro Tip: Use your phone to take a well-lit, high-resolution photo of the document. Make sure all four corners are visible and that there is no glare obscuring any information.

Step 2: Confirm Notability - Show You’re in the Public Interest

This is your chance to make the case for why you are notable.

• Category: Select the category that best describes your field (e.g., News/Media, Sports, Government & Politics, Music, Fashion, Creator, Business/Brand/Organization, etc.). Choose the one that aligns most closely with the press you’ll be providing.
• Country/Region: Enter the country where you or your organization is most prominent.
• Audience (Optional): Don't skip this. Briefly describe the people who follow you and why they do. A good description adds context. For example: "My audience consists of entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners in the United States who look to my page for advice on digital marketing."
• Also Known As (Optional): Use this if you or your brand is commonly known by a different name (e.g., a stage name, an acronym, or a nickname).

Finally, and most importantly, you'll see five fields for links. This is where you'll share up to five articles that prove your notability. Select your absolute best, most authoritative, and most diverse press links. Do not link to your own website, blog, or other social media profiles. Show them links to independent media coverage.

A strong link is a feature in a newspaper. A weak link is a mention in a listicle on a small blog. Choose wisely.

Once you've filled everything out, hit “Send.”

My Application Was Rejected. Now What?

It's very common for first-time applications to be rejected, usually with a generic message stating you don't meet the criteria. Don't be discouraged. A rejection simply means you didn’t provide enough proof of notability at this specific time. The good news is that you can reapply after 30 days.

Use that 30-day period productively:

1. Work on Your Public Profile: Focus on securing more earned media coverage. Connect with journalists in your field, share your expertise, and build relationships that could lead to genuine press features. A single strong article in a major publication can be enough to turn a "no" into a "yes."
2. Optimize Your Facebook Presence: Make sure your Page or Profile is perfectly maintained. Fill out every possible field in your About section, post high-quality content regularly, and engage with your community. An active, professional page looks more legitimate to reviewers.
3. Review Your Last Application: Ask yourself honestly if the links you provided were strong enough. Did you accidentally include paid media? Were the sources truly independent and respected? Find better links for your next attempt.

Patience and persistence are invaluable here. Many verified accounts were rejected multiple times before finally being approved.

Pro Tips for Boosting Your Chances of Getting Verified

Give yourself the best possible shot at success by following these simple best practices that often make a difference:

• Don't Pay for Verification: Any service promising to get you verified for a fee is a scam and can get your account banned. The only way to get the traditional blue badge is through the official form, and it's free.
• Quality Over Quantity with Links: One link from a nationally recognized newspaper is worth more than five links from small, unknown blogs.
• No Social Links: Do not use your LinkedIn, X (Twitter), or Instagram profiles as proof of notability. Meta wants to see off-platform validation.
• Be Patient: The review process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Submitting multiple applications in a short period won't speed it up.
• Link Your Official Website: Make sure the official website listed in your Facebook "About" section is professional and functional. Reviewers often check it.

Final Thoughts

Securing the blue check on Facebook is a process that proves two key things: that you are who you say you are, and that your work or brand holds significant public interest. By preparing your documents, building a portfolio of strong media coverage, and completing the application with care, you place yourself in the best possible position for approval.

While the verification process focuses on your off-platform notability, maintaining a consistent, professional, and active presence on Facebook itself is a major part of the puzzle. We built Postbase to make that part effortless. By helping you schedule all your content - from videos to posts - in one visual calendar, we free you up to focus on the bigger picture, like building the brand that's worthy of verification.