Content Writer at SocialBee
Want to stand out on LinkedIn and show people you’re the real deal? If you’re all about boosting your credibility, making your profile look more professional, and creating meaningful interactions with your network, getting the verified checkmark is the way to go.
In this article, we’ll break down how to get verified on LinkedIn and share simple tips to help you build credibility, so your profile makes a strong first impression every time someone checks it out.
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Short Summary
- LinkedIn verification helps you prove you’re the real person behind an account or an official representative of a company. Once you’re verified, LinkedIn will add a badge to your profile, making it easier for others to trust that they’re connecting with the right person.
- The identity verification process is how LinkedIn confirms you’re who you say you are. In most cases, you only need to upload a photo of your ID and take a quick selfie.
- Workplace verification proves you work for the company listed on your profile. You can verify this with your work email, Microsoft Entra Verified ID, LinkedIn Learning access, or a LinkedIn Recruiter license.
- Educational institution verification was used to confirm you’re connected to a school through a LinkedIn Learning license. Right now, new verifications are paused, but if you’ve already been verified, it’ll stay on your profile.
- Getting a LinkedIn verification badge is optional and free, but it helps build trust and boosts your profile’s credibility. Once verified, you’ll get a badge showing your identity, job, or school is confirmed. Your data stays private, and you can remove the badge anytime.
- Verification can also show up in other LinkedIn features, like job posts, to help build trust with others. However, you might need to re-verify if you change your name or if your company updates its settings.
- To verify your LinkedIn account, update your profile, go to your settings, and scan the QR code to launch the rest of the verification process on your phone. Once you agree to the terms, LinkedIn will prompt you to select your country, upload your ID, and take a quick selfie to finish.
What is LinkedIn verification?
LinkedIn verification helps you prove you’re the real person behind an account or an official representative of a company. Once you’re verified, LinkedIn will add a badge to your profile, making it easier for others to trust that they’re connecting with the right person.
There are three types of LinkedIn verification:
- Identity verification
- Workplace identification
- Educational institution verification with a LinkedIn Learning License (paused)
NOTE: All badges look the same. However, if you click on the checkmark next to a person’s name, you can see exactly which type of verification they have.
A. Identity verification
Identity verification is LinkedIn’s way of confirming that you’re who you say you are. They check your government-issued ID through trusted third-party services, depending on where you live.
All you need to do is upload a photo of your ID and, in some cases, take a quick selfie. LinkedIn doesn’t keep any of your biometric data, so your private information stays safe with the verification partner.
B. Workplace verification
The workplace verification badge shows that you work for the company listed on your profile. You can get it by adding your work email, and LinkedIn will send you a code to verify it.
Alternatively, if your company uses Microsoft Entra Verified ID, you can verify through that system. You can also verify your job if your company gives you access to LinkedIn Learning or if you have a LinkedIn Recruiter license.
NOTE: Not all companies can use these options yet, but LinkedIn is working on adding more.
C. Educational institution verification with a LinkedIn Learning License
Previously, if you were affiliated with an educational institution, you could verify your connection through an institutional LinkedIn Learning license from your school.
NOTE: The LinkedIn app has temporarily paused new educational institution verifications, so if you haven’t verified yet, you need to wait until it’s available again. However, if you were previously verified, your status will remain the same.
Why get verified on LinkedIn?
- There’s no cost to verify your identity, workplace, or education.
- Once verified, it’ll show up on your profile, but you can remove it anytime in your settings.
- A verified LinkedIn helps your account security, so you can keep your connections even if you’re temporarily locked out of your account.
- Verified members may be more likely to gain the trust of other LinkedIn users.
PRO TIP:
If you’re a business or entrepreneur and want to earn the trust of your audience, verification is not enough. You need to build an active presence on LinkedIn by sharing valuable content that your network will appreciate.
The easiest way to do this is by using SocialBee, a versatile social media management tool that lets you plan, organize, and schedule your LinkedIn posts in advance, along with content for other platforms.
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Plus, SocialBee’s Copilot uses AI to identify optimal posting times, suggest engaging content topics, and even generate posts and descriptions automatically.
NOTE: When you get verified, people will see a badge on your profile showing that your identity, job, or school has been confirmed. Personal information like your ID details or work email won’t be visible. The only thing that may appear is general info, like the country where your ID was issued.
