You can get verified on Instagram in two ways: subscribe to Meta Verified, which confirms your identity with a government-issued photo ID, or apply for the verified badge as a notable public figure, celebrity or brand. Instagram's requirements page says the second route checks that your account is authentic, unique, complete and notable, on top of following the Terms of Use and Community Standards.
The routes test different things and fail for different reasons. One of Meta's pages now describes the badge mainly as proof of authenticity, while the requirements page still asks non-subscribers to show notability, so it helps to know which test you are taking. This guide compares both routes, walks through each application and ends with a readiness checklist for a notability request.
What the verified badge means now
Instagram's page on verified badges says a badge now means Instagram has confirmed the account is the authentic presence of the person or brand, based on activity across Meta's products and the information or documents they provide. It adds that the badge previously also required the person or brand to be notable and unique, and that some accounts still carry badges issued under those earlier rules. Meta is explicit that the badge is not a sign of importance, authority or expertise, and not an endorsement.
The requirements page, however, still lists notability as a condition for accounts that are not subscribed to Meta Verified. Read the two together: authenticity is what every badge now signals, and notability is the extra test for anyone who wants the badge without paying. The same pages say that once verified you may not be able to change your username, that verification cannot be moved to another account, and that a badge on Facebook does not carry over to Instagram, where you have to apply separately.
The two routes compared
| Question | Notability request | Meta Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Public figures, celebrities and brands that meet the account and eligibility requirements | Anyone who meets the subscriber and account eligibility rules |
| What Meta checks | Authentic, unique, complete and notable, plus the Terms of Use and Community Standards (requirements) | Identity, age of 18 or the local age of majority, location, account eligibility, Advanced Protection, minimum activity and recent account changes (eligibility) |
| Eligible Instagram accounts | Must be public, with a bio and profile photo, and active; the current request steps start from the professional dashboard | Personal or creator accounts; business accounts are directed to Meta Verified for businesses |
| What you submit | Your full name and identification, such as a government-issued photo ID or official business documents | The profile to verify, a recurring payment and a government-issued photo ID; some accounts may be verified from their activity |
| How long a decision takes | A notification in Activity up to 30 days after applying (after you apply) | Review can take up to 3 business days (About Meta Verified) |
| If it fails | Submit a new request after 30 days; applying again before a decision cancels the application (after you apply) | If verification is not completed within 3 days, the subscription is cancelled and you are eligible for a refund (subscribe page) |
| Cost | No fee is described on Meta's pages | A recurring subscription; plans, benefits and availability vary by region, app and account |
| Ongoing conditions | Username stays fixed, and the badge can be removed for selling it, misuse of your profile, third-party verification attempts or switching between public and private too often | Auto-renews until cancelled; Advanced Protection cannot be turned off while the subscription is active; Meta can revoke it over integrity concerns |
Account type matters more for verification than for almost anything else on Instagram, because the creator subscription excludes business accounts. If you are deciding between account types, our comparison of a creator vs business account covers the knock-on effects of switching.
Applying through the notability route
Instagram's page on requesting a verified badge gives the current steps in the iPhone and Android apps:
- Log in to the account you want verified and go to your profile.
- Tap Menu, then, below Your insights and tools, tap Professional dashboard and then Settings in the top right.
- Tap Request verification.
- Enter your full name and the required identification, such as a government-issued photo ID or official business documents.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and tap Submit.
Older guides send you through Settings and then Account instead; menus move between app versions, so follow the help page if your screen differs. The same page warns that an eligible account is not automatically verified, that submitting several requests cancels the application, and that a badge obtained with false or misleading information is removed and may lead to the account being disabled. For accounts verified for notability, Instagram suggests turning on two-factor authentication.
Readiness checklist for a notability request
Notability is the one requirement you cannot fix on the day you apply. Instagram looks for a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand or entity featured in multiple news sources, and it does not count paid or sponsored media. Keep a coverage log before you apply:
| Outlet | Date and link | About you, or a passing mention? | Paid, sponsored or press release? | Keep for the application? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of the publication | When it ran and where it can be read | Coverage that features you carries more weight than a name in a list | If yes, Meta does not consider it | Only independent editorial coverage |
- Coverage: collect independent news articles that feature you, and drop anything you or a brand paid for.
- Search check: search your name and confirm that results show coverage of you, not only your own profiles.
- Authentic: the account represents a real person, registered business or entity, and your identification document is to hand.
- Unique: this is your only account for verification, apart from language-specific accounts, and it is not a general-interest page.
- Complete: the account is public and has a bio, a profile photo and recent activity.
- Username: it is final, because you may not be able to change it once verified.
- Security: two-factor authentication is on, and you have reviewed which devices and apps have access.
- Stability: you have not been switching the account between public and private.
- No shortcuts: nobody is applying on your behalf through a paid third-party service.
- Timing: you will apply once, wait for the decision, and if refused, strengthen the coverage log before the next attempt.
If you are not yet notable, Instagram's guidance after applying suggests other ways to show you are authentic, such as linking to your Instagram account from your official website, Facebook Page or YouTube channel. Those links also make it easier to prove which account is genuinely yours if someone copies it, a process covered in our impersonation reporting workflow.
Applying through Meta Verified
Meta's page on subscribing to Meta Verified for creators describes the flow: choose the profile or profiles to verify, set up the recurring payment, confirm your identity and wait for review. You can verify one Instagram and one Facebook profile in the same Accounts Center under a single, discounted subscription, and both may need similar names and pictures. Advanced Protection must be on for every profile you verify.
Prepare before you start, because the process locks things down. While the application is pending, you may not be able to change your profile name, username, category, location or date of birth, so finalise them first. The eligibility rules also count recent changes to details such as your profile name, picture, username, location and account type, and too many in a short period can block an application.
Meta lists several plans, from Standard to Max, which add features such as a featured profile, links in Reels and content strategy advice on top of the badge, impersonation protection and enhanced support; availability differs by region. Whether a paid plan is worth it for you depends on how you use support and protection, which this guide does not try to judge.
Keeping the badge once you have it
The same guidance says Instagram can remove verified badges at any time, and lists the triggers: advertising, transferring or selling the badge; using your profile picture, bio or name to promote services that break the rules; trying to get verified through a third party; and switching between public and private too many times. Meta Verified subscriptions can also be revoked over integrity concerns or fraud risk, and they renew automatically until you cancel.
Be careful with anyone offering verification. Meta notes that Facebook or Instagram may contact you about verification and publishes guidance on telling genuine outreach from fakes, and buying a badge from a third party is itself a removal trigger. Treat unsolicited verification offers in your DMs as account-takeover attempts, and keep the security basics in our creator safety and privacy guide in place.
Limitations of this guide
This guide reflects Instagram's help pages on verified badges and Meta Verified as they read on 1 October 2026. Meta is changing what the badge means, its pages do not fully agree on the role of notability, and Meta Verified plans, prices and availability vary by country, so check the current pages and your own app before you apply.
It also has firm limits. Nothing here can make an account notable or predict how Instagram will assess your coverage, and meeting every item on the checklist does not mean a request will be approved; Meta says as much. The checklist covers preparation only, and it does not replace the identity documents, security settings or terms Meta asks you to accept.