Last updated · reviewed by the Essentras editorial team
How to get verified on Instagram: the blue check in 2026
There are 2 official routes to the blue check: pay for Meta Verified, or qualify for free as a notable public figure or brand. How each works, step by step, what blocks people and how long it takes, from Meta's own pages.
The short answer
There are 2 official ways to get the Instagram blue check. Subscribe to Meta Verified ($14.99 a month in the app), match your profile name to a government photo ID, turn on Advanced Protection and wait up to 3 business days. Or apply free as a notable public figure or brand: Meta answers within 30 days and ignores paid media.S2S3S6S9
Key facts, with sources and dates
- There are 2 routes: subscribe to Meta Verified, or apply free as a public figure, celebrity or brand that meets Meta's requirements.S2
- The badge now confirms an authentic presence. It used to also require being notable and unique, and Instagram says it is not a symbol of importance or an endorsement.S1
- Meta Verified Standard: $14.99 a month in the app, $11.99 on the web in most regions.S9
- Meta Verified needs a government photo ID that matches your profile name and Advanced Protection turned on. Review takes up to 3 business days.S5S6
- Free route: the account must be authentic, unique, complete and notable. Meta reviews multiple news sources and does not count paid or sponsored media.S2
- Free route decisions arrive in Activity within 30 days. After a denial you can apply again in 30 days.S3
- Verified public figures and brands cannot change their username, and verification cannot move to another account.S1S2
- Trying to verify through a third party is a listed reason for badge removal or account disablement.S3
- Meta One plans from Essential to Max ($14.99 to $499.00) include a badge option after identity verification. Nothing changes yet for current Meta Verified subscribers.S10S22
Want a second opinion on the paid route? The free eligibility checker asks 6 questions about Meta's published requirements.
Run the eligibility checker (free)Which route
Free badge, Meta Verified or Meta One: the 2 routes compared
Meta names 2 routes to the badge: the free application for notable accounts and the paid subscription. Meta One is the newer subscription family that also offers the badge. Rows marked "not stated" are things Meta's pages do not say.
| Question | Free badge (notability) | Meta Verified (creators) | Meta One (Essential to Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is forS2S6S10 | Public figures, celebrities and brands that meet 4 criteria | Anyone eligible with a personal or creator profile | Creators and businesses; Meta sets business plan availability from activity |
| CostS2S9S10 | No fee | $14.99 a month in the app, $11.99 on the web (Standard); up to $499.99 | $14.99 to $499.00 a month |
| Notability neededS2S5 | Yes: multiple news sources, paid or sponsored media not counted | No | Not stated |
| Identity checkS9S22 | Not stated on Meta's pages | Government photo ID; a selfie video in some regions | Identity verification, attempted automatically from your activity |
| Security settingS2S6S17 | Meta suggests two-factor authentication | Advanced Protection required, stays on while subscribed | Not stated |
| Decision timeS3S6S7 | Up to 30 days, in Activity | Up to 3 business days; finish within 3 days or it cancels with a refund | Not stated |
| If it failsS3S7S14 | Apply again after 30 days | Refund if identity cannot be verified; subscribe again after the refund | Not stated |
| Username afterwardsS2S9S22 | Cannot be changed | May need re-verification to change | Profile editing restrictions apply |
| Keeping the badgeS3S13S22 | Kept unless Instagram removes it for a listed reason | Ends at the end of the billing cycle after you cancel | Can be removed when you cancel |
| Where you applyS4S9S10 | Instagram app on Android or iPhone, not a computer | Web or app; Plus and above in the app | Mobile app |
Route check
Which route fits you? Check both at once
Answer what you can. Each route shows whether you meet Meta's published rules, what blocks you and what only Meta or the app can confirm. It gives no approval odds, because Meta publishes no scoring. Nothing you click leaves this page.
Meta Verified (paid)
$14.99 a month in the app, $11.99 on the web (Standard). Review up to 3 business days.
