In which two countries did Meta Verified first launch for Instagram in February 2023?

Meta Verified first launched for Instagram in Australia and New Zealand in February 2023. Meta announced the subscription on February 19, 2023, describing an initial test in those two countries before a wider rollout.

The service added identity checks, a blue verified badge, impersonation protection, and access to customer support. Subscribers could purchase Meta Verified through Instagram or Facebook, although pricing and eligibility varied by platform and country.

This launch was separate from Instagram’s older verification system, which awarded badges to notable public figures, brands, and organizations without requiring a paid subscription. The 2023 product was instead designed as a paid identity-and-support package for eligible creators and users.

A common mix-up is to name the United States or Canada, where Meta Verified later expanded. They were not the countries in the original February test; Australia and New Zealand were the first launch markets.