Here are a few things to keep in mind about LinkedIn verification:
- The blue verification badge placement might change as LinkedIn updates its features.
- You might lose your verification if your company page updates its email settings or if you don’t renew it as needed.
- If you change your name, you’ll probably need to re-verify to keep the badge visible.
- Verification might appear in other LinkedIn features. For example, if you post jobs on LinkedIn, your verification could show up there to help build trust with job seekers.
What you need to verify your LinkedIn profile:
- A valid passport (most current passports have NFC)
- An NFC-enabled smartphone (if you use Apple Pay or Google Pay, your phone already has NFC)
- The LinkedIn app installed on your phone
LinkedIn’s verification process is available for the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Laos
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Cyprus
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Venezuela
How to verify your LinkedIn account:
- Complete your profile with accurate information
- Go to your account settings
- Agree to the terms & conditions
- Select your country
- Scan your ID and confirm your details
- Take a selfie and submit
1. Complete your profile with accurate information
Before you start the verification process, check that your name is identical to the one in your government ID. If you’re using a nickname, like “Luke” instead of “Lucas,” update it to avoid any issues.
Remove any emojis, extra punctuation, or titles from your name. Things like “MBA” or other qualifications look nice, but since they’re not part of your actual name, they could cause issues during verification.
Next, while a profile and a cover photo aren’t mandatory, having clear, professional pictures makes your profile look more legitimate and encourages more people to connect with you.
Finally, review your current job title, work history, and location to ensure they’re up-to-date. Your location should match the country where your ID was issued since LinkedIn uses this to confirm your identity.
2. Go to your account settings
Once your profile is updated, click on the “Me” icon in the top right corner of the LinkedIn homepage. In the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy.”
Next, scroll down and look for the “Verification” tab. Depending on where you are, it might be under “Account Preferences” or a similar section.
When you find it, click “Get verified” to begin.
LinkedIn will have you scan a QR code with your phone, prompting you to finish the process on the LinkedIn mobile app.
3. Agree to the terms & conditions
The next step is to agree to the terms and conditions, which enables LinkedIn to work with a trusted verification service like CLEAR, Persona, or DigiLocker. These companies handle the verification securely, so LinkedIn doesn’t store your personal data like your selfie or ID scan.
It’s also smart to quickly review the terms before clicking “Agree.”
4. Select your country
LinkedIn will ask you to select your country of residence. This will determine which verification method you’ll use.
LinkedIn partners with different services depending on where you are:
- If you’re in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, you’ll verify through CLEAR, a secure identity verification service. You’ll need an ID issued by your government and a personal phone number from one of these countries. If you don’t have a CLEAR account, LinkedIn will create one for free during the process.
- If you’re in India, LinkedIn uses DigiLocker, a government-approved platform for storing digital documents securely.
- If you’re in other countries, verification happens through Persona, which requires an NFC-enabled passport. This requires a passport that can be scanned digitally.
NOTE: Make sure your LinkedIn profile location matches your actual country. If there’s a mismatch, your request could get denied.
5. Scan your ID and confirm your details
Next, upload a photo or scan of your passport, resident permit, or national ID card, depending on your preference and each platform’s requirements.
Take a clear photo in good lighting without any glare or blurriness. Keep the whole ID visible, especially your name, photo, and expiration date. Check that your document is still valid because expired ones probably won’t work.
6. Take a selfie and submit
The last step is to take a quick selfie to confirm your identity. This helps LinkedIn check that you’re the same person as in your ID and prevents fake profiles. Find a well-lit spot so your face is clear. Hold your phone steady, look straight at the camera, and follow any instructions on the screen.
You may need to turn your head or blink just to prove it’s a live photo. Also, take off hats, glasses, or anything that covers your face (unless you need them for medical reasons).
After you submit your selfie, the system will compare it to your ID photo. It usually takes a few minutes, but sometimes it might take a little longer.
Frequently asked questions
Get Verified on LinkedIn!
Getting verified on LinkedIn is a quick way to build trust and make your profile stand out. That verified badge shows people your identity, job, or education is legit, helping you look more credible to potential employers, clients, and connections.
Now that your account is verified, it’s time to take the next step: building a strong presence on the platform. Establish yourself as a reliable source of information by sharing valuable content and engaging with your network.
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