How to Get Verified on Instagram in 2026: Proven Tips – Shopify

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Want to learn how to get verified on Instagram in 2026? Follow this guide to ensure you meet Instagram verification requirements for your blue badge.
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Wondering how to get verified on Instagram? 
For many creators and businesses, getting Instagram verified is a big milestone.
Instagram account verification is an official symbol of credibility, a powerful way to gain your customers’ attention and trust. Put simply, being verified on Instagram improves your brand’s reputation and helps you meet Instagram marketing goals.
Whether you’re applying for the Instagram verification for the first time or want to find out why Instagram keeps rejecting your verification request, this guide walks you through the Instagram verification advice that works.
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An Instagram verified badge is a blue check mark next to your profile name. The blue check proves an account is owned by a real person or business. Instagram describes verified badges as confirmation “that it is the authentic presence for that person or brand.”
Like other social media platforms, Instagram has evolved the meaning of its verification badge. Previously, the symbol indicated that an account was owned by a well-known, highly searched-for person or company.
While still true, Instagram check marks now serve a more general purpose of confirming an account’s authenticity.
The good news is anyone can apply to be Instagram verified. You don’t need to be a public figure or celebrity.
It’s no secret how Instagram verifies accounts. Instagram guidelines state that you must apply for verification by either subscribing to Meta Verified, which is a paid service, or applying with an account that meets certain requirements.
To apply for verification, your Instagram account must be: 
On top of these requirements, you must follow the basic rules of Instagram’s terms of use and community guidelines. As long as you follow them, you’re eligible to apply for verification. 
These criteria also mean you don’t have to meet a certain follower count before you’re able to get verified. Instead, you could request verification as soon as you sign up and complete your profile, if you prefer.
Here are six reasons to apply for Instagram verification:
There are two ways to get a verification badge on Instagram:
It’s up to you which route you take to get verified on Instagram. 
Tip: Apply for the free verification badge if you meet all the account requirements (authentic, unique, complete, and notable). This method works best if you have a strong online presence and press coverage. Choose Meta Verified if you don’t have much media coverage or meet Instagram’s notability standards, and you’re willing to pay a monthly fee.
Learn the detailed steps for each method below so you can determine which way works best for you.
Here’s how to get verified on Instagram via an in-app request:
If you run multiple accounts, make sure you’re logged into the brand account you’re requesting a verified badge for. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the app to enter your profile.
Once you’re on your profile page, tap on the hamburger icon (three lines) in the top-right corner and scroll down until you see “Account type and tools” under “For professionals.” Select “Account type and tools.”
If you have a creator account, this menu appears as “Creator tools and controls.”
Under Tools, tap “Request verification.”
You’ll need the following information to complete your application:
Once you’ve filled in the verification application details, hit the Submit button. Congrats—you’re one step closer to getting verified on Instagram!
Generally, within about 30 days, you’ll receive a notification in your activity feed whether your application was successful or not. If approved, you’ll get your verification badge right away.
Here’s how to get verified on Instagram via a Meta Verified paid subscription:
Here’s how to subscribe to Meta Verified:
Although Meta Verified is a more accessible way to earn a blue check mark, your account must still meet certain eligibility requirements.
To subscribe to Meta Verified:
If you’re a business subscribing to Meta Verified, you must also have a:
Open the Instagram mobile app and log in. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right to go to your (or your business’s) profile. From there, tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right, then tap Meta Verified under the heading For professionals.
Select the personal account or business account you want to verify. You can verify up to two eligible profiles: one on Instagram and one on Facebook.
You’re required to pay a recurring subscription fee in order to get verified via Meta Verified. In exchange, you’ll receive a blue check, along with some additional features, like exclusive Instagram stickers to use in your Instagram Stories and Reels.
For businesses, Meta Verified offers several subscription pricing tiers. Here is how the pricing is set up. 
To subscribe to Meta Verified, tap Pay and enter your payment details. You can pay through the Google or Apple app stores or with Meta Pay. After entering your payment details, tap Continue, then Subscribe.
You’ll then have three days to complete the final verification steps outlined below.
Confirm or edit your profile name and picture.
If you’re a business, you’ll also need to submit your business name, address, phone number, and website, along with any other requested details.
Finally, select your business from the results, choose a verification method, and tap Submit.
Confirm your identity by uploading photos of a valid government-issued photo ID. Make sure the information is readable, then tap Submit and Finish.
For businesses, select whether to receive a confirmation code via your company’s SMS or email.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your verified badge should appear on your profile, as well as in comments, direct messages, Reels, and Stories. You’ll also get access to enhanced support and account protection features.
Here’s a quick overview of the both verification methods:Verified badge application vs. Meta Verified subscription:

Under no circumstances does Instagram let users buy, sell, or otherwise transfer their verified badge (subscribing to Meta Verified is a different story). Use Instagram responsibly. Don’t try shady tactics like buying verified badges, followers, likes, or comments. Otherwise, you could find your account banned.
If you see an account that advertises the ability to get you one either for free or for a “small fee,” like the example below, don’t fall for the scam.
Team up with a PR agency or journalist who can help you get your name out there. Some agencies also have access to Facebook’s Media Partner Support tools, where they can submit requests and get accounts verified through the portal.
To get publicity, you’ll need to do things considered newsworthy. What’s deemed newsworthy depends on your niche market, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
Getting involved in activities outside of your brand helps you build awareness and get into media outlets. That way, when the Instagram verification team checks to see if you are notable, they’ll find you in these news channels.
