Here is How to Get Verified on Instagram With Ease in 2022

Ah, the coveted blue checkmark.Ever since Twitter first launched the programme back in 2009, everyone’s been dreaming of getting that nice-looking tick next to their name. Back then, it seemed like such a revelation — what a wonderful way to prevent spammers and scammers from using the names of notable figures, especially in order to take advantage of people. Nowadays? Well, nowadays, verification is absolutely a given.Other social media platforms then followed suit, with the now defunct Google+ implementing their verification programme in 2011, followed by Facebook in 2012, and then Instagram in 2014. The verification aspect of social media was first started off as a measure to protect the good name of the celebrities being impersonated as well as the companies themselves. Now, it has been opened up to a wider scope of people — from journalists to government officials and, more recently, prominent activists and event organisers. We’ll talk more about what verification means in a bit.So, if you’re someone looking to get verified on Instagram and need some help with your social media game, you’ve definitely come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll all about what verification on Instagram means, who exactly can get verified on Instagram, the steps you need to take to get verified and some of our most helpful tips for getting verified much easier and quicker.

What does Instagram verification mean?

The meaning of a “verified profile” is the same across all social media platforms, and it’s no different on Instagram. In a nutshell, a profile on Instagram is “verified” when it has the verified badge next to an account’s name — that blue check you’ll sometimes see on the Search tab and on an account’s profile page. But what does it mean, exactly?Basically, the verification badge is used to signal that Instagram has confirmed that the person in the profile is exactly who they say they are. Whether it’s a brand, celebrity, influencer or public figure, the blue check next to their name tells users that the profile they’re looking at is legitimate.Contrary to popular belief, a verification badge isn’t an endorsement of support by Instagram — which, really, is the same for any social media platform. It is simply a way for these platforms to let the public know that the profile of Brad Pitt, Gymshark or Jacinda Ardern is exactly who they are meant to be and, therefore, represent those people (or brands) accurately and authentically.

Who can get verified on Instagram?

According to Instagram themselves, technically, anyone can request to become verified on Instagram. That doesn’t necessarily mean that any Tom, Dick or Harry will be verified, however. The platform doesn’t specify in great detail who exactly is or isn’t allowed to be verified, so long as they meet the verification criteria.We should definitely note that Instagram is upfront about who is eligible to receive a verified badge, stating that "Only some public figures, celebrities, and brands have verified badges on Instagram." Which basically means only accounts with a high likelihood of being impersonated. Regardless, if you’re someone who is of high standing or is managing a brand, getting verified is definitely best practice — not just for yourself but for your overall social media marketing strategy, too.Without further ado, let’s talk about those verification criteria. Instagram’s verification guidelines highlight these four factors:

Authentic

Basically: Are you a real person, and one of actual influence? Is the account actually representative of the brand you’re applying as?The account going through the verification process needs to actually represent a “person of interest”, business or entity. There’s a reason why “fan” pages or meme accounts never get verified — unless you’re 9GAG or ICanHasCheezburger.

Unique

Unless you’re a business with multiple accounts to cover different languages or operate in different regions — like the UFC or Adidas — there can only be one account representing you or your business applying for verification.

Complete

You need to be active on the site and have a complete profile with a bio and a photo. We should also mention that currently, only Business or Creator accounts on Instagram are allowed to get verified, so be sure that you turn either of those account options on before starting the application process!

Notable

This is possibly the most difficult factor to quantify and qualify for because just having a large number of followers is simply not enough to be considered a “notable figure”. If you want the verification process for your account to be taken seriously, you'll need to represent a well-known, frequently-searched entity that has been covered by credible media outlets. Sponsored or paid media aren’t regarded as “proof” of notoriety.

Steps to getting verified on Instagram

If you believe that you meet all the requirements to get verified on Instagram, then you should definitely get started on the verification process. As long as you definitely satisfy the four factors we’ve mentioned earlier, then the steps to getting verified on Instagram will be super straightforward.Be aware that the verification process can only be done on the app and not on the browser. With that said, be sure that you have all the documents that you need saved on your phone in order to make the process run a lot more smoothly. Here is a general look at how you can start the verification process on Instagram:

1. Go to your profile and tap on the hamburger icon
2. Tap “Settings”
3. In “Settings”, tap “Account”
4. Within the “Account” screen, tap “Request verification”
5. You’ll come across the Verification Application Form, where you’ll need to provide:
   1. Your username — you won’t be able to change it if you’re verified
   2. Your full legal name
   3. Upload a valid form of government identification — if you’re applying as an individual (e.g. celebrity, influencer or public figure), then you should send a photo of your driving licence or passport; for businesses and brands, you need to upload a utility bill, bank statement or official business document
   4. The category and/or industry the profile works within
   5. The country that you live/operate in
6. Once you’ve filled everything out, tap “Send”
7. Wait for the review process to complete!

