How to Verify Yourself on Facebook

Seeing that blue checkmark next to a name on Facebook instantly communicates authority and authenticity. This guide breaks down exactly how to get verified, walking you through Meta's eligibility requirements and the two different paths you can take to earn that badge for your profile or page.

What Is Facebook Verification and Why Does It Matter?

The Facebook verification badge - that coveted blue check - is a symbol from Meta confirming that a page or profile is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or brand it represents. It’s an official stamp of approval that tells visitors, "Yes, this is the real deal."

But it's more than just a status symbol. Verification offers tangible benefits that can significantly impact your brand's presence:

• Builds Instant Trust: In an online world full of impersonators and fan accounts, the blue badge immediately distinguishes your official account from the rest. Your audience knows they're engaging with the authentic source, which fosters a stronger, more trusting relationship.
• Enhances Credibility: The verification process requires proving you are a notable entity. As a result, the badge serves as a silent signal of your relevance and authority in your industry or niche.
• Combats Impersonation: Verified accounts gain access to better monitoring tools and support from Meta to deal with accounts trying to impersonate them. This is a huge asset for protecting your brand's reputation.
• Improves Discoverability: While Meta doesn't explicitly state that verified accounts get a boost in the algorithm, they often appear higher in search results. This makes it easier for new followers and fans to find your authentic account instead of a fake one.

Are You Eligible? Understanding the Requirements

Before you even think about applying, you need to make sure your account meets Meta’s strict criteria. They aren't just handing these badges out to anyone.

Every verified account must be:

• Authentic: It has to represent a real person, a registered business, or a legitimate entity. You'll need to prove this with official documentation, like a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport) or business documents (articles of incorporation, tax filings).
• Unique: The page or profile should be the one-and-only official presence of the person or business it represents. Meta typically only verifies one account per entity, though they make exceptions for language-specific or region-specific pages.
• Complete: Your profile can't be a ghost town. It needs to have an "About" section filled out, a profile picture, a cover photo, and a history of recent activity, including at least one post.
• Notable: This is often the trickiest hurdle. Your account must represent a “well-known, often searched for" person, brand, or entity. Meta wants to see that you’ve been featured in multiple, independent news sources or credible media outlets. Critically, this does not include paid or promotional content, sponsored articles, or your own press releases. They are looking for organic media coverage that proves your public interest.

The Two Paths to Verification

A few years ago, there was only one way to get verified - by proving notability. Today, however, Meta has created two distinct paths. Understanding the difference is your first step to choosing the right approach for you or your brand.

1. Meta Verified (The Subscription Model)

Meta now offers a paid subscription service called Meta Verified. This is the fastest and most direct path to getting a blue check for individual creators and an increasing number of businesses. Instead of focusing on notability and external press, it's all about proving your identity.

Who is this for?

This is perfect for content creators, influencers, solopreneurs, and public figures who may not have dozens of press articles but want the benefits of a verified badge. The rollout for business pages is ongoing, so check your eligibility within your Page settings.

What do you get with Meta Verified?

• A verified badge confirming you’re the real you (after they check your government ID).
• Proactive account protection from impersonators.
• Access to direct account support from a real person.
• Exclusive stickers for Stories and Reels.

How to get Meta Verified:

1. Find the Signup: On the Facebook mobile app, go to your profile or page, tap the three-dot menu, and look for "Meta Verified." If it's available for your account, you'll see the option here or in your Account Center.
2. Set Up Payment: Choose the profile you want to verify and set up your monthly payment.
3. Confirm Your Identity: You'll be prompted to take a photo of your government-issued ID (like a driver's license or passport) and possibly a selfie video to confirm it's you. Your profile name and photo must match your ID.
4. Wait for Review: After you submit your information, Meta will review it. This process usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. Once approved, the blue badge appears on your profile.

It's that simple. As long as you're over 18, meet basic activity requirements, and have a matching ID, you can get verified through this subscription.