Tip: Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connects experts with journalists. Get free daily media opportunities in your inbox.
Never buy Instagram followers. Always focus on the genuine, organic growth of your account.
It’s easy to tell when someone buys followers because their account will have lots of followers but low engagement. These “followers” are often bots or inactive accounts, so they don’t interact with your brand. The lack of engagement means your Instagram posts won’t show up on the explore pages or in your audiences’ feeds.
Although your follower count doesn’t matter when it comes to verified badge decisions, a highly engaged following can help.
Some ways to get more Instagram followers include:
Instagram followers are more than just a number; they are your community. Even if you don’t get verified, real followers will help increase traffic to your site, make more sales, and build influence in your space.
All verified accounts have one thing in common: complete profiles. Each of them has a concise and punchy Instagram bio, a strong profile photo, an external link (to either their website or a link in bio that links to multiple sites), and well-designed Story Highlights.
Sure, the Instagram profile has the same structure for every account. But each Instagram bio (the small summary underneath the username) is unique. Users look at your bio when deciding whether or not to follow you on Instagram, so make it count.
The bios of verified Instagram accounts accomplish a number of things, including:
A strong profile can make a good first impression on behalf of your brand and convince people in your target audience to follow you.
As long as your brand is consistent and you’re only posting your own content (content that is safe and legal for public viewing), you’re most likely already following Meta’s Community Standards. However, make sure you review those community guidelines so you can confidently tick this box in the verification process.
These are some of the most common reasons why Instagram rejects verification applications. Learn about them to avoid mistakes and increase your chances of getting the blue check.
Instagram looks at independent press coverage from reputed news or media platforms as evidence of notability. If you’re a new or small ecommerce brand, you might not have earned adequate media coverage yet, especially from the bigger publications. This could lead to verification rejection. 
Instagram’s review team often checks a brand’s presence on Google search when verifying notability. If you haven’t created Google Business Profile for your brand, it might not show elements like Knowledge Panel or Wikipedia entry. This can signal low public interest and work against you.
Instagram prefers giving verified status to established and consistently active accounts. If your Instagram is brand-new or inactive, you hardly stand a chance to get verified badge approval, unless you’re already a notable brand and qualify on all other criteria.
Both the free application and Meta Verified subscriptions have regional restrictions, and Instagram only processes requests in approved countries. If your account location doesn’t match an eligible region, your application may be denied, even if you meet all other criteria.
Even if you follow all of the tips above, there’s still a chance Instagram won’t approve your application. So what happens then? Try a few of the following actions.
As simple as it sounds, it’s worth double-checking the four main requirements we saw earlier: being authentic, unique, complete, and notable.
Make sure you have the most appropriate business documents to prove authenticity. Be sure to delete any old accounts you might have set up. Compare your level of profile completeness to those who are already verified.
Lastly, do a Google search on your brand. If you don’t see any mentions of it outside of your own website, that could be the issue—your brand may not be considered notable enough for a verified check mark.
If your request for verification gets rejected by Instagram, all is not lost: You can apply again after 30 days. Be patient though, applying for a verified badge multiple times within 30 days will automatically get your application rejected.
Give yourself that month to figure out ways of improving your chances. Use the tips above to develop your brand and Instagram presence, rather than hope you’ll get approved in the following 30 days without making any changes.
Another way to strengthen your verification case is by creating a Wikipedia page for your brand. A well-sourced, neutral article about your brand shows legitimacy and notability beyond social media. 
Note that Wikipedia requires independent, reliable sources. Self-published content or paid placements won’t count.
Proving your brand’s popularity (notability) can be challenging, especially if you’re a new brand. To overcome this challenge, start building credibility through PR strategies like:
Once your brand gains some ground, you could approach bigger publications and media outlets to cover your story. While this can take time and effort, it’s an organic way to build credibility that lasts.
Some discussions online have revealed that higher ad spend on Instagram and Facebook seems to improve their chances of verification. While Meta doesn’t list this as an official factor, people believe that advertisers with larger budgets may gain access to dedicated support reps, who can sometimes assist with verification requests. If your marketing budget allows, you can test this strategy. 
Timing your application can make a difference. If your brand has just been featured in a major news outlet, submit your verification request soon after. Applying when your online visibility is at its peak increases the likelihood that Instagram will view your account as notable and approve your badge.
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Yes, a normal user (individual person or small business) can get verified on Instagram. Your profile must represent a real person or business, but you don’t need to be a public figure to be considered a notable account. Instagram also requires that you have only one account that represents your brand on the platform in order to qualify for verification.
Instagram doesn’t give an official follower count needed for verification. That said, the more followers an account has, the more likely it is to be considered “notable.”
The verification application is free through the Instagram mobile app. Alternatively, you can pay to join the Meta Verified program, but you’ll still need to apply and verify your account to receive your blue check mark with that method.
It can be challenging to get the verification badge through the free application process. Instagram looks for strong signals of notability, such as media coverage and public interest, which many new brands or small businesses may lack. However, Meta Verified subscription is an easier way to get verified. Its approval depends mainly on identity verification and eligibility.
Yes, Instagram reserves the right to remove your badge if you violate their Community Guidelines or Terms of Use, or if you switch your account to private. Meta Verified subscribers will lose their badge immediately if they cancel their subscription or change profile details like their username or photo.
Applying for the traditional verified badge is free, but approval isn’t guaranteed. If you choose Meta Verified, the subscription costs start at $14.99 per month per account.
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