Answer the questions for this route
Free badge (notability)
No fee. Decision within 30 days, in Activity.
Answer the questions for this route
Meeting the published rules is not approval: Meta decides every application and publishes no scoring.
Run the full Meta Verified checkSee every priceThe full rules behind this check are in the comparison table above and the step lists below.
What it means
What the blue check means in 2026
A verified badge now means Instagram confirmed the account is the authentic presence of the person or brand. Before, it also required the person or brand to be notable and unique.S1
Instagram says the badge is not a symbol of importance, authority or expertise, and that it does not use it to endorse anyone.S1
Some verified accounts belong to notable people or brands; others subscribe to Meta Verified. Accounts verified under earlier rules keep their badge, and badge holders can still subscribe.S1S3
Verifying on Instagram does not verify you on Facebook.S3
Names people mix up
- Meta Verified: the paid subscription that includes the badge, for creators and for businesses.S6S12
- Meta One: a newer subscription family; Essential, Advanced, Expert and Max include a badge option after identity verification.S10S22
- Free (legacy) badge: no fee, for notable public figures, celebrities and brands.S2
- Instagram Plus: a $3.99 features plan with no badge.S10
- Meta Business Verification: a business-documents check inside Meta's business tools, a separate process from the Instagram verified badge.
Paid route
How to get Meta Verified, step by step
Steps 2 to 4 are the ones you can fix before you pay, so do them first.
Fix your name before anything else
Your profile name must match the legal name on your government ID. Initials, abbreviations, spelling variants and compound names are accepted; symbols, numbers, odd capitalization and titles are not.S8
Freeze profile edits
Meta limits changes to your name, picture, username, location and profile type in the period before you apply. It publishes no window, so stop editing those fields first.S5
Free route
How to request the free badge, step by step
On the free route, notability is the hard part, so most of the work happens before you apply.
Check the 4 criteria
The account must be authentic (a real person, registered business or entity), unique (1 account per person or business), complete and notable.S2
Make the account complete
Public, with a bio, a profile photo and recent activity when you apply.S2
Collect your coverage
List the independent news articles about you, with outlet and date. Meta reviews multiple news sources and does not count paid or sponsored media.S2
Show you are the real account meanwhile
While you have no badge, Meta suggests linking to your Instagram account from your official website, Facebook Page, YouTube or X account so people know it is really you.S3
Apply in the Instagram app
The request form is in the app on Android and iPhone, not on a computer. Follow Meta's current steps for your device.S4
Wait, and do not apply twice
Meta sends its decision to Activity within 30 days. Applying again before a decision cancels your request; after a denial you can apply again in 30 days.S3
Notability
Notability evidence: what to collect before you apply
Meta's whole definition is 2 sentences: notable means well-known and highly searched for, it reviews accounts featured in multiple news sources, and paid or sponsored media does not count. This checklist turns that into evidence you can gather.
Your evidence checklist
- A list of independent news articles mainly about you, with URL, outlet and date.S2
- Confirmation that none of them is sponsored, paid, advertorial or partner content.S2
- A complete public profile: bio, profile photo and recent activity.S2
- 1 account for you or your business, not a fan, meme or general-interest page.S2
- A username you will not need to change.S2
- Stronger login security, such as two-factor authentication.S2
- Links to the account from your official website and other profiles.S3
- Supporting signals that are not Meta criteria: search interest, a Knowledge Panel, a Wikipedia article.
How Meta's wording treats each kind of coverage
| Coverage | Reading of Meta's rule |
|---|---|
| Independent news article mainly about you | Matches Meta's wording |
| Independent news mention or roundup | Weaker: Meta publishes no weighting |
| Labeled sponsored, paid, advertorial or partner content | Excluded by Meta's wording |
| Unlabeled article you paid for | Paid media, so do not count on it (our reading) |
| Press release or wire post | Unclear: Meta does not say. We would not rely on it. |
| Directory listing, your own blog or channels | Not news coverage: do not rely on it |
| Wikipedia article, Knowledge Panel, search interest | Supporting signals, not Meta criteria |
How many articles is enough? Meta does not say. "Multiple" means more than 1, and nothing in Meta's pages sets a number, so anyone quoting a minimum is guessing.S2
Disclosure: Essentras sells media placements and press release distribution. Both are paid, so we do not present them as a way to meet Meta's notability test.
