How to Verify on Twitter

Getting a checkmark by your name on Twitter, now known as X, has completely changed from what it used to be. The once-mysterious process of proving your “notability” is gone, replaced by a more direct system. This guide will walk you through exactly what the different checkmarks mean today, the step-by-step process for getting verified, and how you can use that new badge to build your brand or personal profile.

What the Checkmarks on X Really Mean Now

In the past, the blue checkmark was a status symbol given to public figures and organizations X deemed authentic and noteworthy. Today, verification is less about selective endorsement from the platform and more about confirming identity through different tiered systems. Understanding the three different colors is the first step to figuring out which path is right for you.

The Blue Checkmark: X Premium Subscribers

The famous blue checkmark is now primarily available to anyone willing to subscribe to X Premium (formerly known as Twitter Blue). While it no longer signifies that X has hand-picked your account for notability, it does confirm that you’ve met a set of eligibility criteria and that your account is tied to a real subscription. For individual creators, journalists, professionals, and enthusiasts, this is the most direct route to verification. Subscribers also get access to premium features like editing posts, writing longer posts and replies, and seeing fewer ads.

The Gold Checkmark: Verified Organizations

If you see a gold checkmark and a square profile picture, you’re looking at an official business account that's part of the Verified Organizations program. This is the new standard for corporate, non-profit, and brand accounts. It’s designed to combat impersonation and signal to users that they are interacting with the legitimate presence of a company. The gold check is a powerful trust signal for businesses wanting to secure their brand identity on the platform and is arguably the true successor to the old legacy verification for organizations.

The Grey Checkmark: Government and Multilateral Organizations

The grey checkmark is reserved for government institutions, officials, state-affiliated media accounts, and certain multilateral organizations (like the UN or WHO). You'll see this on the profiles of government agencies, heads of state, official spokespeople, and certain diplomats. Its purpose is purely functional: to help the public identify official governmental and public service sources of information accurately and avoid misinformation.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Blue Checkmark

For most individuals, brands just starting, and creators, the blue checkmark via an X Premium subscription is the most accessible path. The process is pretty straightforward, but it’s not instantaneous. Here’s how to do it correctly.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Before you even think about paying, make sure your account meets the minimum requirements. X won't grant the checkmark if these aren't in place, even if you’ve subscribed. Your account must be:

• Complete: You need a display name and a profile picture.
• Active: You must have logged in and posted within the last 30 days.
• Established: Your account must be at least 30 days old.
• Secure: Your account must have a confirmed phone number.
• Non-Deceptive: Your profile must not be misleading or deceptive. This includes not changing your profile picture, display name, or username (@handle) recently to impersonate someone else. You also can’t have any signs of being a spam account or engaging in platform manipulation.

Review your profile against this list. If anything is missing, like a phone number, update it before proceeding.

Step 2: Subscribe to X Premium

Once you’ve confirmed you're eligible, it’s time to subscribe. You can do this from either a desktop browser or the X mobile app.

1. On the web, click on the "More" option in the left-hand navigation menu. In the mobile app, tap your profile picture.
2. Select "Premium" from the menu.
3. X will show you the different subscription tiers (Basic, Premium, and Premium+). The blue checkmark is only included with the Premium and Premium+ tiers. Choose the plan that works best for you.
4. You’ll note that the price is often lower if you subscribe via a web browser compared to the iOS or Android app. This is because subscriptions on web avoid Apple's and Google's app store fees.
5. Follow the payment prompts to complete your subscription.

Step 3: Wait for Review

This is where many people get confused. Subscribing to X Premium does not instantly give you a blue checkmark. Once your payment is processed, your account enters a review queue. The X team will verify that your profile meets all the eligibility criteria mentioned in Step 1.

This review process can take a few days. During this time, avoid changing your profile picture, display name, or username. Making changes like these can reset the review period or even cause you to temporarily lose your checkmark once you have it, as the system will need to re-verify your identity.

