Guide
What should I do if my Google Business Profile verification postcard has not arrived?
Check whether Google still offers Postcard under Get verified, then keep the business name, address, and category unchanged while you wait. Do not request another code while the first one is in the mail. Google says most verification codes arrive within 14 days, and verification codes expire after 30 days.1
By Sergey Sulimko, Founder · · 3 Google help pages, read Oct 13, 2026
What should I check before I wait for the postcard?
Use postcard verification only when Google offers it for the profile, and confirm the mailing address before requesting the code.
Postcard verification is not available for every business. Google automatically decides which verification methods a profile can use, based on factors such as the business type, public information, region, and business hours. Google may require more than one method, and a business cannot change the methods Google offers.1
| What you see on the profile | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard appears under Get verified | Google has made mail verification available for this profile | Confirm the business mailing address, then request the code. |
| Postcard does not appear | Google has not offered postcard verification for this profile | Use one of the verification options Google displays. |
| Get verified appears again after a verification attempt | Google could not completely verify the business | Try to verify again, use another displayed method if one is available, or use Google's support path if you still cannot verify. |
How do I request a Google Business Profile verification postcard?
Open the correct Business Profile, select Get verified → Postcard, confirm the mailing address, and request the code.
Follow Google's menu path:
- Go to your Business Profile.
- Select Get verified, then Postcard.
- Make sure the business mailing address is correct.
- Request the code.
Stop at the first step if Google does not show Postcard. The available verification options are determined for that profile, so do not treat mail verification as a universal requirement.1
What should I do while the postcard is in the mail?
Leave the business name, address, and category unchanged, and do not request another code while you wait.
Google says changing the business name, address, or category makes the code already sent unusable. Google also says that requesting a new code invalidates the code in the mail and sends a new one, which can make the process longer.1
Use these timing rules to choose the next step:
| Timing or status | What it tells you | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 14 days since the request | Most codes arrive within Google's stated 14-day window | Keep the profile details unchanged and wait. |
| More than 14 days since the request | The postcard is outside Google's typical arrival window, but 14 days is not a guarantee that every code has arrived | Check the verification options Google currently displays. Use another displayed option if available, or use Google's support path if you remain unable to verify. |
| 30 days have passed and the code has not been used | Google says verification codes expire after 30 days | Use the verification options currently displayed for the profile. If you still cannot verify, use Google's support path. |
The 14-day guidance is an arrival window, while the 30-day rule is the code's validity period. Do not treat either number as a promise that the profile will be verified on a particular date.1
Can I edit an unverified Google Business Profile while I wait?
Verify the Business Profile before editing its business information, because edits made before verification may not appear.
Google says you need to verify a Business Profile before editing its business information.1 In its Business Profile Manager status guidance, Google adds that some edits made before a profile is verified may not appear.2
If an existing profile is unverified, use the Google Business Profile access and claim path to open Google Maps, find the business, select Claim this business → Manage now, and choose a verification option. If the profile is already verified by someone else, use an ownership request instead of an unverified claim.3
What should I do when the postcard arrives?
Enter the five-digit code in the profile's Code field, select Submit, and keep the code private.
When the postcard arrives, open the Business Profile, enter the 5-digit verification code in the Code field, and select Submit. Google says it will never ask for the verification code. Do not share it with anyone, including people who manage the Business Profile.1
After the verification steps are complete, Google says its review can take up to 5 business days, although rare reviews may take longer. Google lists website verification with Search Console and bulk verification as cases where instant verification can happen.1
What if the code has expired or Google shows Get verified again?
A verification code expires after 30 days. If Google shows Get verified again, re-verify with the options it displays, and use Google's support path if no available method succeeds.
Google says that a repeated Get verified button means it could not completely verify the business. Try to verify again. If the profile shows multiple verification options, try another one that Google makes available; if verification still fails, use Google's support path.1
For the general verification methods and review steps, see verifying your Google Business Profile.
Common questions
- No. Google says a new request invalidates the code already in the mail and sends a new one, which can make the process longer.
- No. Keep the code private and enter it in the Business Profile's Code field yourself. Google says it will never ask for the code and says not to share it, even with people who manage the Business Profile.
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Where your profile stands now
Visibility Score 0-100 · 20 scored factors · free · no signup
- Profile Completeness
- 11 checks · 40% of score
- Performance
- 4 checks · 35% of score
- Competitive Position
- 5 metrics · 25% of score