Last updated · reviewed by the Essentras editorial team
TikTok verification
How to get verified on TikTok
To get verified on TikTok, open Profile, then Menu, Settings and privacy, Account and Verification, tap Start and submit links to independent news coverage. TikTok looks for an active, authentic, complete and notable account, ignores follower counts and paid media, and answers within 30 days. It charges nothing for verification.
What you will do
- Check your account against TikTok’s 5 criteria, in its own words.
- Pick the right verification type: personal, business or institution.
- Request the badge in the app, step by step, with an evidence sheet ready to copy.
- Sort your press coverage into what TikTok counts and what it ignores.
- Take the business route: a Verified Business Account first, the blue check second.
- Spot verification sellers, keep the badge and fix a rejection.
Start here in 1 click
Find who the account represents. TikTok offers 3 verification types and says that choosing the wrong one may delay the review or mean submitting a new application.
| The account represents | Verification type | What TikTok needs first | First click |
|---|---|---|---|
| A creator, public figure, artist, athlete or journalist | Personal | Identity verification and news coverage mainly about you | Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification. StepsSource: TikTok Creator Academy; TikTok Support |
| A company, brand, media organization or sports team | Business | A Verified Business Account or Organization Account, then news coverage | Settings and privacy, Account, Business verification. Business routeSource: TikTok Creator Academy; TikTok Support; TikTok Business Help Center |
| A government body, school, university, charity or NGO | Institution | Official proof of affiliation | The same Verification path. CriteriaSource: TikTok Creator Academy; TikTok Support |
| A government, politician or political party account (GPPPA) | Institution only | TikTok may contact a GPPPA itself to process verification | Who TikTok contactsSource: TikTok Support |
| Any account without independent news coverage yet | None yet | Coverage that TikTok counts | What countsSource: TikTok Creator Academy |
Check the 5 criteria first
Free
Active, authentic, complete, notable and secure: the table shows TikTok’s wording for each and how to meet it, with a readiness checklist to copy.
Request in the app
Free
Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification, then Start. TikTok’s web form page now sends you back to the app.
Business? Verify the business first
1 to 5 business days
Business verification needs a valid business license and typically takes 1 to 5 business days. It creates a Verified Business Account, not the blue check.
TikTok says it does not charge for verification and that any entity claiming to sell it is not affiliated with TikTok.
Key facts, checked on 19 Oct 2026
- Cost
- Free. TikTok says it does not charge you to get verified and that anyone claiming to sell verification is not affiliated with it.Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator Academy
- Where to apply
- In the app: Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification. The web form page now only asks you to apply in the app.Source: TikTok Support; TikTok
- Decision
- Within 30 days, by TikTok notification. If rejected, you see the reason and can resubmit after the waiting period shown.Source: TikTok Support
- Followers
- Not considered. TikTok says it does not look at the number of followers or likes when it grants a badge.Source: TikTok Support
- News coverage
- Multiple news sources. Sponsored or paid media, press releases, social media posts and outdated or irrelevant articles are not considered.Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator Academy
- Activity
- A login within the past 6 months, plus a name, profile photo, bio and at least 1 public post.Source: TikTok Support
- Business route
- A business needs a Verified Business Account or Organization Account. Business verification runs in 86 markets and typically takes 1 to 5 business days.Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Business Help Center[1][2]
- No outreach
- TikTok does not email or message people asking them to apply for a badge, except Government, Politician and Political Party Accounts.Source: TikTok Support
TikTok checks 5 things, and follower count is not 1 of them
TikTok’s Support Center and its Creator Academy describe the same review in slightly different words. Here are both side by side, with what each means in practice.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026| Criterion | Support Center | Creator Academy | How to meet it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Logged in to TikTok within the past 6 months | In active use: logged in recently, with at least 1 public post | Log in and post before you apply |
| Authentic | A real person, business or institution. Personal verification requires identity verification; business needs a Verified Business Account or Organization Account; institutions need official proof of affiliation | Name, profile, content and submitted materials all match the identity being verified | Use 1 name everywhere and have the ID or documents ready |
| Complete | Called Recognized: a name, profile photo, bio and at least 1 public post | Public, with a profile photo, an account name, a bio and at least 1 public post | Switch to public and fill in every field |
| Notable | Featured in multiple news sources; sponsored or paid media, social media posts and outdated or irrelevant articles not considered | Independent media coverage and other reliable public information | Collect direct links to independent articles mainly about you |
| Secure | Not listed | A verified phone number and email address, and 2-step verification on | Verify both and turn on 2-step verification |
The Support Center also names uniqueness among the factors and says followers and likes are not considered. TikTok reserves the right to deny or revoke verification when an account meets the criteria through artificial or inauthentic activity.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026In the UK, the badge has a legal label
TikTok says that in the United Kingdom its verification is defined as a notable user labeling scheme under the Online Safety Act.