Name rules
Meta Verified name rules: what passes and what fails
For Meta Verified, the profile name must match the legal name on your government ID, unless Meta finds you eligible for a different name that meets its standards. That option is not available to everyone.
- Abbreviations
- Spelling variations
- First initials
- Compound names
- Symbols, numbers or punctuation
- Unusual capitalization or repeated characters
- Characters from more than 1 language
- Certain titles, such as religious titles
- Offensive or suggestive words
A single-word legal name may not work, because Meta needs both a first and a last name. After approval, Instagram allows 2 name changes every 14 days and Facebook 1 every 60 days, each reviewed, and names are locked while an application is under review.S8
Timeline
How long Instagram verification takes
| Stage | Meta Verified | Free route |
|---|---|---|
| Getting readyS2S5 | Name, ID and Advanced Protection: no Meta timeline | Building notability: no Meta timeline |
| Completing the applicationS7S4 | Within 3 days of starting, or it cancels with a refund | A single request in the app |
| DecisionS6S3 | Up to 3 business days | Up to 30 days, in Activity |
| If it failsS7S3 | Subscribe again after the refund completes | Apply again after 30 days |
| After approvalS8S2 | Name edits: 2 every 14 days on Instagram, reviewed | Username cannot change |
Rejections
Why Instagram verification fails, and how to fix each cause
Meta lists these causes across its help pages without ranking them, so this table does not either. Find your row, fix it, then reapply.
| Reason | Route | What Meta says | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Protection is offS5S6 | Paid | Required on every profile you verify; cannot be turned off while subscribed | Turn it on before you start |
| Name does not match the IDS8 | Paid | Must match the legal name on your ID unless you qualify for another name | Align your profile name with your ID |
| Name format not acceptedS8 | Paid | Symbols, numbers, odd capitalization, repeated characters, punctuation, mixed scripts and certain titles fail | Use initials, an abbreviation, a spelling variant or a compound name |
| Single-word legal nameS8 | Paid | A first and a last name are both required | Check this before you pay |
| Too many recent profile changesS5 | Paid | Recent changes to name, picture, username, location or profile type are limited; no window published | Stop editing those fields before you apply |
| ID photo rejectedS7 | Paid | Head-on, well lit, flat on a contrasting surface, 4 corners visible, no glare, nothing else in frame | Reshoot to that checklist |
| ID expired or unreadableS7 | Paid | The ID must be valid, unexpired and readable | Use a current ID |
| Not finished within 3 daysS7S14 | Paid | The subscription is cancelled and refunded | Start again and finish in 1 sitting |
| Identity could not be verifiedS7S14 | Paid | You are refunded and can subscribe again after the refund completes | Fix the name or ID issue, then retry |
| Activity below the minimumS5 | Paid | Minimum activity is required; no thresholds published | Build genuine activity first |
| Country not availableS5S9 | Paid | Offered in selected regions only | Not fixable by the applicant |
| Business account on a creator planS6S12 | Paid | Creator plans cover personal and creator profiles | Use Meta Verified for businesses |
| Revoked after approvalS15 | Paid | Failed payment with no backup, policy violations, moving to an unavailable country, plan changes in the app stores | Fix the cause, then subscribe again |
| Not notable enoughS2 | Free | Meta reviews accounts featured in multiple news sources; paid or sponsored media not counted | Earn independent coverage, then use the evidence checklist |
| Incomplete or private accountS2 | Free | Must be public, with a bio, a profile photo and recent activity | Complete the profile and post |
| Duplicate or general-interest accountS2 | Free | 1 account per person or business; general-interest accounts are not verified | Apply with your main account |
| Applied again before a decisionS3 | Free | A repeat request cancels the first | Wait for the decision |
| DeniedS3 | Free | You can apply again after 30 days | Close the gap, then apply once |
