There are three ways to get verified on Facebook: the gray Facebook Verified badge, which shows a real person is behind a profile; Meta Verified, which confirms your identity; and the blue notable badge, which you apply for as a well-known person, brand or entity that passes Meta's four tests of authentic, unique, complete and notable.
Facebook verification used to mean one thing: a blue tick for famous people. Now Meta's help centre lists three different badges, and which one you can get depends on who you are. Here's the full picture.
The three badges
| Badge | What it shows | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Facebook Verified | There's a real person behind the profile | Eligible individuals; no notability needed |
| Meta Verified | Meta has confirmed your identity, with extra protections | People and businesses who sign up and pass the identity check |
| Blue notable badge | The authentic presence of a well-known person, brand or entity | Those who apply and meet Meta's four requirements |
The four tests for the blue badge
- Authentic: you represent a real person, registered business or entity.
- Unique: you're the only presence of that person or business. Only one Page or profile per person or business can be verified, with exceptions for language-specific Pages, and general interest Pages aren't verified.
- Complete: an about section, a profile photo and recent activity, including at least one post.
- Notable: well known and often searched, and featured in multiple news sources. Meta doesn't count promotional content as a source.
The notable test is the hardest one to fake. Meta reviews coverage in multiple news sources, and promotional content doesn't count, so a press release you've pushed out yourself won't carry you.
If you're not notable
Meta's help centre is practical about this. If you don't meet the blue badge criteria, you can still show your Page or profile is authentic by linking to it from your official website or Instagram profile. You can also use Meta Verified, or get the gray Facebook Verified badge if you're eligible.
How Meta Verified works
- Choose the profile or profiles to verify. Meta lists one Instagram profile and one Facebook profile as eligible.
- Make sure Advanced Protection is switched on for those profiles.
- Confirm your identity. Meta says eligible accounts may be verified using activity across its products, such as how long you've had your name and how complete your profile is.
- Submit for review. Meta says review can take up to 3 business days.
Meta offers several tiers, named Standard, Plus, Premium and Max, and every tier includes the verified badge, impersonation protection and enhanced support. Meta warns that false or misleading information can stop your profile being verified or get verified status removed.
Protect the badge once you have it
Meta encourages admins of verified Pages and profiles to use two-factor authentication. That's not a formality: a verified Page is a valuable target, and losing access means losing the badge's value too. Also note that if you already have a blue badge from the older rules, you can still add Meta Verified on top.
My verdict
Be honest with yourself about the notable test, and look at your coverage the way Meta will: multiple news sources, nothing promotional. If you've had real press coverage in more than one outlet, apply for the blue badge. If you haven't, Meta Verified or the gray badge will do the job of showing you're real, and linking your Page from your website does a lot of the work for trust. For the rest of your Facebook setup, see whether Facebook boosts work for small Pages and how to connect email marketing to Facebook lead ads.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get the blue tick on Facebook?
Apply for the blue notable badge if you're a well-known person, brand or entity that meets Meta's four tests: authentic, unique, complete and notable. Otherwise, Meta Verified also gives a verified badge after an identity check.
What is the gray verified badge on Facebook?
It's Facebook Verified, which shows there's a real person behind a profile. It doesn't require notability.
How long does Meta Verified review take?
Meta says the review can take up to 3 business days after you submit your information.
Does Meta Verified work on both Facebook and Instagram?
Meta lists one Instagram profile and one Facebook profile as eligible for Meta Verified, and both may need similar names and pictures.
Can a business Page have more than one verified Page?
Generally only one Page or profile per person or business can be verified, with exceptions for language-specific Pages.
