How to Get Verified on Instagram: The Official Ways

There are two official ways to get the verified badge on Instagram: request it for free from the app if your account is notable, or subscribe to Meta Verified where it is available. Nobody else can sell you the badge, and a larger follower count does not make an account eligible on its own. This guide explains both routes as Instagram described them at the time of writing, what each one asks for, and how to spot the scams that target people who want a badge. Menu names and requirements change, so always confirm the details in Instagram's Help Center before you apply.

What the badge means

The verified badge tells people that an account is the authentic presence of the person, brand or organisation it represents. It is about identity, not popularity or quality. That matters for two reasons: impersonators find it harder to fool your audience, and visitors can tell your official account apart from fan pages and copies.

The badge does not guarantee more reach, and it does not protect an account from the platform's rules. A verified account that breaks the Community Guidelines can still lose features, and Instagram may remove a badge it granted.

Route 1: request verification for a notable account

This is the traditional, free route. At the time of writing, eligible accounts could find it in the app under Settings, in the account type and tools section, as “Request verification”. You confirm who you are with an official identity document or business documents and explain why the account is notable.

Instagram has described four broad criteria for this route:

• Authentic. The account represents a real person, registered business or entity.
• Unique. It is the only presence of that person or business on Instagram, apart from language-specific accounts.
• Complete. The account is public and has a bio, a profile photo and at least one post.
• Notable. The person or brand is well known and highly searched for, which Instagram has said it judges partly from coverage in several independent news sources. Paid or promotional content is not counted as news coverage.

If a request is declined, Instagram has generally allowed a new request after a waiting period. Use that time to strengthen what the review looks at, such as genuine press coverage and a complete, active profile.

Route 2: Meta Verified subscription

Meta Verified is a paid monthly subscription for creators and businesses on Instagram and Facebook, offered in a growing list of countries. At the time of writing, Meta described requirements such as being at least 18 years old, meeting minimum activity requirements, having a profile name and photo that match a government ID, and turning on two-factor authentication. Business plans have their own requirements.

The subscription verifies identity, not notability, so it is open to many accounts that would not qualify through the free route. Meta lists the benefits for each plan and country, which can include the badge, impersonation monitoring and access to account support. Prices and benefits differ by country and change over time, so read Meta's own page before you subscribe.

Which route should you choose?

• If you are frequently covered by independent media, try the free request first.
• If you are a creator or small business that mainly wants proof of identity and support, Meta Verified is usually the realistic route where it is available.
• If neither applies yet, focus on building the account. A complete profile, consistent posting and real engagement help either route later. Our guide on how to grow Instagram followers covers that work.

Badge scams to avoid

People who want a badge are frequent targets for fraud. Watch for these patterns:

• Messages from “Meta” or “Instagram support” in your direct messages that ask you to fill in a form or pay a fee. Instagram's official notices appear in the app's own notification and account status areas.
• Sellers who promise a badge for a fee. Third parties cannot grant verification, and paying them risks your money and your account.
• Requests for your password or login code. Nobody needs them to “process” verification. Turn on two-factor authentication and never share codes.
• Look-alike login pages sent through links. Open Instagram directly instead of clicking.

Does buying followers help verification?

No. Follower count is not one of the criteria, and inflated numbers do not create the news coverage the notability review looks for. If you use growth services, such as those on our Instagram SMM panel, treat them as a supplement to content, not as a path to the badge, and read our guide on whether buying followers is safe first.

Prepare your account either way

Before you apply through either route, tidy up the account: a clear profile photo, a bio that says who you are, a link to your official website, and recent posts. Make sure your name matches your documents, and secure the account with two-factor authentication. These steps help the review and protect you from takeovers whatever the outcome.

Conclusion

The blue badge on Instagram comes only from Instagram itself: through the free request for notable accounts or through the paid Meta Verified subscription where it is offered. Check the current requirements in the Help Center, prepare a complete and secure profile, and ignore anyone who offers a badge for money. Then keep doing the work that makes an account worth verifying, with real content and an audience that engages; the buy Instagram followers page explains honestly where paid services fit and where they do not.