Short answer
On X you get a checkmark by subscribing: individuals get blue through X Premium after an eligibility review, businesses get gold through X Premium Business, and government and multilateral accounts get gray.
Key takeaways
- The free 'notable account' verification ended in April 2023.
- Eligibility checks look at account age, activity, a confirmed phone number and a profile that isn't misleading.
- Optional government ID verification adds a label you can show on your profile.
Before 2023, a blue check on Twitter meant the company had decided you were notable. That system is gone. On X in 2026, verification is a subscription with an eligibility review, and the color of the check tells you what kind of account it is.
What do the checkmark colors mean?
Blue for individuals with X Premium, gold for businesses and organizations with X Premium Business, gray for government and multilateral accounts.
| Check | Who has it | How they get it |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Individuals, creators, small brands | X Premium or Premium+ subscription, after review |
| Gold | Businesses, nonprofits, media, brands | X Premium Business subscription (formerly Verified Organizations) |
| Gray | Governments, officials, multilateral bodies | X's government program (Premium Organizations) |
| Small square logo next to a check | Staff or sub-accounts of a gold or gray organization | Added as an affiliate by the organization |
How do I get the blue checkmark?
Subscribe to X Premium or Premium+ and wait for the account review.
Our subscription guide walks through the sign-up. The review checks that the account has a profile photo and display name, a confirmed phone number, recent activity, a reasonable age, and no signs of impersonation or deception. Basic, the cheapest tier, doesn't include a checkmark.
How does ID verification work?
Premium subscribers can verify their identity with a government ID through X's verification partner and show a "verified ID" label.
It's optional. You photograph your ID and take a selfie in the app; a third-party provider checks it. It can help with appeals and some features, and it signals to others that the name on the account matches a real ID. Read X's privacy notice before you upload an ID; the data is handled by the partner under its retention rules.
How do businesses get the gold check?
Through X Premium Business, a monthly subscription for organizations that includes the gold check, a square profile photo and the option to add affiliates.
X restructured its organization subscriptions in 2025: businesses buy Premium Business (with a cheaper Basic tier and a Full Access tier that includes affiliates), while governments and multilateral bodies use Premium Organizations with the gray check. Details are in our gold checkmark guide.
Does a checkmark help my reach?
Somewhat: X prioritizes replies from subscribers and its ranking favors engagement from verified users.
It won't fix a weak post. But in a busy reply section, a Premium reply is shown higher, and X's creator payouts count impressions from verified users. If reach matters for your work, the checkmark is part of the toolkit, not the whole thing. See how the X algorithm works.
Questions people ask
Can I still get verified for free on X?
Generally no. X ended legacy verification in April 2023. X has given complimentary checkmarks to some very large accounts and to staff of subscribing organizations (affiliates), but there's no application for free verification.
Does verification stop impersonation?
Not by itself. A checkmark shows a paying, reviewed account. Report impersonators through X's impersonation form; it works whether you're verified or not.
Why did my checkmark disappear?
Usually because you changed your display name, username or profile photo, which triggers a new review, or because your subscription lapsed.