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How to Get Verified on Instagram for Free ☑️

Are you looking to get that blue checkmark next to your Instagram username? Here are the official instructions from Facebook. Today, I’ll show you how to make it happen (for free!). 2022 update: Now anyone can request an official verification badge directly through Instagram. Don’t believe anyone selling you verificati

Alejandro Rioja
Alejandro Rioja
Updated 7 min read
TL;DR

Instagram looks at 4 factors to determine whether your account is worthy of the blue badge. Authenticity: Your account must represent a real person, registered business or entity.

Table of contents

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2 steps to apply for verification on IG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpP1HIP3dmc&feature=youtu.be&ab\_channel=ChristienBouc

If you already have significant press written about you, skip to step number 2. 

1. Get press written about you 

Only select people on Instagram are handed a verification badge as I explained above. Those include celebrities, musicians, actors, and people with large followings and press in real life. 

Pro tips to supercharge your press

Instagram will attempt to verify your noteworthiness to see if you are qualified for a blue checkmark. 

While their exact efforts are not divulged, it’s likely that Instagram will search your name/username on Google and try to see if you have been covered in many publications. 

If you don’t have press, you can get featured on my sites here:

Here are other tips to get on Forbes, Mashable, Techcrunch and others. 

2. Apply for verification directly on the Instagram app

Follow the following steps on the IG app to request a verified badge:

  1. Make sure you’re logged in to the account you’re requesting a verified badge for.
  2. Go to your profile and tap the 3 horizontal lines at the top right.
  3. Tap ⚙ Settings > Account > Request Verification.
  4. Enter your Full name, Known As, Account Category, and provide the required form of identification (example: government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, passport. If you are a business, you can provide tax returns, utility bill, etc).
  5. Press “Send” and wait for a decision!

FAQ

What is a verified badge on Instagram?

From Instagram: “A verified badge is a check that appears next to an Instagram account’s name in search and on the profile. It means Instagram has confirmed that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity or global brand it represents”.

How much does IG verification cost? Do I need to pay anything?

It’s free. Instagram doesn’t charge or request payment for verification. Please apply directly through IG and don’t use any third party. 

How many followers do you need to get verified on Instagram?

There’s no minimum. However, having more followers definitely helps, so read this guide to increase your IG follower count. 

What happens after you apply for a blue checkmark?

After you apply for verification, Instagram will let you know in a span of 1-2 weeks whether your account was verified or not. This is what their official docs say:

“We look at a number of factors when evaluating Instagram accounts to determine if they’re in the public interest and meet our verification criteria. Even if your account is eligible for verification, submitting a request doesn’t guarantee that your account will be verified.”

How does Instagram let you know if your account was verified?

Instagram will send you an in-app notification that looks like this.

Will I know why my verification was denied?

Instagram unfortunately doesn’t provide with any specifics as to why your application was denied.

Can you reapply for verification if you are denied?

Yes, you will just need to wait 30 days since your last decision. 

How many accounts can I get verified?

In most cases, only one account per person with the exception of super large brands (think Costco and Costco California) or accounts in multiple languages (CNN, CNN español).  

Is the badge permanent?

As long as you follow Instagram’s terms of service, yes. 

However, they might remove your verification (or even disable your account) if you:

Keep in mind that if you provide false or misleading information during the verification process, we will remove your verified badge and may take additional action to delete your account.

What if you are not able to be verified?

It won’t be the end of the world. For the most part, the verification is just for ego-stroking. 

There are also other ways to make sure people find your official Instagram account. For instance, you can add it on your Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Linkedin, emails, website, etc. 

What are the benefits of getting verified?

Your account will gain more trust in the eyes of your followers, helping you fend off any impersonators, cloned accounts, and others. It will also appear higher in searches. 

If you want to learn more about Verification Badges, read Instagram’s support page. 

Bottom line

That’s how you apply for verification on Instagram. 

If you were successful in following these steps, please drop a comment with your username so I can check it out and give you a follow! (while you are here, also follow me @YoungSlacker!) 

Keep in mind that even if your account is eligible for verification, submitting a request doesn’t guarantee that your account will be verified. 

Here are other posts you should read:

This guide is part of alejandrorioja.com — written by Alejandro Rioja, who now builds AI agent systems for founders. Including the agent that keeps this site current. How it works →

Updated for May 2026

The 2026 Instagram reality: Reels are the discovery primitive, Stories carry retention, Feed is for credentialing. The “hidden likes” toggle is still in account settings (Privacy → Posts) — Meta has kept it. Verification flipped to the Meta Verified subscription in early 2024 (~$14.99/mo on iOS/Android in the US), so any post still saying “free blue tick” is outdated.

The contact-Instagram-support flow is markedly better now: in-app Help → Report a problem routes most issues to a real human within ~48h for Meta Verified accounts. ~2.4B MAU as of Meta’s Q4 2025 disclosure. If you’re trying to grow in 2026, the share of organic reach coming from Reels vs. Feed is roughly:

Reels
~78%
Feed
~14%
Stories
~8%

Directional, based on creator-tool analytics published by Later + Buffer in late 2025. Optimize accordingly.

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