| Step | Phase | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meet the criteria | Log in and post regularly. TikTok needs a login within the past 6 months. | “Active” is one of the five criteria TikTok lists. |
| 2 | Meet the criteria | Make sure the account is a real person, business or organization, not a fan, parody or meme page. | “Authentic”: only one verified account per person or business, except language-specific accounts. |
| 3 | Meet the criteria | Set the account to public. Add a name, bio, profile photo and at least one video. | “Complete” accounts are the only ones reviewed. |
| 4 | Meet the criteria | Collect links to news articles about you from independent outlets. | “Notable” means featured in multiple news sources. Press releases and paid or sponsored media do not count. |
| 5 | Meet the criteria | Turn on 2-step verification and verify your email and phone. | “Secure”: TikTok asks for multi-factor authentication with a verified email. |
| 6 | Prepare | For a business, use an email on the company’s own domain (not Gmail). | TikTok says business email domains must match the business. |
| 7 | Prepare | Pick the right account type before applying. Business accounts can apply only for Business verification. | Personal accounts can apply for Personal or Institutional verification. |
| 8 | Prepare | Have your government ID ready (front and back) for a personal request. | You enter your legal name, birth date and country exactly as on the ID. |
| 9 | Prepare | Keep your username. Do not plan a name change soon after applying. | Changing your username can remove the badge and you must reapply. |
| 10 | Apply | Open Profile > Menu (☰) > Settings and privacy > Account > Verification. | Verification is only in the app, and not available in every region. |
| 11 | Apply | Tap Start and choose Personal, Business or Institution. | Each type asks for different proof. |
| 12 | Apply | Pick a content category and paste at least two news article links. | These links are how TikTok judges notability. |
| 13 | Apply | Confirm identity: upload ID photos (personal) or business documents. | Proves the account is the real person or company. |
| 14 | Apply | Submit and wait for the “Request submitted” screen. | If you do not see it, the request did not go through. |
| 15 | After you apply | Watch your in-app inbox for the decision. | TikTok sends the result as a notification. Reviews can take up to about 30 days. |
| 16 | After you apply | If rejected, read the reason, fix it and reapply when the app allows. | TikTok gives no fixed wait; older “30 days” rules are not on its current pages. |
| 17 | After you apply | Keep posting and stay within the Community Guidelines. | Breaking rules can lead to losing the badge. |
| 18 | Avoid | Never pay anyone for a badge. | TikTok does not charge for verification. Sellers of badges are not linked to TikTok. |
| 19 | Avoid | Do not buy followers or likes to look notable. | Follower and like counts are not criteria, and fake engagement breaks the rules. |
| 20 | Avoid | Do not submit your own blog posts, social posts or old articles as press. | They do not count as independent news coverage. |
As of November 2026, TikTok has no paid verification. Review time is not on TikTok’s Help Center page; about 30 days is reported in the app.
How TikTok verification works
It is free and by request
Anyone eligible can apply in the app. TikTok decides; there is no paid badge and no follower minimum.
Notability is the hard part
Most requests fail on notability. You need coverage in more than one independent news source, not paid posts or press releases.
Keep the badge
Changing your username or account type can remove verification. You cannot ask TikTok to remove the badge yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?
None. TikTok says follower and like counts are not part of the decision.
Can you pay for verification on TikTok?
No. As of November 2026 TikTok does not sell verification, and anyone offering to sell a badge is not linked to TikTok.
How long does TikTok verification take?
The app reports results within about 30 days. You get the decision as an in-app notification.
Why was my verification request rejected?
Usually weak notability: too few independent news articles. Other causes are an incomplete profile, no 2-step verification or a mismatched business email.
Related free tools
Sources: How to tell if an account is verified (TikTok Help Center) · How to get verified on TikTok in 2026 (SocialPilot)