Can a Normal Person Get Verified on Twitter? Your Guide to Getting That Little Blue Check

Co-authored by Ben Whitehair and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: August 2, 2021

So you want to be verified on Twitter, but you're not exactly a celebrity. Know that it can be done! You just need to hit a few important qualifications to be considered. Whether you're just curious or you're dying to get that blue checkmark, this article has the answers to all of your most pressing questions.

Question 1 of 6:

What qualifies a person to get verified?

You have to be a known figure or work for a reputable brand, organization, or news outlet. There are 6 categories that fit within this. Request verification if you:^{[1]
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- Work for the government as an official, ambassador, or spokesperson.
- Represent a recognizable brand, company, or organization.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ben Whitehair
  Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 20 April 2021.}
- Work for a news organization or are a freelance journalist.
- Are an entertainer or work in the entertainment industry.
- Work in the gaming or sports industry.
- Are an activist, organizer, or influencer.

Question 2 of 6:

Do I have to be famous to get verified?

Not necessarily, but Twitter does have some additional requirements. Request verification if you are an active Twitter user, meaning you post consistently and have been doing so for at least the past 6 months. Make sure that you can prove that you are the person that runs your account, as another requirement is authenticity. This requires submitting a verified photo I.D. or email address. You'll also need to prove that you're notable.^{[3]
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- Being notable either means that you fall under the 6 categories that make you eligible or you have a large following and have been covered in the news.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ben Whitehair
  Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 20 April 2021.}

Question 3 of 6:

What documentation do I need to submit?

1
An official website. Submit a link to your personal website. If you don't have one, provide a link to the website of the news organization or company that you work for. Make sure that there is a reference to you as an official employee or representative of the company.^{[5]
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2
A valid I.D. Provide a photo of a government-issued I.D. This can include a driver's license or a passport. Submit photos of the front and back of the I.D. to prove its authenticity.^{[6]
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3
An official email address. Do this if you would rather not submit your I.D. or personal website. Provide an email address that's title connects to your criteria category somehow. For example, if you're a journalist for a specific news organization, provide your work email over your personal email address.^{[7]
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Question 4 of 6:

How do you apply?

1
First, log into your account. Click "Settings and privacy" and find the "Account Information" tab. Reenter your password to access the page and scroll down to the "Verified" tab. Click "Request verification." When a pop-up appears starting the process, read the instructions and click "Next."^{[8]
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2
Submit your website, email address, or I.D. Twitter offers you the choice to submit 1 of the 3 options to confirm your identity. Choose which one you would like to submit. Either provide a link to your website, a photo of the front and back of your I.D., or your email address.^{[9]
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- Freelance journalists will be prompted to submit 3 additional bylines to prove their authenticity.
3
Wait 1-4 weeks to find out if you've been verified. The duration of time depends on how many requests Twitter has received in your category. Check your email for an update on your status. You will receive one either letting you know you've been verified or that you've been rejected.^{[10]
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- If you were rejected but believe you should be a verified Twitter user, you can reapply.
- Wait 30 days and then submit another request. Follow all of the criteria requirements and check your submission for any mistakes that may have disqualified you the first time.^{[11]
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Question 5 of 6:

How many followers do you need to get verified?

You don't need a set number, but having more followers boosts your chances. Though Twitter hasn't released a specific number, you'll have a bigger chance of being verified if you are in the top 0.05% in terms of follower count in your region. This is especially true if you're an influencer, activist, organizer, or you represent a brand.^{[12]
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Research source} Boost your follower count by doing some of the following:^{[13]
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- Make a professional bio that includes your name, work affiliation, and contact information.
- Use popular hashtags to reach more people.
- Set your account to public so people can retweet you.
- Retweet and share other people's work.
- Tweet every day and be an active user.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ben Whitehair
  Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 20 April 2021.}

Question 6 of 6:

What disqualifies you from getting verified?

1
You've been suspended from Twitter in the last 6 months. Twitter suspends users for posting harmful or hateful content and breaking its spam or platform manipulation policy (sending bulk, repetitive messages meant to mislead or harass other users). If your account has been suspended in the past 6 months, hold off on applying.^{[15]
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2
You run a parody or fan account. This includes accounts dedicated to specific celebrities or public figures as well as accounts based upon fictional characters. In order to be verified, you have to run an account that authentically represents yourself.^{[16]
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