| Verification attempted through a third partyS3 | Both | Listed as a reason Instagram can remove a badge or disable the account | Apply yourself, from your own account |
Cost
What verification costs
Meta Verified Standard costs $14.99 a month per profile in the app or $11.99 on the web in most regions. Plus, Premium and Max cost $49.99, $149.99 and $499.99.S9
Business plans start at $14.99 per Page or account, and Meta One plans with the badge cost $14.99 to $499.00.S10S12
The free route has no fee.S2
Scams
Can you buy a blue check? Scams and third parties
Only Meta sells the badge, as a subscription. Instagram can remove a badge at any time, and may disable the account, if you advertise, transfer or sell it, use your profile to promote services that break its rules, try to verify through a third party, or switch between public and private too often.S3
False or misleading information during verification gets the badge removed and can lead to further action on the account.S2S3
Meta may contact you about verification. Check that the outreach is authentic before you reply or share anything.S3
Without a badge, you can still show you are the real account by linking to it from your official website, Facebook Page, YouTube or X account.S3
Essentras does not sell badges. Paid help can review your eligibility and fix your profile; the application itself should come from your own account.
FAQ
Getting verified on Instagram: questions people ask
How do I get verified on Instagram in 2026?▾
Pick 1 of 2 official routes. Subscribe to Meta Verified with a government photo ID that matches your profile name and Advanced Protection on; review takes up to 3 business days. Or, if you are a notable public figure, celebrity or brand, apply free in the Instagram app, and Meta answers within 30 days (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can a regular person get verified on Instagram?▾
Yes. Meta Verified has no notability or follower requirement: be 18 or older, live where it is offered, use a personal or creator profile, match your profile name to a government photo ID, turn on Advanced Protection and meet Meta's minimum activity. The free badge, by contrast, is only for notable people and brands (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can I get verified on Instagram for free?▾
Only through the notability route. Public figures, celebrities and brands can request the badge with no fee if the account is authentic, unique, complete and notable, meaning featured in multiple news sources, not paid or sponsored ones. Everyone else pays for Meta Verified, from $11.99 a month on the web in most regions (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can you buy Instagram verification?▾
Only from Meta, as a Meta Verified or Meta One subscription. Anyone else selling a badge is breaking Instagram's rules: Instagram can remove a badge, and may disable the account, if the badge is advertised, transferred or sold, or if you try to verify through a third party (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
How many followers do you need to get verified on Instagram?▾
None. Meta publishes no follower minimum for either route, and follower count is not one of the criteria it lists. Meta Verified checks identity, not audience size. The free badge depends on notability: a well-known, highly searched for person or brand featured in multiple news sources (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
What does notable mean for Instagram verification?▾
Meta defines notable as a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity. It reviews accounts featured in multiple news sources and does not consider paid or sponsored media content. It publishes no minimum number of articles and no weighting by outlet, so in our reading independent articles mainly about you are the strongest evidence (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Do paid articles or press releases count toward notability?▾
Paid or sponsored media does not count: Meta says it does not consider it when reviewing notability, and we read that as anything you paid to publish, labeled or not. Meta says nothing about press releases or wire posts, so we would not rely on them. Articles journalists chose to write are what Meta's wording describes.