Instagram doesn’t provide details on how long the verification review process will take. However, through second-hand accounts, the process can take anywhere from a few days to a week, although some have reported waiting for a whole 30 days before seeing a response. So, patience is key!Once your application has been reviewed, you’ll be notified of the success or failure of the application through the Notifications tabof your Instagram account. This is a key piece of information to remember, because Instagram will never contact you about the verification process in any other way. The platform won’t ever send you an email about the process, and they most definitely will never ask you for payment. Verification is free of charge.

5 tips on how to get verified on Instagram fast

The unfortunate thing about the verification process is that when you fail, you’ll only get a generic notification sent to you. You won’t receive any feedback about why your application wasn’t successful, so you won’t have any idea what to do better for the next time. However, don’t fret — we have a few tips on insuring that the verification process on Instagram goes as smoothly and quickly as possible.Here are our five tips on how to get verified on Instagram fast:

1. Be honest

This piece of advice should go without saying, yet the repercussions are so serious that we feel forced to emphasise it. If you want your verification application to be successful, you must be completely honest throughout the process.Unless it’s your username, don't use a pen name; identify yourself by your legal name when the application asks you to. Pick the most applicable category for your situation. And do not, under any circumstances, forge any official documents.Instagram warns that it may suspend your account and refuse to reinstate it if you lie on your verification application. So, regardless of how badly you want the verified checkmark on your name, don’t try to test them. If your profile isn’t ready for verification, be patient and grow your profile and brand until it is.

2. Have real followers

To be honest, no one knows for sure how many followers are required for verification, although it seems like it could be a lot. Originally, it was believed that having at least 10,000 was the magic number since it was necessary before certain accounts were allowed to use certain features on Instagram — like attaching a link to your Story — but, nowadays, we aren’t sure. One verified account’s “prominence” could be 1% of another’s follower count.What we do know is that you definitely shouldn’t test the waters and buy Instagram followers simply because you want that checkmark. Firstly, that’s not how it works, and secondly, that’s a surefire way to get your account suspended since it breaks Instagram’s Community Guidelines. It is more likely that the number of a user's followers will increase as they become more prominent both within Instagram and beyond it. Growing your Instagram profile is tough, but it’s still achievable when you wield the right strategy.

3. Remove cross-platform links

Some may find Instagram's insistence that verified accounts remove "add me" links to other social media sites as petty, but it’s fair play if they want to keep people on the platform for as long as possible. Links to your website, landing pages, and other online properties are fine, as is the use of tools like Linktree and Linkinbio. However, you should never leave links to your YouTube or Twitter channels on your profile.However, Instagram does actually urge you to link to your Instagram account from your Facebook page if you have a blue checkmark on Facebook but not on Instagram. Thankfully, Instagram even has a guide to linking the two together.

4. Never pay for a verification badge!

In a similar vein to never buying Instagram followers, you should also never pay for a verification badge — no matter how convincing that one random account sounds. No one who works for Instagram will ever take money in exchange for helping you cheat the system, and they certainly wouldn’t risk getting fired by telling people that they can.Scammers are well aware of how coveted the verification checkmark is and aren’t afraid to make a quick buck trying to sell people fantasies of obtaining it. They don’t care whether you’re putting your account at risk of getting permanently banned for going against Instagram’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service — but you most definitely should. So if you want to keep your account intact and keep using Instagram (because once they suspend you, you’re not allowed to subvert it by creating another account), avoid those people like the plague!

5. Work with an agency

As we’ve mentioned before, being “notable” is 100% a prerequisite to gaining Instagram verification. This necessitates that you take the authentic and legitimate techniques of publicising your brand a lot more seriously. Consequently, if you are both financially capable and otherwise ambitious, it is recommended that you retain the services of a respectable digital agency.We’re not being biased here, but possibly the best and safest way for you as a person or a brand to get verified on Instagram is to work with a reputable social media marketing agency that knows its stuff. Not only would they know what it takes to get a profile verified, but they will most definitely help you reach that goal if you aren’t already qualified. Agencies know what it takes to make someone searchable — which would help you fulfil the “Notable” criteria for sure.

Our final thoughts on Instagram verification

We know that getting the blue checkmark on Instagram is a goal for many, but know that although it’s a tough road to travel, you’ll definitely be able to reach it. Due to the time and work required, you should have a solid purpose for pursuing Instagram verification before you begin.Is Instagram verification worth it for your brand? Absolutely. Verification has many positive outcomes, including increased trust in the brand and higher rankings in social search. Instagram verification sets you out from the rest and makes it simpler to connect with your audience. In the right hands, it can increase your social media following, credibility, and sales. You just need to prove your worthiness.