TikTok Verification: How to Get the Blue Check (2026)
TikTok verification is the blue check mark next to some usernames, and TikTok says it is free, not a popularity contest and not something it will ever message you to sell. This guide explains what TikTok verification means, who can apply, what TikTok looks for and the exact steps to request it.
Everything here comes from TikTok’s own Creator Academy article, TikTok Verification: How to Get a Blue Check, read on October 8, 2026. TikTok updates its criteria, so check the in-app form before you apply. For protecting an account once you have one, see TikTok Account Security: 7 Steps to Protect Your Account.
What to know:
- It is free. TikTok says “verification on TikTok is completely free” and warns about anyone claiming they can sell it.
- Followers alone do not decide it. TikTok says “follower count alone does not determine eligibility.”
- Notability matters. TikTok may review independent media coverage about you or your organization.
- Where to apply: Profile, menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification.
In this article
What TikTok Verification Means
Per TikTok, the verified badge “means that TikTok has confirmed that the account really belongs to the person or brand it represents.” TikTok says it helps users “make informed choices about who to follow” and that when you see the check mark, “you can trust that you’re following the real deal, not a parody or fan account.”
TikTok also says a badge does not mean it endorses everything a verified account posts. Verified accounts must still follow the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
The Three Types of TikTok Verification
TikTok offers three verification types based on who the account represents:
- Personal: for creators, public figures, artists, athletes, journalists and other notable individuals.
- Business: for companies, brands, media organizations, entertainment properties, sports teams and other commercial organizations.
- Institution: for government bodies, schools, universities, charities, NGOs and other public or non-profit organizations.
TikTok warns that choosing the wrong type “may delay the review process or require you to submit a new application.”
What TikTok Looks For
TikTok says it reviews several factors for TikTok verification, and that “it’s not a popularity contest.” The five it names:
- Active: the account is in use. Log in recently and publish at least one public post.
- Authentic: it represents a real person, business or organization, and the account name, profile information, content and submitted materials all match the identity being verified.
- Complete: the account is public and has a profile photo, an account name, a bio and at least one public post.
- Notable: TikTok may review independent media coverage and other reliable public information to see whether you are publicly known.
- Secure: the account has a verified phone number and email address, and two-step verification is turned on.
A creator’s walkthrough of the same four core requirements (active, authentic, complete and notable) is below. It is one creator’s explanation, so rely on TikTok’s own article for the rules.
@prsroyal Want to get that blue checkmark? 📛 In this guide, I’m showing you the official steps to get your TikTok verification badge in 2026! 🚀 I break down the 4 must-have requirements: ✅ Having an Active Account ✅ Proving Authenticity ✅ Completing your Profile ✅ Demonstrating Notability (the secret to getting approved!) Stop wondering how the top creators do it—learn how to apply for verification and make your account stand out to the TikTok team today. 🦡📛 . #creatorsearchinsights #TikTokVerification #GetVerified #techtok #EduTok
♬ original sound – ℙℝ𝕊Royal
Credit: @prsroyal/TikTok.
What Counts as Media Coverage
Notability is the part applicants most often get wrong, so TikTok spells it out. It says strong supporting coverage generally:
- comes from an independent and recognized media outlet,
- focuses mainly on the applicant,
- includes a publication date,
- is available for review, and
- is not sponsored, paid or promotional, and is not a press release, personal blog or social media post.
TikTok adds: “Submit direct links to the original articles. Search results, screenshots, media homepages, and repeated copies of the same article may not be accepted.” Sponsored articles and press releases do not count as independent coverage.
How to Request TikTok Verification
- Open the TikTok app and tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap the menu icon at the top.
- Choose “Settings and privacy.”
- Open “Account,” then tap “Verification.”
- Follow the steps in the app to send the request, and include any independent media coverage that accurately reflects your work.
If the first request is not approved, TikTok says you can try again once you are eligible to reapply, after making sure your account information and supporting materials are accurate, complete and up to date.
TikTok Verification Scams to Avoid
TikTok is direct about this. It says it will “never DM or email you asking you to apply for a badge,” and that a message like that “isn’t us.” It also says to watch out for anyone claiming they can sell you a TikTok verification, adding that “they’re not with us.”
Two more tips from TikTok. Only the blue check next to the username, in search results and on the profile, is a real badge: a “verified” badge in the bio is not. And TikTok’s separate security guide lists emails that “dangle things like a verified badge as bait” as a phishing risk.
Losing or Changing the Badge
- There is no way to remove a badge on request. TikTok does remove it if you change your username.
- If the account changes hands, the new owner needs their own verification.
- If you change your username or switch account type (for example, business to personal), you need to reapply.
- TikTok may remove a badge for repeated or serious violations of its Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
What TikTok Does Not Say
- Timing: the Creator Academy article does not say how long a review takes.
- Approval rate: TikTok gives no figures on how many applications are approved.
- Why a request was denied: the article does not say whether TikTok explains denials.
- Waiting period: it says you can reapply “once you are eligible” but does not state how long that takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TikTok verification cost money?
No. TikTok says verification is “completely free.”
How many followers do I need for TikTok verification?
There is no required number. TikTok says “follower count alone does not determine eligibility.”
Can I use a press release or a sponsored article?
No. TikTok says sponsored content, paid promotions, advertisements and press releases are not considered independent media coverage.
How can I tell if a TikTok account is verified?
Look for the blue check mark next to the username in search results and on the profile. A badge shown somewhere else, such as the bio, is not a verified account, per TikTok.
Can I apply for TikTok verification again?
Yes, once you are eligible to reapply, TikTok says, after updating your account information and supporting materials.
Source: TikTok Creator Academy, TikTok Verification: How to Get a Blue Check, read October 8, 2026.