Source: TikTok SupportCopy-ready checklist
Account readiness check
Run it on the account before you tap Start. The source of each block is in brackets.
ACTIVE (Support Center) [ ] Logged in within the past 6 months [ ] At least 1 public post COMPLETE (both pages) [ ] Account is public [ ] Profile photo, account name and bio filled in AUTHENTIC (both pages) [ ] The account name matches the person, business or institution [ ] Personal: ready for identity verification [ ] Business: Verified Business Account or Organization Account in place [ ] Institution: official proof of affiliation ready SECURE (Creator Academy) [ ] Phone number verified [ ] Email address verified [ ] 2-step verification turned on NOTABLE (both pages) [ ] Direct links to independent articles mainly about the account
How to request verification in the TikTok app, step by step
The request runs in the mobile app: TikTok’s web form page now asks you to apply on mobile instead. You need credible written media coverage, such as news articles, to support the request.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok, read 19 Oct 2026How to request a verified badge on TikTok
1. Open your profile
In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Open Settings and privacy
Tap the Menu button at the top, then Settings and privacy.
3. Open Verification
Tap Account, then Verification.
4. Tap Start and pick the type
Choose personal, business or institution. A Government, Politician or Political Party Account can only apply for institutional verification.
5. Add your news coverage
Follow the steps and add credible written media coverage as direct links to the original articles.
6. Submit and wait for the notification
TikTok sends the result through TikTok notifications within 30 days. If it rejects the request, check the reason and resubmit after the waiting period it shows.
Match the type to who the account represents. TikTok’s Creator Academy says selecting the wrong type may delay the review or mean submitting a new application.
Source: TikTok Creator AcademyCopy-ready checklist
TikTok verification evidence sheet
Paste the links from this list into the request. TikTok asks for direct links to the original articles.
ACCOUNT Username: @ Verification type: personal / business / institution Who the account represents (legal or official name): NEWS COVERAGE (direct links to the original articles) 1. Outlet | headline | publication date | URL | mainly about us? 2. 3. 4. 5. CHECK EACH LINK [ ] Independent, recognized media outlet [ ] Mainly about the applicant, not a passing mention [ ] Shows a publication date and is still online [ ] Not sponsored, paid or promotional [ ] Not a press release, personal blog or social media post [ ] The article itself: no search results, screenshots, homepages or duplicate copies
Want the badge removed later? TikTok’s Support Center says to open the Verification page and tap the TikTok Support button there; its Creator Academy says there is currently no way to remove the badge by request. Ask TikTok Support before you plan around either answer.
Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator AcademyWhat counts as news coverage for TikTok, and what does not
TikTok wants coverage it can check: independent, mainly about you, dated and still available. Its 2 consumer pages also name what it ignores, and paid media is on that list.
Source: TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026| Coverage | TikTok’s rule | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| An article in an independent, recognized outlet, mainly about you | What the Creator Academy calls strong supporting coverage | Lead with these |
| A short mention or a roundup | TikTok asks for coverage that focuses mainly on the applicant | Add only after the main pieces |
| Sponsored, paid or promotional content | Not considered | Leave it out, labeled or not |
| A press release | Not independent media coverage | Leave it out |
| A personal blog or a social media post | Not considered | Leave it out |
| Outdated or irrelevant articles | Not considered | Prefer recent pieces about your current work |
| Search results, screenshots, homepages, duplicate copies | May not be accepted | Send the direct link to each original articleSource: TikTok Creator Academy; TikTok Support |
How many articles? TikTok asks for multiple news sources and publishes no number, so anyone quoting a minimum is guessing.
Source: TikTok SupportEarning coverage TikTok counts (our advice, not TikTok’s)
- Start with outlets that already cover your field or your city, such as a trade publication or a local newspaper.
- Pitch a story, not the account: a result, a first, a launch or data you collected. Reporters write about news, and TikTok wants articles mainly about you.
- Answer journalist requests in your area of expertise. A quote in someone else’s story is a mention, so aim for pieces where you are the subject.
- Keep a dated list as coverage arrives. The evidence sheet above is built to take it as it is.
Paid placements do not count, including ours
Essentras sells media placements in a catalog of 3,800+ outlets. TikTok says sponsored or paid media is not considered for verification, so a placement bought from us or anyone else is not evidence for the badge. The earned routes are in our press coverage guide.
Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator AcademyThe business route: a Verified Business Account first, the blue check second
TikTok runs 2 different checks for companies. Business verification turns a Business Account into a Verified Business Account with commercial tools; the blue check is a separate notability review that, for a business, needs that verified status first.
Source: TikTok Business Help Center, read 19 Oct 2026[1][2]; TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026| Account type | What it is | Badge |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Account | The basic account; TikTok says most public figures use it | The blue check only through personal verification |
| Business Account | A public profile with business tools such as performance metrics and creative tools | None by default |
| Verified Business Account | A Business Account that passed business verification; unlocks tools such as destination links and lead collection | A Verified badge inside the Business Suite, not the blue check |
| Blue-V Verified Business Account | A Business Account with the verified badge after TikTok verification | The blue check |
| Organization Account | Created and controlled by a verified organization, with admin-managed access | Counts as the business prerequisite for the blue checkSource: TikTok Business Help Center[1][2]; TikTok Support |
How to verify a business on TikTok (Verified Business Account)
1. Check you can apply
You must be 18 or older and hold a valid business license that matches the region where the business operates. Some countries ask for more documents.
2. Open Business verification
From your profile, tap the Menu icon at the top right, then Settings and privacy, Account and Business verification.
3. Agree and start
Review and agree to the terms, then tap Get started.
4. Fill in the basic information
Select the business’s country or region. Phone, website and industry are optional. Tap Next.
5. Upload the business document
Upload your business verification document and enter the legal business name and business license ID exactly as they appear on it. Tap Next.
6. Verify your identity and submit
Choose SMS or a voice call, then tap Submit. TikTok says approval typically takes 1 to 5 business days and arrives as an in-app notification and an email.
7. Then request the blue check
With the Verified Business Account in place, go back to Account, Verification and apply as a business, with your news coverage.
- TikTok’s Business Help Center lists 86 markets where business verification is available, among them the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. India is not on the list.Source: TikTok Business Help Center
- After approval, the company name and category appear on the Business Profile.Source: TikTok Business Help Center
- Violations can put a Verified Business Account into a re-verification period. For an account verified manually, that is 30 days with 0 violations, with status restored on day 31.Source: TikTok Business Help Center
- Losing Verified Business Account or Organization Account status is 1 of the reasons TikTok lists for removing the blue badge.Source: TikTok Support
- Switching between business and personal accounts needs a new verification application, according to the Creator Academy.Source: TikTok Creator Academy
What TikTok says about buying verification
TikTok does not charge for verification. Its Support Center says any entity claiming to sell TikTok verifications is not affiliated with TikTok, and asks you to report anyone selling verification services.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026Red flags, from TikTok’s own pages
- An offer to get you the blue check for a fee. TikTok says it does not charge and that sellers are not affiliated with it.Source: TikTok Support
- An email or direct message inviting you to apply. TikTok says it does not contact people to request a verification application, except Government, Politician and Political Party Accounts.Source: TikTok Support
- A “verified” mark in a bio or a name. TikTok says only it can apply badges, and they always appear next to the username.Source: TikTok Creator Academy
- Bought followers or engagement to look notable. TikTok can deny or revoke verification met through artificial or inauthentic activity, and it ignores follower counts anyway.Source: TikTok Support
What to do
- Report the seller, or contact TikTok Support, as TikTok asks.Source: TikTok Support
- Report a suspicious email or message that asks you to verify the account; TikTok links its phishing advice from the same page.Source: TikTok Support
Copy-ready checklist
Notes for reporting a verification seller
Collect these before you report the account in the app or contact TikTok Support. Never send the seller money, a password or a login code.
Account or website offering verification: @ / URL Where I saw the offer (direct message, comment, email, website): Date and time: What they offered and the price they asked: Did they claim to work with TikTok? Yes / No Screenshots saved: Yes / No Did I pay? No / Yes: amount, date and payment method: My username, in case they asked for access: @
TikTok’s badge is free, so paid help can only save preparation time. It cannot change TikTok’s decision, and TikTok asks users to report anyone selling verification services. Every step on this page is free to follow on your own.
