A TikTok verification badge helps people identify authentic accounts. It is not a reward for follower count or views.
Direct answer: TikTok grants the badge to accounts that meet five criteria it publishes itself: the account must be active, authentic, complete, notable and secure. TikTok publishes no follower, like or view count that earns the badge, and it states plainly that verification is completely free and that anyone offering to sell it is not TikTok. You apply inside the app: Profile, then the menu, then Settings and privacy, then Account, then Verification.
If you are building a long-term public presence, verification is usually a result of that work rather than a tool for it. This page sits inside the wider path of how to grow on TikTok, and identity work belongs in the personal branding guide.
How to apply for verification on TikTok
TikTok publishes the path on its own verification request page and in its Creator Academy. It is an in-app flow, not a web form:
- Open the TikTok app and go to Profile.
- Tap the menu icon at the top.
- Choose Settings and privacy.
- Open Account.
- Tap Verification and follow the steps shown.
TikTok recommends including links to independent media coverage that accurately reflects your work or organization with the application.
What TikTok publishes as criteria
Official fact. The list below is taken from TikTok's Creator Academy article "TikTok Verification: How to Get a Blue Check", published 27 July 2026 and read on 17 August 2026. Before the list, TikTok states that follower count and likes alone do not determine eligibility, "it's not a popularity contest":
- Active. The account should be in active use, with a recent login and at least one public post.
- Authentic. The account should represent a real person, business or organization. The account name, profile information, content and submitted materials should all match the identity being verified.
- Complete. The account should be public and include a profile photo, an account name, a bio and at least one public post, and should clearly show who or what it represents.
- Notable. TikTok may review independent media coverage and other reliable public information. It also publishes what counts: coverage from an independent, recognized outlet, focused mainly on the applicant, carrying a publication date, available for review, and not sponsored, paid or promotional, and not a press release, personal blog or social media post. Submit direct links to the original articles; search results, screenshots, media homepages and repeated copies of the same article may not be accepted.
- Secure. The account should have a verified phone number and email address, with two-step verification turned on.
A note on wording: following the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service is not a sixth criterion. TikTok frames it as a rule that applies to everyone, verified or not, and as a reason a badge can later be removed.
"Complete" is the criterion you can fully close today: name, photo, bio and a public post. That work is covered in the TikTok profile optimization guide.
Is there a minimum follower requirement?
No.
TikTok answers this directly in its own FAQ: follower count alone does not determine eligibility. Ignore any list claiming a fixed threshold such as 100,000 or one million followers.
The three verification types
TikTok offers three application types, and it warns that selecting the wrong one may delay the review or require a new application:
- Personal verification for creators, public figures, artists, athletes, journalists and other notable individuals.
- Business verification for companies, brands, media organizations, entertainment properties and sports teams.
- Institution verification for government bodies, schools, universities, charities and NGOs.
Which type fits depends on the account type itself. The difference, and what switching type does to a badge, is in TikTok business vs personal account.
Getting the account ready
- Complete the profile: photo, name, bio and a public post.
- Use a consistent identity across platforms and match your submitted materials to the account name.
- Publish original content consistently.
- Turn on two-step verification and verify your email and phone number. This is a published criterion, not an optional extra.
- Collect direct links to independent media coverage that meets TikTok's rules above.
Reasons verification is delayed or denied
| Reason | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Incomplete profile | Add the name, photo and bio, and publish at least one public post. |
| Inconsistent identity | Use the same public identity wherever practical and match submitted materials to the account name. |
| Account is not secure | Verify email and phone, and turn on two-step verification. |
| Policy violations | Review notices and account status, and maintain compliance. |
| Unacceptable notability evidence | Replace press releases and sponsored content with direct links to dated, independent articles. |
| Wrong verification type selected | Choose the type that matches what the account actually represents. |
Can you buy a verification badge?
No, and TikTok's own wording is unambiguous: verification is completely free, and anyone claiming they can sell you a TikTok verification is not with TikTok. TikTok adds that it will never DM or email you asking you to apply for a badge, so a message like that is not from them.
Only TikTok applies verified badges, and they always appear next to the username. A "verified" claim written into a bio or anywhere else on a profile is not verification.
That deserves saying plainly from a site that sells services: we do not sell verification, and nobody can. The follower services listed on buy TikTok followers serve a different goal entirely. They are not a route to a blue check and they do not count toward any eligibility criterion.
If your request is refused
TikTok's answer is yes, you can apply again once you are eligible to reapply, and it advises making sure your account information and supporting materials are accurate, complete and up to date before you do.
In practice: do not resubmit an unchanged request. Fix what is fixable (completeness, security, consistency, the quality of your links) and then try again.
When a badge is removed
TikTok publishes the reasons, which matter most to accounts that already have the badge:
- The account changes hands, in which case the new owner needs their own verification.
- The username changes, which requires a new application.
- The account type changes, business to personal or the reverse, which requires a new application.
- Repeated or serious violations of the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
TikTok also states there is currently no way to remove a verification badge by request.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?
There is no number. TikTok states that follower count alone does not determine eligibility, and publishes no minimum.
Does TikTok verification cost anything?
No. TikTok states that verification is completely free and warns against anyone claiming to sell it.
Where is the verification request in the app?
Profile, then the menu, then Settings and privacy, then Account, then Verification.
Does a verified badge increase reach?
TikTok documents no effect of the badge on distribution. The published recommendation factors are user interactions, video information, and device and account settings. The badge is not among them.
What happens to my badge if I change my username?
TikTok states that changing your username means the badge is removed and you will need to reapply.
Can I remove my own verified badge?
Not by request. TikTok states there is currently no way to remove a verification badge on request.
Bottom line
- Bottom line: there is no shortcut and no follower number. The badge is free, cannot be bought, and is granted against five published criteria: active, authentic, complete, notable, secure.
- Your next step: audit your profile against "Complete", turn on two-step verification for "Secure", and gather independent coverage links before you open the application screen.
The rest of our platform guides are collected in the TikTok Resource Hub.