How to Get Verified on TikTok: Requirements and Removal

TikTok gives the blue verified badge to notable accounts that are authentic, complete, secure and active. In practice that means a public profile with a photo, name, bio and at least one public post, a verified phone number and email, two-step verification turned on, and a recent login. You request it under Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Account > Verification. Followers alone won't qualify you.

This guide is for creators and brands who want the badge, and for buyers trying to work out whether a verified account will stay verified after it changes hands. It covers TikTok's current criteria, the follower myth, the exact request steps, how Business verification differs from the blue check, and the changes that can get a badge removed.

Key takeaways

• TikTok verifies notable accounts that are authentic, complete, secure and active. As of July 2026, "secure" means a verified phone number, a verified email and two-step verification.
• TikTok doesn't publish a follower minimum for the blue check. Notability and authenticity matter more than raw follower numbers.
• You request the badge in the TikTok app under Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Account > Verification, and independent media coverage strengthens the application.
• TikTok Business verification is a separate document check open to accounts of any size. TikTok reserves the blue check for high-profile accounts.
• TikTok's support guidance has listed username changes, ownership transfers, account-type changes and rule violations as reasons a verified badge can be removed.
• A verified TikTok account that changes owners should be expected to lose its badge, because verification is tied to the identity TikTok originally checked.

What does the TikTok verified badge actually mean?

The badge means TikTok has confirmed that the account belongs to the real person, brand or organization it claims to represent. It is an identity signal. It does not mean the account is popular, monetized or approved by TikTok in any wider sense.

According to TikTok's newsroom guide to spotting verified accounts, a real badge is a blue check mark that appears next to the account name, both in search results and on the profile. Only TikTok can apply it. A check mark typed into a bio, added to a display name or baked into a profile picture means nothing.

Verification also doesn't buy any special treatment under the rules. TikTok says that verified or not, every account must follow its Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, and that the badge doesn't mean TikTok endorses everything the account posts.

One anti-scam point worth memorizing: TikTok says it will never DM or email anyone asking them to apply for a badge. If you get a message offering verification, a "badge review" or a link to a verification form, it is not from TikTok. Don't click it and don't share login codes.

What are TikTok's verification requirements?

As of July 2026, TikTok's Creator Academy guide to account verification groups its requirements into a handful of criteria. Most blogs list them as active, authentic, complete, notable and secure. The table below shows what each one means today, and flags where popular advice is based on older or third-party wording.

"Secure" now includes your phone number

Many guides still say you need a verified email and two-step verification. TikTok's current wording is stricter. It also asks for a verified phone number. If you're missing any of the three, fix that before you apply. All three sit under TikTok's "secure" criterion, and they also protect an account you're about to make more valuable.

What "notable" means in practice

TikTok's 2019 newsroom post describes the badge as being for notable accounts. Its current Creator Academy text doesn't define notability with a number. It just tells applicants with independent media coverage that accurately reflects their work or organization to include it.

Older help text, quoted by guides such as Shopify's, asked for coverage in multiple news sources. Several guides also say press releases and paid or sponsored media don't count, and some third-party guides suggest submitting around four examples. TikTok's current page names no minimum. The safe reading is simple: independent coverage you didn't pay for is the strongest evidence you can attach.

Why your profile has to match your identity

The "authentic" test is about consistency. If your handle says one thing, your bio another and your linked press covers a third name, the reviewer has to guess. Make your account name, bio and recent content point clearly to the same person or brand. A tool like the TikTok bio optimizer can help you tighten the bio so it says who you are in a line or two.

How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?

There is no official number. As of July 2026, TikTok doesn't publish a follower minimum for verification, and no official page in our research gives one. Notability and authenticity matter more than raw numbers.

In 2023, Android Police reported that TikTok made clear it does not consider follower count or like count for verification, though news coverage and engagement help. On the other side, Brandwatch notes that badges usually go to users with a significant following. Both can be true. Big audiences tend to attract press coverage, and press coverage is what makes an account notable.

The practical takeaway is that followers are a side effect, not the test. A large anonymous page with no real identity behind it is a poor fit for a badge built around authenticity. A journalist, athlete or public figure with modest numbers but genuine independent press coverage may be a better fit.

If you're chasing a follower number for income rather than for the badge, that's a different set of thresholds. Our guide to how many TikTok followers you need to get paid covers those.

How do you request verification on TikTok?

You apply from inside the TikTok app. The path below is the one TikTok's Creator Academy describes as of July 2026.

• Step 1: Prepare the account first. Make it public, add a profile photo, account name and bio, publish at least one public post, verify your phone number and email, and turn on two-step verification.
• Step 2: Open the app, go to your Profile, and tap the Menu icon (☰).
• Step 3: Tap Settings and privacy, then tap Account.
• Step 4: Tap Verification and pick the verification type offered for your account.
• Step 5: Follow the in-app steps to send the request. If you have independent media coverage that accurately reflects your work or organization, attach it here.
• Step 6: Wait for the decision without changing your username, account type or profile identity, so what TikTok reviews is what you submitted.

Which verification type can you apply for?

Your account type decides which options you see. Hootsuite reported these rules in 2025:

• Business Accounts can only apply for business verification.
• Personal Accounts can apply for personal or institutional verification.
• Government, Politician and Political Party Accounts can only apply for institutional verification.

If the option you expected isn't there, check your account type before assuming something is broken. Switching type just to see a different option has a cost, which the removal section below explains.

How long does TikTok verification review take?

TikTok doesn't state a review time for the blue check on the pages in our research. Hootsuite reports that review can take up to 30 days. Business verification is usually quicker: as of October 2026, TikTok's Business Help Center says it typically takes 1-5 business days.

