A complete application file for Meta's appeal and verification process.

How is a Meta appeal made, and what is requested in verification?

Meta appeal and verification consulting is a service that helps you prepare your application through the right channel, with consistent documents and a clear statement, when you are appealing a decision on your Instagram or Facebook account or when Meta wants to verify your identity. You submit the application and Meta makes the decision; we focus on the file being complete.

The difference between an appeal, a review and verification

These three concepts are often confused, yet each requires different preparation:

• Appeal: You notify Meta that you disagree with a decision it made. A short statement that responds directly to the reason is important.
• Review request: You ask for a restriction to be reassessed. Information showing that the account or content complies with the rules is generally expected.
• Identity verification: Meta wants to see that the account really belongs to you. Here document quality and consistency of the information are decisive.

To understand which process a notice relates to, you need to look at the options presented in the text. The options to appeal a decision, request a review or verify identity lead to different screens, and each expects different information. More than one process can be open on the same account at the same time; in that case you need to determine which should be completed first. For example, an appeal made before identity verification is completed may not be taken into review; for business accounts, a review concerning the linked ad account may run separately from the decision about the account itself. Setting this order correctly from the start prevents unnecessary waiting times and ensures each application is sent with information suited to its own purpose.

Which documents may be requested in verification?

For personal accounts, an official document such as an ID card, a driver's license or a passport is mostly requested. In some cases a short video selfie showing your face from different angles is requested. For business accounts, a tax certificate showing the business's name and address, a certificate of activity, an invoice or official registration documents may come up. Which document is accepted can vary by account and region; sending a document other than the option requested on screen does not speed up the process.

The most common problem in preparing documents is inconsistency. If the name, date of birth or business title on the account does not match the document, there should be a reasonable explanation: a change of surname after marriage, a brand name that differs from the official title, or an account opened under a nickname. Stating this explanation briefly in the appeal text makes the work of the person reviewing the document easier.

What makes a good appeal text?

Meta's review teams and systems assess a large number of applications. Short, fact-based texts are easier to understand than long, emotional ones. An effective statement includes:

1. Who the account belongs to and what it is used for.
2. A direct, calm response to the reason in the notice.
3. If there is one, a brief explanation of an unusual circumstance; for example, the account having been in someone else's hands for a while.
4. A clear statement of compliance with the rules.
5. If needed, brief information on how the account was used in the past; for example, that it was opened to promote a business's products.

Threats, accusations or phrases like "I know someone" do not help the application. It is also important to write the text in the language the account is used in and in plain sentences; sentences produced by translation tools whose meaning has shifted can be misunderstood. We prepare the text together with you and submit the final version for your approval before sending.

What to watch for when uploading a video selfie and documents

• All four corners of the document should be visible, with no reflections or shadows.
• If the name on the document differs from the name on the account, the reason should be stated in the statement.
• For the video selfie, a bright, plain setting should be chosen; no hat, glasses or filters should be used.
• The same document should not be sent with different photos in different applications.

The result of a video selfie may take time to arrive. During this time, instead of starting the same verification again and again, wait for the email from Meta and check the spam folder as well as the inbox.

What happens if the application is rejected?

A rejection does not always mean the process is over; but sometimes it does. If the reply shows a right to a new application or a different review option, we plan the second step by fixing the gaps in the first application. If a permanent decision is notified, we say so plainly and remind you that trying to get around the rules by opening a new account may lead to bigger restrictions.

When assessing a rejection, it is necessary to look honestly at what was missing from the first application. Was the document illegible, did the statement fail to respond to the reason, or was there truly content on the account that broke the rules? In the last case, removing the content and stating this in the statement makes more sense than sending the same appeal again. In some cases the best advice is to wait; a hastily sent second application may overshadow the review of the first.

Working online and on site

Text and document preparation runs online; we send you the drafts and finalize them with your approval. For steps such as the video selfie or uploading documents, if you are in Sakarya and the surrounding area you can get on-site support: we stand with you at your device, check the lighting and framing and watch you make the submission. The document and the account always stay on your device. For draft preparation, images of the notices and the type of documents you will send are enough; you do not need to share the document itself with us, and we can do the check together on screen.