Source: TikTok SupportKeeping the badge: what removes it, and what it does not do
TikTok can remove a verified badge at any time and without notice. Its 2 consumer pages list the usual reasons, and they disagree on whether you can ask for removal yourself.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026| Reason | Support Center | Creator Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Username change | Removed if changed directly without a username update request | Removed; you reapply after the change |
| Ownership transfer | Removed: the verification is no longer authentic | The new owner needs their own verification |
| Account type switch | Not listed | Business to personal, or the reverse, needs a new application |
| Lost business status | Removed when the account loses Verified Business Account or Organization Account status | Not listed |
| Violations | Repeated or severe Community Guidelines or Terms of Service violations | Repeated or serious violations |
| Removal on request | Open the Verification page and tap the TikTok Support button | Currently no way to remove the badge by requestSource: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator Academy |
Not an endorsement
TikTok says a verified badge does not imply an endorsement by TikTok.
Source: TikTok SupportNot a growth tool
TikTok’s pages present the badge as a way to help people find the real account. They promise no reach for verified accounts.
Source: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator AcademyNot a free pass
Verified accounts must follow the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service like every other account.
Source: TikTok SupportNot transferable
A new owner needs a new verification, and a username change costs the badge.
Source: TikTok Creator Academy; TikTok SupportPlanning a rename? The Support Center ties removal to a username “changed directly without submitting a username update request”, but it does not explain how to submit one. Ask TikTok Support first, in writing, and keep the answer.
Source: TikTok SupportCopy-ready checklist
Question to TikTok Support before a username change
Send it through TikTok Support in the app before you touch the username.
My account @[current username] is verified ([personal / business / institution] verification). I would like to change the username to @[new username] because [reason: rebrand, legal name change, merger]. Your verification page says a username changed directly, without a username update request, can lose the badge. How do I submit a username update request for a verified account, and will the badge stay on the account? Supporting documents I can provide: [business registration, trademark, ID with the new name].
Rejected? Read the reason, fix it, resubmit after the wait
TikTok shows the rejection reason and a waiting period before you can resubmit. Match the reason to a row, fix it, then send the request once.
Source: TikTok Support, read 19 Oct 2026; TikTok Creator Academy, read 19 Oct 2026| Cause | What TikTok asks for | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not notable enough | Multiple news sources, independent and mainly about you | Earn more independent coverage before resubmitting |
| Paid or self-published links | No sponsored, paid, press release, blog or social media links | Remove them; keep only independent articles |
| Links TikTok cannot check | Direct links to dated original articles | Replace screenshots, search results and homepages |
| Incomplete profile | Public, with a photo, a name, a bio and at least 1 public post | Complete the profile and post |
| Inactive account | A login within the past 6 months | Use the account, then apply |
| Wrong verification type | The type that matches who the account represents | Reapply with the right type |
| No business prerequisite | A Verified Business Account or Organization Account for business verification | Complete business verification first |
| Security gaps | A verified phone and email, 2-step verification on (Creator Academy) | Turn them on, then reapply |
| Artificial activity | Criteria met without artificial or inauthentic activity | Stop any bought engagement; TikTok can deny or revoke for itSource: TikTok Support; TikTok Creator Academy |
Before you resubmit, the Creator Academy says to make sure your account information and supporting materials are accurate, complete and up to date. In our view, sending the same evidence again is unlikely to change the answer.
Source: TikTok Creator AcademyWhere paid help fits
Nowhere in the decision. TikTok verification is free, TikTok reviews it alone, and it says sellers are not affiliated with it. What can help a creator or brand is work that stands on its own, such as an accurate Google result for the name.
Optional and unrelated to TikTok’s decision. Prices are read from our live price list.
Often added
Google Knowledge Panel
$650 or $1,200
Work on what Google shows for your name or brand. It does not count as news coverage for TikTok.
See the Knowledge Panel serviceAI Visibility Tracker
$49 a month
Re-asks your buyer questions to AI assistants every week and keeps each answer.
See the tracker
Not ready yet?
Press coverage guide
Free
The earned routes to the independent coverage TikTok asks for.
Read the guideKnowledge Panel readiness check
Free
See what Google already knows about you before you pay for anything.
Run the readiness checkAI visibility score
Free
Paste a URL and see how likely AI assistants are to cite the page, scored 1 to 100.
Get the score
FAQ
TikTok verification: questions people ask
How do I get verified on TikTok?▾
In the TikTok app, go to Profile, then Menu, Settings and privacy, Account and Verification, and tap Start. Choose personal, business or institution and add direct links to independent news coverage. TikTok checks that the account is active, authentic, complete and notable, and it answers within 30 days (TikTok, checked 19 Oct 2026).
How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?▾
None. TikTok says it does not consider the number of followers or likes on an account when it grants a verified badge, and its Creator Academy says it is not a popularity contest. What it does look for is activity, authenticity, a complete profile and notability, meaning coverage in multiple independent news sources (TikTok, checked 19 Oct 2026).
