How to Get Facebook Blue Tick Verification (2026): Free Route vs Meta Verified

Everyone wants the blue tick next to their name on Facebook. It tells visitors the profile is the real one, it makes impersonators easier to report, and it makes a creator or business look established at a glance. But most guides about getting one for free leave out the part that matters most: in 2026, there are two completely different routes to the badge, and only one of them is open to ordinary accounts — and that one is not free. This guide explains both routes honestly, with the current prices, the real requirements, and the scams to avoid, so you can choose the route that actually fits you instead of chasing a "free verification" trick that does not exist.

The short version is this: the badge most people can get is Meta Verified, a paid monthly subscription — Standard costs $11.99 a month if you sign up on the web, or $14.99 a month in the Facebook app (US reference prices; your local price may differ). The genuinely free route still exists, but only for notable public figures, major brands and organisations with real press coverage — and it is not something you can simply apply for as a regular user. If a video or a website promises you a free blue tick for any account, it is either describing the notability route without telling you the catch, or it is a scam. Read on for the steps for each route and how to tell them apart.

The two routes to a blue tick in 2026

Route 1: Meta Verified (paid, open to almost anyone). Meta Verified is a subscription Meta launched in 2023. You pay monthly, prove your identity with a government-issued ID that matches your account name, and you get the blue badge plus impersonation protection and access to account support. The Standard plan is $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 a month in the app, per profile, at US reference prices. Above it sit Plus at $49.99, Premium at $149.99 and Max at $499.99 a month, which mostly add faster support and extra profile tools rather than a different badge. Subscribing for both Facebook and Instagram together takes 20% off the combined price. The price is per asset — one Facebook profile or Page is one subscription — and local prices vary by country, so always check the price shown on your own checkout screen before you commit.

Route 2: Notability verification (free, but selective). The original verification system never had a fee. Meta confirms the account represents a real, notable person, brand or organisation that the public has a genuine interest in finding — a well-known creator, journalist, politician, media brand or major business — and awards the badge after reviewing evidence. There is no monthly charge and no subscription. But the bar is high by design: Meta looks for independent press coverage, not follower counts or a nice bio, and in 2026 the old public application form is no longer a self-serve route for ordinary accounts — Meta's own pages now steer most people to Meta Verified. If you are asking whether you qualify for the free route, the honest answer for almost everyone is that you do not, and the paid route is the one to take.

What you need before you start

• A Facebook profile or Page that uses your real name, or your real business or organisation name, exactly as it appears on your ID.
• A clear profile photo of you (or your brand's logo for a Page), a filled-in bio, a cover photo, and at least a few genuine posts — the account must look complete and active.
• A valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driving licence or national ID) with the same name and photo as your profile.
• Two-factor authentication turned on. It is required for Meta Verified and strongly recommended for everyone.
• A payment method, if you are taking the Meta Verified route — the subscription renews monthly until you cancel it.
• For the free route only: evidence of notability, such as articles about you or your organisation in independent news outlets. Paid or promotional articles do not count.

Step 1: Complete your profile first

Before you apply for anything, make the account look like the real thing. Use your real name, add a clear photo, write a short bio that says who you are, add a cover photo, and make sure the account is public and has recent posts. Meta checks all of this in both routes: a half-empty profile is the most common reason ordinary applications stall. Post original content consistently for a few weeks if the account is new — an account with one post and no history does not look like a real person or brand.

Step 2: Turn on two-factor authentication

Open the Facebook app, go to Settings & privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Centre, and find Password and security. Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app or text messages. Meta Verified requires it, and for any account it is the single most useful protection against being locked out or impersonated. While you are there, check that the email address and phone number on the account are ones you can still access — you will need them during verification.

Step 3: Open Meta Verified

For the paid route, go to facebook.com/verified on a desktop browser, or in the Facebook app open Settings & privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Centre, and tap Meta Verified. You can also see the plans at meta.com/meta-verified. If your account is eligible, the screen shows that Meta Verified is available. Choose the profile or Page you want verified — remember, one subscription covers one profile, so if you want both a profile and a Page verified, that is two subscriptions.

Step 4: Pick a plan and check the price for your country

Standard is the right plan for almost everyone who just wants the badge, impersonation protection and support access. Read the price shown on your own screen carefully — it is shown in your local currency and it may not match the US figures quoted in this guide. The web price is usually lower than the in-app price, because app stores take a cut of in-app purchases, so signing up on the web can save you a few dollars a month. Do not pay for Plus, Premium or Max unless you actually need their extra support and profile features; the badge itself is the same on every tier.

