How to get verified on Instagram in 2026

Last updated · By the HowSociable editorial team

The short answer: there are two legitimate paths to a blue check. Pay for Meta Verified (a monthly subscription with an identity check), or earn the free legacy verified badge if your account is authentic, unique, complete and notable. There is no third way: any service claiming to sell you a badge is a scam that violates Meta’s terms and can get your account restricted.

The two real paths to a blue check

These are separate programs with different requirements. The eligibility below comes straight from Instagram’s own help center.

Meta Verified (paid subscription)

Paid monthly subscription

Best for: Individual creators and businesses who meet the eligibility criteria

  • A government ID whose name matches your account name
  • Two-factor authentication enabled on the account
  • A profile photo that shows your face (for individuals)
  • Meeting Meta's minimum age and account-history requirements
  • In some regions, a short selfie video for identity confirmation

Source: Instagram Help

Legacy verified badge (free)

Free to request

Best for: Notable public figures, brands and entities

  • Authentic: represents a real person, registered business or entity
  • Unique: the one presence for that person or business (no duplicate accounts)
  • Complete: public, with a bio, profile photo and at least one post
  • Notable: a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand or entity

Source: Instagram Help

How to apply

For Meta Verified, open the Instagram app, go to Settings and look for the Meta Verified entry, then follow the identity-confirmation steps (government ID, two-factor authentication, and, in some regions, a selfie video). For the free legacy badge, go to Settings, then Account, then Request Verification, and submit your details. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval for either path.

A word on cost

Meta Verified is a paid monthly subscription whose price varies by region and account type, so check the current figure in the app or on Meta’s site before subscribing. In practice, subscribing on the web is usually cheaper than through the iOS or Android apps, because Apple and Google add their in-app purchase fee. The legacy badge is free to request.

Never buy a verified badge from a third party

The only legitimate sources of a blue check are Meta itself (the paid subscription) and Instagram’s own review (the free badge). Services that advertise a “verified badge for sale” cannot actually grant one: they violate Meta’s terms, and many exist to phish your login or take payment for nothing. Handing your credentials to one can get your account restricted or stolen. HowSociable does not sell verification, and we recommend against any service that claims to.

Related

The real path to the free badge is a genuine, notable presence built on real content and a real audience. To be clear: purchased followers do not count toward verification and will not help you qualify. To grow the honest way, find your best time to post on Instagram or estimate earnings with how much Instagram pays. Researching growth tools separately? See our honest reviews of Instagram growth services.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are two legitimate paths. The first is the paid Meta Verified subscription, open to eligible individual creators and businesses who confirm their identity with a government ID matching their account name and have two-factor authentication enabled. The second is the free legacy verified badge, which Instagram grants to accounts that are authentic, unique, complete and notable (a well-known public figure, brand or entity). These are separate programs with different requirements.

According to Instagram's help center, Meta Verified requires a government ID whose name matches your profile name, two-factor authentication turned on, a profile photo that includes your face (for individual accounts), and meeting Meta's minimum age and account-history rules. Some regions also ask for a short selfie video to confirm identity. Meeting these does not guarantee approval, but they are the baseline to apply.

Meta Verified is a paid monthly subscription, and the exact price varies by region and account type, so check the current figure shown inside the Instagram app or on Meta's website before subscribing. One practical note: subscribing on the web is typically cheaper than through the iOS or Android apps, because Apple and Google add their in-app purchase fee. The legacy verified badge, by contrast, is free to request.

No, not legitimately. The only real ways to get a blue check are Meta Verified (paid directly to Meta) and the free legacy badge (granted by Instagram). Third-party services that claim to 'sell' a verified badge are scams: they violate Meta's terms, cannot actually grant a badge, and often exist to phish your login or take payment for nothing. Handing over your credentials to one can get your account restricted or stolen. HowSociable does not sell verification and recommends against any service that claims to.

It varies. Meta Verified identity review is often quick (days), while the free legacy badge is reviewed case by case and can take longer or be declined. If a request is declined, Instagram generally lets you re-apply after a set period. Building a genuine, notable presence is what improves your odds for the free badge, and there is no way to speed up or guarantee either path.

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