Is TikTok Business verification the same as the blue check?

No, and this trips up a lot of brands. TikTok's Business Help Center says Business verification is different from the blue check. The blue check is only for high-profile accounts such as celebrities and major brands, while accounts of any type and size can apply for Business verification.

The two can overlap. TikTok's account-type table defines a "Blue-V Verified Business Account" as a Business Account that has received the verified badge after TikTok verification, aimed at official entities, businesses, organizations or public figures. But passing Business verification on its own does not give you the blue check. If you run a small shop, Business verification is the realistic goal.

What gets a TikTok verified badge removed?

The badge is not permanent. TikTok's support guidance has listed several reasons it may remove a verified badge, at any time and without notice. The list below comes from a secondary summary of TikTok's support page from around 2022, so treat it as the best available guidance rather than a current, word-for-word rule:

• Ownership transfer. The account was transferred to another owner.
• Username change. The username changed, and the owner must re-apply.
• Account-type change. The account switched between business, personal and institution.
• Rule violations. The account's content broke TikTok's Terms of Service.

All four fit the logic of the "authentic" criterion. TikTok verified a specific identity under a specific handle and account type. Change any of those and the original check no longer describes the account.

A checklist for keeping your badge

• Keep your username. Rebrand the bio and display content if you must, but treat a handle change as a fresh application.
• Don't flip account types between personal, business and institutional unless you accept re-applying.
• Don't hand the account to someone else. Ownership transfer has been listed as a removal reason, and sharing the login also weakens your security.
• Stay inside the Community Guidelines. Verified accounts are held to the same rules as everyone else.
• Keep security on. Two-step verification and a verified phone and email protect the account and match the "secure" criterion.
• Stay active. Log in and post publicly. Older guidance put inactivity at 6 months without a login, but current wording just says "recently."

Does a verified TikTok account keep its badge after a sale?

Expect it not to. Verification is tied to the identity TikTok checked, and TikTok's support guidance has listed ownership transfer as a reason for removal. If the buyer also changes the username, that alone has meant re-applying.

If you buy a verified TikTok account, price it as if the badge will disappear after the handover. The badge confirmed someone else's identity, not the account's value.

That changes how a buyer should evaluate an account. What transfers reliably is the audience, the content history and the engagement, not the check mark. Judge those on their own merits. Our guide to what drives TikTok account prices breaks down the factors that matter more than a badge.

Before any deal, confirm the badge is real. It should sit next to the account name in search and on the profile, not in the bio or display name. Sellers should describe the badge honestly, including that it may not survive the transfer. Our guide on selling a TikTok account and its transfer risks covers the seller side. Also read TikTok's current Terms of Service on account transfers before you buy or sell, because platform rules change and an account changing hands carries platform risk.

Buying or selling a TikTok account on PlayerSells

If you decide a TikTok account is worth buying for its audience and content, the main risk you can control is the payment. On PlayerSells, the buyer pays PlayerSells, the money is held in escrow, and the seller is paid only after the buyer confirms the account was delivered as described. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it goes live.

Each deal follows a fixed sequence: offer sent, accepted, payment pending, paid, delivered, buyer confirmed, completed. Either side can open a dispute before completion, a human moderator reviews it, and the money stays held while the dispute is open. You can see the full flow on how PlayerSells works, browse TikTok accounts, or visit verified TikTok account listings. Whatever you look at, read the description for how the seller handles the badge after the handover.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pay to get verified on TikTok?

The official TikTok verification guidance in our research describes no paid route to the blue check. The badge is granted after TikTok reviews the account against its criteria, and only TikTok can apply it. Since TikTok says it never DMs or emails people inviting them to apply, treat any paid "verification service" offer as a red flag.

What counts as "notable" for TikTok verification?

Notable generally means you or your organization are recognized beyond TikTok, usually shown through independent media coverage. TikTok's current guidance asks applicants to include coverage that accurately reflects their work if they have it. Several guides say press releases and paid or sponsored media don't count, so earned coverage is the evidence to lead with.

Can a personal TikTok account get the blue check, or only businesses?

Yes, personal accounts can apply for the blue check. Hootsuite reports that Personal Accounts can apply for personal or institutional verification, while Business Accounts can only apply for business verification. Either way, the account still has to meet the notable, authentic, complete, secure and active criteria.

Why can't I see the Verification option in my TikTok settings?

The option may not appear for every user or region yet, and older reports describe a gradual rollout. Your account type also changes which verification options you see. Hootsuite and Android Police have mentioned a desktop or web request form as a fallback when the in-app option is missing.

Do you lose TikTok verification if you change your username?

Usually, yes. TikTok's support guidance has listed a username change as a reason for losing the badge, with the owner needing to re-apply. If you need to rebrand, plan for a new application rather than assuming the badge carries over.

Can you reapply if TikTok denies your verification request?

Yes. Hootsuite reports that a denied applicant can re-apply 30 days after receiving feedback. Use that time to close the gaps: complete the profile, tighten security, and gather independent coverage.

Can one person have more than one verified TikTok account?

Generally no. An older secondary summary of TikTok's criteria says each person or business gets only one verification, with an exception for language-specific accounts. Check the current in-app guidance if you run separate accounts for different languages.

Bottom line

If you want the blue check, build the case before you tap Verification: a complete public profile, a verified phone and email, two-step verification, recent activity, and independent press that shows you're notable. Don't chase a follower number, and if you're a small business, aim for Business verification instead.

If you're buying a verified account, assume the badge goes away when ownership changes, and pay for the audience rather than the check mark. Our analysis of what verification is actually worth when you buy an account helps you price that correctly.