How much does TikTok verification cost?▾
Nothing. TikTok says it does not charge you to get verified and that any entity claiming to sell TikTok verifications is not affiliated with it. It asks you to report anyone selling verification services. TikTok’s pages mention no fee for business verification either (TikTok, checked 19 Oct 2026).
How long does TikTok verification take?▾
TikTok says it notifies you of the result through TikTok notifications within 30 days of your request. Business verification, the separate step that creates a Verified Business Account, typically takes 1 to 5 business days. If a request is rejected, you can resubmit after the waiting period TikTok shows (TikTok, checked 19 Oct 2026).
Do press releases or sponsored articles count for TikTok verification?▾
No. TikTok says sponsored or paid media, social media posts and outdated or irrelevant articles are not considered, and its Creator Academy says press releases and paid promotions are not independent media coverage. Send direct links to independent articles mainly about you, with a publication date.
How do I get a business verified on TikTok?▾
First complete business verification: Settings and privacy, Account, Business verification, then upload a valid business license and confirm by SMS or voice call. TikTok says it typically takes 1 to 5 business days. That creates a Verified Business Account, which TikTok requires before a business can request the blue check with news coverage.
What is a Blue-V Verified Business Account on TikTok?▾
It is TikTok’s name for a Business Account that also has the verified badge. TikTok’s Business Help Center says a Business Account becomes a Blue-V Verified Business Account after TikTok verification. A plain Verified Business Account has passed business verification only and shows its badge inside the Business Suite, not as the blue check.
Can I change my username after getting verified on TikTok?▾
Plan on losing the badge if you do. TikTok’s Support Center lists a username changed directly, without a username update request, as a reason for removal, and its Creator Academy says a username change means reapplying. Ask TikTok Support about the update request before you change it.
Why was my TikTok verification rejected?▾
TikTok shows the reason in the app. Common causes in its criteria: too little independent news coverage, paid or self-published links, links it cannot check, an incomplete or inactive profile, the wrong verification type, or a missing Verified Business Account. Fix the cause, then resubmit after the waiting period TikTok shows.
Does TikTok contact you to get verified?▾
No, with 1 exception. TikTok says it does not contact people by email, direct message or other channels to request a verification application, unless the account is a Government, Politician or Political Party Account. Treat any other message inviting you to verify as suspicious and report it.
Next steps
- 01Find your verification type
Personal, business or institution, in the decision table.
- 02Run the readiness check
Active, complete, authentic, secure: tick every line.
- 03Build the evidence sheet
Direct links to independent articles, nothing paid.
- 04A business? Verify the business first
A Verified Business Account typically takes 1 to 5 business days.
- 05Request in the app
Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification, Start.
No news coverage yet?
TikTok needs independent coverage, and paid placements do not count. Our free guide covers the earned routes.
Read the press coverage guide See what Google shows for your nameMore verification guides
- How to get verified on Facebook/guides/how-to-get-verified-on-facebook
- How to get a business verified on Instagram/guides/verify-instagram-business-account
- How to get verified on Instagram/guides/instagram-blue-check
- How to get press coverage/guides/how-to-get-press-coverage
- How to get a Google Knowledge Panel/guides/how-to-get-a-google-knowledge-panel
- How to get on IMDb/guides/how-to-get-on-imdb
Sources, checked on 19 Oct 2026
TikTok’s Support Center page shows no date, so the day we read it is the date of record; the Creator Academy and Business Help Center pages show their own update dates. Menu labels change between app versions: check them on your own screen.
- TikTok Support: Verified accounts on TikTok , read 19 Oct 2026. The older support.tiktok.com verification address redirects here
- TikTok Creator Academy: TikTok Verification: How to Get a Blue Check (page updated 27 Jul 2026), read 19 Oct 2026
- TikTok: Submit a Verification Request , read 19 Oct 2026. Shows only a notice asking you to apply in the mobile app
- TikTok Business Help Center: About business verification for TikTok accounts , read 19 Oct 2026. The page shows “Last updated: June 2026”
- TikTok Business Help Center: How to verify a TikTok account , read 19 Oct 2026. The page shows “Last updated: May 2026”
- TikTok Business Help Center: Types of TikTok accounts , read 19 Oct 2026. The page shows “Last updated: May 2026”
Essentras is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by TikTok. This guide describes TikTok’s official routes only. TikTok makes every verification decision and can change its rules at any time.
Adds us as a preferred source, so our guides surface for you in Search and AI answers. One click, and you can undo it any time.
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