How many news articles do I need to get verified?▾
Meta does not say. Its rule is that it reviews accounts featured in multiple news sources, which means more than 1, and that paid or sponsored media is not considered. Collect every independent article mainly about you, with outlet and date, and check that none is sponsored before you apply (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Is Advanced Protection the same as two-factor authentication?▾
It is two-factor authentication that Instagram makes mandatory for some accounts, including Meta Verified subscribers. You choose an authentication app, text message codes or WhatsApp codes. For Meta Verified it must be on for every profile you verify and cannot be switched off while you subscribe; cancelling is the way out (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Does my profile name have to match my ID? Can I use a stage name?▾
For Meta Verified, yes: the profile name must match the legal name on your government ID, unless Meta finds you eligible for a different name that meets its naming standards, which is not available to everyone. Initials, abbreviations, spelling variants and compound names are accepted; symbols, numbers and titles are not (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
How long does Instagram verification take?▾
Meta Verified review takes up to 3 business days, and you must finish the identity steps within 3 days of starting or the subscription is cancelled and refunded. The free route takes longer: Meta sends its decision to your Activity up to 30 days after you apply (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
How do I reapply after being denied?▾
For the free route, wait 30 days, close the gap, such as thin news coverage or an incomplete profile, and apply once; applying again before a decision cancels your request. For Meta Verified, if your identity could not be verified you are refunded and can subscribe again after the refund completes (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can a business or brand get verified on Instagram?▾
Yes, by either route. Well-known brands can apply free if they meet Meta's 4 criteria. Otherwise Meta Verified for businesses lists plans from $14.99 a month per Instagram account, Facebook Page or WhatsApp number, replies within 3 working days and may ask for business details such as name, address and website (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can I change my username after getting verified?▾
Plan on keeping it. Verified public figures, celebrities and brands cannot change their username, and verification cannot move to another account. On Meta Verified you may not be able to change your username or date of birth without verifying again, and name edits are limited to 2 every 14 days on Instagram (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Can Instagram remove my blue check?▾
Yes, at any time. Instagram lists selling, transferring or advertising the badge, promoting rule-breaking services, trying to verify through a third party, switching between public and private too often and giving false information. A paid badge also ends with the billing cycle after you cancel, or at once if Meta revokes the subscription (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Does verifying my Instagram also verify my Facebook?▾
Not on the free route: verifying on Instagram does not verify you on Facebook. Meta Verified for creators can cover 1 Instagram and 1 Facebook profile in the same Meta account, possibly at a discounted price, and each subscribed profile gets the badge and benefits (Meta, checked 2026-10-15).
Sources
Every Meta page below was read on the date shown. Help Center pages carry no publish date, so the date is the day we read them.
- S1Verified badges on Instagram · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-14
- S2Requirements to apply for a verified badge on Instagram · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S3What happens when you apply for a verified badge on Instagram · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S4Request a verified badge for your Instagram profile · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-14
- S5Eligibility requirements for Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-14
- S6About Meta Verified for creators · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S7Troubleshoot sign-up issues for Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-14
- S8Profile name eligibility for Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-14
- S9Meta Verified: creator plans, pricing and FAQ · Meta · checked 2026-10-15Rendered as the en-gb page; prices shown in USD.
- S10Meta One plans: personal, creator and business plans and FAQ · Meta · checked 2026-10-15Rendered as the en-gb page; prices in USD except Facebook Plus, shown in GBP.
- S11Snopes fact-check on the Meta Verified launch (published 2023-02-28) · Snopes · checked 2026-10-14Secondary source, used only for the 2023 launch details.
- S12Meta Verified for businesses: plans and pricing · Meta for Business · checked 2026-10-15
- S13Cancel your Meta Verified creator subscription · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S14Refunds for Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S15Revoked Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S16Billing and payments for Meta Verified creator subscriptions · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S17About Advanced Protection on Instagram · Instagram Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S18Billing and payments for Meta Verified business subscriptions · Meta Business Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S19Cancel your Meta Verified business subscription · Meta Business Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S20What is Meta Verified for businesses? · Meta Business Help Center · checked 2026-10-15
- S21Cancel your Meta One subscription · Meta Help Centre · checked 2026-10-15
- S22About the verified badge for Meta One subscribers · Meta Help Centre · checked 2026-10-15
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Essentras is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Meta, Instagram or Facebook. Facts are from Meta's pages as read on the dates shown, and Meta can change its rules at any time.
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