Instagram asked for your ID: what’s accepted and how to submit it safely

What to do first

Make sure the request appears inside the Instagram app or on instagram.com when you log in or follow an official recovery link. If it arrived by DM, text or an email you can’t match to the app’s list of recent emails, don’t upload anything.

Step 1: Read why you’re being asked

Instagram may ask for ID to confirm your identity after a lock, to check your age, or as part of an appeal. The screen tells you which. The reason matters because it tells you whether a video selfie, a photo ID or both are expected.

Step 2: Pick an accepted document

Instagram’s help page lists the accepted types. In general you can send one government-issued photo ID, or if you don’t have one, two non-government documents. At least one should show your photo and age or date of birth, and the name should match the account. Check the live list on the help page, because acceptable documents vary by country.

Step 3: Take a clear photo

• Use good light and a plain surface.
• Keep all four corners of the document in frame.
• Avoid glare and shadows over text and the photo.
• Don’t edit or crop the image beyond what the screen asks for.

Step 4: Submit once and wait

Upload through the official screen, then wait for Instagram’s response by email and in the app. Meta doesn’t publish a timeline. Instagram says it stores IDs securely, keeps them private from other users, and deletes the copy within a set period after the check. Read the current wording on the help page so you know what applies in your region.

If the name on your ID doesn’t match the account

This is common: a stage name, a business name or a married name. Instagram’s help page asks for documents where the name matches the account, but you can send documents that show the name you use. Two non-government documents, such as a bank statement and a utility bill, can together show the name and your photo or date of birth. Choose ones that are current and clearly readable, and follow the on-screen wording about what is acceptable in your country.

If the account name is a brand and the ID is your personal name, explain the link in any free-text box the form provides. Keep it factual and short.

What not to do

• Don’t send your ID to a person who says they work for Instagram, in DMs or by email.
• Don’t use someone else’s ID or a fabricated one. It’s against the rules and can end the appeal.
• Don’t resubmit many times if the first upload is still processing.

If the upload fails or is rejected

Try again once with a clearer photo, on the same device, with the latest app. If the account name differs from your ID, explain this in any text box on the form. Keep in mind that a rejection can often be followed by a new submission if the screen offers one.