Business Verification vs Identity Verification on Meta
Business verification confirms your organization is legitimate; identity verification confirms an individual person is who they claim to be.
Is this your situation?
You see a request to verify and cannot tell whether Meta wants proof about your business or proof about you personally. You want to know which process applies before you submit documents.
What it is
Business verification in Meta Business Suite helps confirm that a business portfolio belongs to a legitimate business or organization. A business portfolio is a collection of Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts, Threads accounts, ad accounts, catalogs and other business assets. Verifying a business in Meta Business Suite is different from Meta Verified for businesses and does not give a verified badge. Proof of identity requires a digital image of a valid, government-issued ID with photo for all beneficial owners. A passport is the preferred form of proof of identity for beneficial owners.
How Facebook handles this
- Not all businesses need to or have the option to complete business verification.
- Business verification can alternatively be completed by verifying the business portfolio's domain.
- To verify a business, it must be able to receive a verification code sent to its phone number or email address.
- The proof of identity image must include the front and back of the government-issued ID.
- A government military ID, state issued ID, or driver's license is also accepted as proof of identity.
Side by side
| Aspect | Business verification | Identity verification |
|---|---|---|
| What it confirms | That a business portfolio belongs to a legitimate business or organization. | Identity of beneficial owners using a government-issued ID with photo. |
| Method | Phone, email or domain confirmation. | Digital image of a government-issued ID, front and back. |
| Preferred document | Not stated by Facebook | A passport is preferred. |
| Badge result | Does not give a verified badge. | Not stated by Facebook |
Common mistakes
- Assuming verification always applies Not all businesses need to or have the option to complete business verification.Why it happens: You expect the request because other businesses mentioned it.Already happened: If asked to verify, review what business verification unlocks.
- Submitting the wrong document type The proof of identity image must include the front and back of the government-issued ID.Why it happens: You photograph only the side showing your photo.
- Expecting a badge after business verification Verifying a business is different from Meta Verified and does not give a verified badge.Why it happens: You see the word verification and expect a badge.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does business verification confirm? | That a business portfolio belongs to a legitimate business or organization. |
| What does identity verification require? | A digital image of a government-issued photo ID for beneficial owners. |
| Does business verification need documents? | It can be completed by verifying the business portfolio's domain instead. |
| What contact method confirms a business? | A verification code sent to the business's phone number or email. |
| What ID is preferred for identity verification? | A passport is the preferred form of proof of identity. |
| Are both sides of an ID needed? | Yes, the image must include front and back of the ID. |
| Does business verification give a badge? | No, it does not give a verified badge. |
Frequently asked questions
Is business verification the same as getting a verified badge?
No, verifying a business is different from Meta Verified and does not give a verified badge.
Can I verify my business without submitting documents?
Business verification can alternatively be completed by verifying the business portfolio's domain.
What ID works best for identity verification?
A passport is the preferred form of proof of identity for beneficial owners.
Does every business portfolio need to complete business verification?
Not all businesses need to or have the option to complete business verification.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion between these two verification paths builds when documents and requests are not kept in one place for reference. Delvia helps you keep a record of what each account has been asked to verify and when.
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