Step 5: Verify your identity with your ID

Meta will ask you to upload a photo of your government-issued ID and, in most cases, a short video selfie to match your face to the ID. The name on the ID must match the name on your profile — if it does not, change your profile name first and wait for that change to settle before you start. Make sure the photo of the ID is sharp, all four corners are visible, and nothing is covered. Blurry or cropped ID photos are the most common reason identity checks fail, and a failed check means starting the process again.

Step 6: Confirm, pay, and keep the badge

Review the plan, the price and the renewal terms, then confirm your payment method and submit. Verification usually completes within about 48 hours, though it can take longer. Once the badge appears, it stays as long as the subscription is active and the account stays in good standing. Remember it renews automatically every month — set a reminder to review whether you still want it, and note that changing your profile name or photo after verification can trigger a fresh identity check. Cancelling stops future charges; it also removes the badge.

Watch the full video tutorial

The companion video walks through the verification options on the Facebook app screen by screen, so you can see the menus described above before you start.

The free route: how to prepare if you are genuinely notable

If you are a public figure, journalist, creator with significant independent press coverage, or a major brand, the free notability route may still apply to you — but it works differently from a normal application. Meta assesses four things: the account is authentic, it is unique (one account per person or entity), it is complete and public, and it is notable. Here is how to prepare:

1. Collect your press coverage. Gather links to 3–5 articles about you or your organisation from independent, reputable news outlets. The coverage should be about you, not written by you, and not paid promotion.
2. Make sure people are actually searching for you. Notability means public interest — people looking for your name or your organisation. A large follower count alone does not prove it.
3. Keep one account. Only one account per person or entity can be verified (with limited exceptions for language-specific Pages). Fan pages, parody accounts and general-interest topic pages do not qualify.
4. Keep the account clean. No policy violations, no spammy behaviour, no bought followers. A violation history works against any verification request.
5. Use Meta's official channels. Notable accounts are usually verified through Meta's official partner programmes or by Meta reaching out directly — there is no public form you can rely on to force a review in 2026. If someone offers to "submit your free application" for a fee, that is a scam.

Common mistakes that get people rejected or scammed

1. Believing "free verification" offers. No third party can get you verified. Anyone charging a fee to "apply" for you, or promising a badge in 24 hours, is selling something Meta does not sell. Meta never verifies accounts through agents on WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook Messenger.

2. Applying with a name that does not match your ID. A nickname, a brand name on a personal profile, or a name spelled differently from your ID will fail the identity check on either route. Fix the name first.

3. Using a blurry or cropped ID photo. Take the ID photo in good light, flat on a plain surface, with every edge visible. A rejected ID check wastes days.

4. Paying for a higher tier you do not need. Plus, Premium and Max do not give you a better badge or a faster approval. Start with Standard and upgrade only if you actually use the extra features.

5. Sharing your password, OTP or ID photos with anyone. Meta will never ask for your password or a login code by message or email. Anyone asking for them is trying to steal your account — and a stolen account with a blue tick is worth more to a scammer than an ordinary one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the Facebook blue tick for free?

Only through the notability route, and only if you are genuinely notable — a public figure, major brand or organisation with independent press coverage. For everyone else, the accessible route is Meta Verified, which is a paid subscription starting at $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 a month in the app. There is no free badge for ordinary accounts.

How much does Meta Verified cost in 2026?

Standard is $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 a month in the app at US reference prices; Plus is $49.99, Premium $149.99 and Max $499.99 a month. Local prices vary by country and the price is per profile, so always check your own checkout screen.

How long does verification take?

Meta Verified identity checks usually complete within about 48 hours, but they can take longer if the ID photo is unclear or a manual review is needed. The notability route, where it applies, takes much longer — days to weeks — because a human team reviews the evidence.

Do I keep the badge if I cancel Meta Verified?

No. The badge is tied to the active subscription. When you cancel, future charges stop and the badge is removed. If you re-subscribe later, you go through the identity check again.

What if my application is rejected?

Fix the reason first — usually the name mismatch, an unclear ID photo, or an incomplete profile — and then try again. For the notability route, a rejection generally means the account did not meet the notability bar; reapplying with the same evidence will not change the answer, so build real public coverage first.

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The blue tick is worth having if it protects your identity or your brand — but it is only worth paying for once you know which route you are actually on. If you are an ordinary creator or small business, Meta Verified Standard is the honest price of the badge in 2026. If you are genuinely notable, the free route exists, but it is earned with public coverage, not bought from a stranger in your DMs. Either way, start from Meta's own pages, never hand your ID or password to anyone else, and keep your profile complete and active — that is what verification actually rewards. Prices and availability change by country and over time, so the checkout screen on facebook.com/verified is the final word for your account.