Once your account is approved, the blue checkmark will appear next to your name automatically.

Securing the Gold Checkmark for Your Business

For established businesses and organizations, the gold checkmark is the ultimate symbol of authenticity on X. It provides an immediate visual cue that an account is official, helping protect your customers and your reputation. Getting it is more of an investment, but for many brands, it’s worth it.

Why the Gold Checkmark Matters for Brands

A gold checkmark isn’t just for aesthetics. It’s a strategic asset that helps:

• Prevent Impersonation: It makes the official account stand out, making it harder for scam or parody accounts to deceive users.
• Build Customer Trust: Customers are more likely to engage, follow, and trust an account that is clearly marked as official.
• Access Special Features: Verified Organizations get benefits like the ability to affiliate employee accounts, priority support for issues like impersonation, and increased visibility in some areas of the platform.

The Path to Gold: Joining Verified Organizations

Unlike the self-serve subscription for the blue check, getting the gold check requires an application to the Verified Organizations program. This program has a much higher subscription fee (currently $1,000/month in the U.S., with prices varying by region).

To start the process, visit the Verified Organizations sign-up page, which you can typically find by logging into your account and navigating to x.com/settings/verified-organizations or looking for the "Verified Organizations" link under the "More" menu on desktop. You’ll be asked to provide your account handle and payment information, and then your account will go through a vetting process. X will review your organization's legitimacy before granting the gold checkmark.

Best Practices Before and After Verification

Getting a checkmark is just one piece of building a strong presence on X. To get the most out of it, you need to prepare your profile beforehand and have an active presence afterward to make it meaningful.

Before You Apply: Clean Up Your Profile

Your X profile is your digital storefront. Whether you're aiming for blue, gold, or grey, a professional and coherent profile makes a better impression. Before subscribing or applying:

• Optimize Your Bio: Clearly state who you are or what your business does. Include a link to your official website or primary landing page.
• Use High-Quality Images: Your profile picture and header image should be clear, professional, and consistent with your branding.
• Post Consistently: An active feed shows that your account is alive and well. A sparse or outdated timeline can make visitors question your legitimacy, checkmark or not.

After You're Verified: Leverage Your New Status

Once the checkmark appears, use it as a foundation for growth. Your badge implies a certain level of commitment and activity.

• Become an Authority: Your posts may carry more weight now. Share valuable insights, news, and updates related to your niche or industry. Become the go-to source people can rely on.
• Engage with Your Community: Don’t just post and run. Respond to replies, participate in conversations, and show that there's a real person or team behind the checkmark. It's a key part of building a loyal following.
• Be the Source of Truth: Your verified account is the official line. Use it to make announcements, clarify information, and correct misinformation about you or your brand.

What About the Original Blue Checkmarks?

Many people still wonder if it's possible to get verified the "old way" by being famous or influential. For the most part, the answer is no. X has phased out the application-based system based on subjective "notability."

The "legacy" blue checkmarks from the old system were initially removed for all users who weren't subscribing to X Premium. Later, the platform began restoring them to accounts with a very high follower count (typically over a million followers), often covering the subscription cost for them as a courtesy. However, there is no way to apply for this. It is granted at X's discretion.

For over 99% of users and businesses, the only predictable and reliable paths to verification are paying for an X Premium subscription (blue) or applying to the Verified Organizations program (gold).

Final Thoughts

Getting verified on X has evolved from an exclusive club based on notability into an accessible system based on identity confirmation via subscription. Whether it's the blue checkmark from an X Premium subscription for an individual, or the gold checkmark for a business through Verified Organizations, the process is now more straightforward than ever before.

Maintaining a high-quality account is just as important as getting the checkmark in the first place, because your profile's reputation depends on the content you publish. At Postbase, we built our tool around the idea that social media management should feel orderly, not frantic. The simple, visual calendar makes it easy to plan and schedule your posts for X and all your other channels, so you can build a consistent, professional presence that lives up to your verification status, without the day-to-day chaos.

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