Google Business Profile verification time depends entirely on which method Google offers you. Postcard verification, the most common method, takes 5–7 business days for the card to arrive at your business address, though we've seen delays of 10–14 days in rural Ontario and Quebec. Once you receive the card, you enter the code immediately and you're live. Phone and email verification, when available, are much faster. Phone verification gives you a code within minutes during the call. Email verification typically delivers within 1–3 business days. The catch is Google decides which methods you're eligible for based on business category, location data consistency, and account history. You don't get to choose. Video verification rolled out in 2022 for eligible businesses and is instant if you pass. You record a walkthrough of your business showing signage, your workspace, and proof you operate from that address. Google reviews it within 24–48 hours in most cases, sometimes instantly. Not every business qualifies, particularly home-based or service-area businesses without physical storefronts. Bulk verification for agencies managing 10+ locations can take 3–5 business days after submitting documentation, but you need to qualify for Google's bulk verification program first. The verification clock starts when you request it, not when you create the profile. If your postcard doesn't arrive within 14 days, you can request a new one, but that resets the 5–7 day window. We tell Ottawa clients to request verification immediately after creating their profile, even if they're still working on photos and posts, because you can't appear in Maps or local pack results until verified. Watch out for address issues that delay verification. If your business uses a suite number, mailbox, or virtual office, postcards may get returned or lost. Make sure your address exactly matches your Canada Post records and any signage. At Ottawa SEO, we verify the address format with the business owner before submitting to avoid the two-week reset when a postcard goes missing.