How to Get the Blue Checkmark on Instagram in 2026

Instagram currently has two distinct paths to a blue checkmark, and conflating them causes a lot of confusion: traditional verification for notable public figures and brands, which is free but has strict eligibility requirements, and Meta Verified, a paid subscription available more broadly that includes a badge along with other account features.

Traditional verification requires demonstrating that an account represents a genuinely notable, searched-for public figure, brand, or entity — meeting this bar typically requires real media coverage or public recognition beyond the platform itself, which most creators, even those with a substantial following, don't yet meet.

Meta Verified is the more accessible path for most creators — a paid monthly subscription that includes the badge, along with additional account protection features and, depending on region, some support benefits, without needing to prove public notability the way traditional verification does.

Demonstrable public notability (media coverage, public recognition outside the platform), a complete and authentic profile, and typically an established account history — this path exists mainly for genuinely well-known public figures and organizations.

A paid subscription, meeting a minimum age requirement, and a profile that meets Meta's account authenticity standards — this path is realistically available to most active creators regardless of fame level.

The badge itself provides a modest trust signal to new visitors and can reduce impersonation risk, but it isn't a meaningful growth lever on its own — it's worth considering primarily for the account protection features bundled with Meta Verified rather than expecting the badge itself to noticeably boost reach or follower growth.