2. Traditional Verification (Based on Notability)

This is the original, free method for becoming verified. It is reserved for pages and profiles that Meta deems to be of significant "public interest." This is the path for major celebrities, global brands, prominent journalists, and politicians - accounts that truly meet the "notable" criteria.

Who is this for?

This approach is for established brands and public figures who have significant, independent press coverage and can easily prove their notability to Meta.

How you qualify for Traditional Notability verification:

The difference here is the heavy emphasis on external validation. Meta's manual review team will investigate your public presence outside of Facebook. If you don't have a demonstrated history of public interest through articles, television appearances, or other recognized media, your application will almost certainly be denied.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Notability Verification

If you believe you meet the criteria for traditional notability, you can apply directly through Facebook's help center. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of the process:

Step 1: Locate the Application Form

First, you need to find the "Request a verified badge" form. The easiest way to find it is by searching for "How to request a verified badge on Facebook" in the Facebook Help Center or by navigating directly to the form if you have the link. Make sure you are logged into the account you wish to verify.

Step 2: Fill Out Your Basic Information

The form is straightforward. You'll start by providing some basic details:

• What are you verifying? Choose either "Page" or "Profile."
• Select the Page or Provide Profile URL: If you're verifying a Page, select it from the dropdown. If it's a Profile, paste the URL.

Step 3: Confirm Your Authenticity

Next, you’ll need to prove you are who you say you are. Upload a clear, legible photo of an official document.

• For a person: Use a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or national identification card.
• For a business or organization: Use official documents like a utility bill for the organization, articles of incorporation, or tax documents.

The name on your document must match the name on the account you're trying to verify.

Step 4: Prove Your Notability

This is the most important part of the application. Meta needs evidence that you are in the public interest. You’ll be asked to provide the following:

• Category: Select a category that best describes your account (e.g., News/Media, Sports, Government &, Politics, Music, Entertainer, Digital Creator, Business/Brand, etc.).
• Country/Region: Specify the country or region where your entity is most popular.
• Audience (Optional): Briefly describe the people who follow you and why they do. Keep it concise.
• Also Known As (Optional): If you or your organization is known by a different name, list it here.

Most importantly, you will see a section for up to five links. These links are your evidence. Do not link to your other social media profiles, your own website, or sponsored content. Meta looks for:

• News articles from well-regarded publications (e.g., The New York Times, Forbes, WIRED, your national newspaper).
• Major television or online broadcaster mentions.
• Evidence of significant industry awards.
• A Wikipedia page that is well-sourced and follows notability guidelines.

Provide the strongest 3-5 links you have. Quality over quantity is absolutely the way to go here.

Step 5: Submit and Be Patient

After you've triple-checked everything, hit "Send." Meta's team will manually review your application. The timeline can vary from a few days to a few weeks. You will receive a notification letting you know if you've been approved or denied.

What If Your Application is Rejected?

Don't be discouraged! It’s extremely common for applications to be denied on the first try, usually for a lack of notability. If you're rejected, you can't immediately resubmit, you have to wait 30 days before trying again.

Use that time productively:

• Strengthen Your Public Profile: Work with a PR professional or focus an outreach campaign to secure more organic media coverage. One or two strong articles published since your last application can make a huge difference.
• Optimize Your Profile: Be sure your Facebook Page or Profile is fully fleshed out, active, and looks professional.
• Consider Meta Verified: If building a portfolio of national press coverage isn't realistic for you, the Meta Verified subscription remains the most reliable path forward for individual creators.

Final Thoughts

Achieving verification on Facebook, whether through proving your notability or subscribing to Meta Verified, is a clear statement about your brand's authenticity. That blue badge serves as an immediate shortcut to building credibility and trust, helping you separate your official presence from the noise and form a stronger connection with your audience.

Building that kind of authentic brand presence takes sustained and steady effort. We originally built Postbase to make that consistency more manageable, by helping you organize your social media workflow. By bringing together your content calendar, post scheduling across different platforms, and all of your community engagement into a single dashboard, we make it easier to stay focused on creating the kind of high-quality content that gets your brand noticed.