I’ve Been On Instacart Waitlist For Months – Read Best Solution
I’ve been on Instacart waitlist for months, many Instacart applicants have been saying this same thing for a while now. Ordinarily, one does not have to stay for a long time on the waitlist before getting employed either as a shopper or driver at Instacart.
Unfortunately, many people do not understand how the Instacart waitlist works and why it was created, you will be able to know why you are on the waitlist for months if only you have a full understanding of the Instacart waitlist.
Dubbed as the top grocery app on the internet, Instacart constantly employs people to work both as their full employees or independent workers. The increasing number of applicants who are interested in having side gigs that generate them good money made Instacart to introduce the waitlist.
The Instacart waitlist is mainly introduced in regions where the number of applicants tends to overwhelm the number of orders by customers, the Instacart waitlist is not used in areas where lots of people are ordering stuff on Instacart.
So, if you have been on the Instacart waitlist for months, read this article to learn why this is so and how to get off the Instacart waitlist.
Table of Contents
What Is Instacart Waitlist?
The Instacart waitlist is a list of people who have applied to become Instacart shoppers or drivers but have not yet been approved. It is a feature that groups people who are interested in becoming Instacart shoppers or drivers and keep them until there is an opening. When there is a need for more shoppers in a specific area, Instacart will then pick people from the pool of applicants on the waiting list.
The Instacart waiting list is the general destination for applicants especially in areas where people are not placing lots of grocery orders through Instacart. Being on the waitlist means that you’re expressing your interest in becoming an Instacart Shopper, but it doesn’t guarantee immediate access to the shopper role. It’s a way for Instacart to manage the number of shoppers in different locations based on demand.
By joining the waitlist, you increase your chances of being considered when Instacart is looking to add more shoppers in your area. However, if you have stayed on the Instacart waitlist for months and you will love to get off it, continue reading this article then. Read here if you are unable to edit debit card as an Instacart shopper.
I’ve Been On Instacart Waitlist For Months
Being on the Instacart waitlist for months could be frustrating, it is simply because the number of shoppers in your area are more or almost equal with the number of orders, there are currently no openings for new shoppers. It could also be that you did not complete the background check, you should check to see if everything regarding your application is completed.
If you have been on Instacart waitlist for months, you can try a few things to get off the waitlist, continue reading this post to learn about this.
Why Am I Still On Instacart Waitlist?
Have you been on the waitlist for so long, read the possible reasons why you are on the Instacart waitlist:
- The Instacart shopper market in your area is saturated. If there are too many shoppers in your area, Instacart may not be hiring new shoppers at this time.
- You have not yet completed the background check. Instacart requires all shoppers to complete a background check before they can be approved. If you have not yet completed the background check, you will be placed on the waitlist.
- There is a high volume of applications. Instacart is constantly receiving new applications for shoppers. If there is a high volume of applications, it may take longer to be approved from the waitlist. Before you start accepting Instacart orders, find out what 2 Full Services Orders means on Instacart.
How Long Can You Be On The Waiting List For Instacart?
Normally, it takes a few weeks to a few months to be approved from the waitlist. However, there have been reports of people waiting for several months or even a year to be approved. This is clearly due to some reasons like having too many shoppers in your area, not applying during peak shopping seasons, as well as having issues with your background check.
Instacart will not have problems hiring you if there is a demand for shoppers and you have completed the background check. That being said, there were reports of Instacart hiring way too many people especially after the pandemic, there was not enough work for shoppers. That was when Instacart introduced the waitlist feature in areas that are completely saturated.
In summary, there is no specific period of being in the Instacart waitlist, you will be possibly employed once there is an opening. Like we said before, you can skip waiting on the Instacart waitlist and get on with fulfilling batches, read the next subhead.
How To Get Off Instacart Waitlist
While lots of folks believe that there is no way to get off Instacart waitlist, we have discovered two ways you can actually get off the waitlist, read them below:
- Change Your Zip Code: The surest way to get off the Instacart waitlist and start accepting batches is to change your zip code to a different zip code that does not have a waiting list. This is very effective if you want to start working immediately, simply change the zip code to another location where you do not have to be on the waitlist, it makes Instacart process your application quickly. You can also make a second Instacart account and use it with a new zip code.
- Contact Instacart: This method has proven to be effective to some people, some of them eventually got off the waitlist after calling Instacart. If you have been on the Instacart waitlist for a long time, it is probably best you contact Instacart to ask about the status of your application, this is another way of drawing their attention to your application and it could work magic.
- Complete the background check as soon as possible: The background check is one of the most important factors in determining whether you will be approved. Completing the background check as soon as possible will show Instacart that you are serious about becoming a shopper.
Instacart Put Me Back On Waitlist – Here Is Why
Although, there is no straight answer to why Instacart put you back on the waitlist, we have gathered some possible reasons, read them below:
- Your background check did not pass. Instacart will check your background check as part of the application process. If your background check did not pass, you will be put back on the waitlist.
- You were not available to shop during peak hours. Instacart typically needs more shoppers during peak shopping hours, such as the weekends and evenings. If you were not available to shop during peak hours, you may have been put back on the waitlist.
- You had a bad driving record. Instacart will check your driving record as part of the background check process. If you have a bad driving record, it may delay your approval or put you back on the waitlist.
- You did not meet the eligibility requirements. Instacart has a number of eligibility requirements that you must meet in order to be approved as a shopper. These requirements can vary depending on your location.
Make sure you know what is a good seconds per item on Instacart.

How To Check Instacart Waitlist
If you want to check your Instacart application waitlist status, open the Instacart app, tap on the “account” icon in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap on “Waitlist status”, this will show your waitlist status. Please note that you can not see the entire list of applicants on the Instacart waitlist.
How Do I Change My Location On Instacart Waitlist?
To change your location on Instacart waitlist, launch the Instacart shopper app or visit the website, log in to your account and click on the “account” icon, press the “Waitlist status” and select “change location”, enter your new zip code and tap on Save.
Once you have changed the location to a new one, you may get off the Instacart waitlist and start accepting batches if the new location has lots of orders and not overwhelmed with shopper applications. Before changing location, you should make enough research to know if the new location does not have a waitlist and you can easily get orders, you should also check the cost of having to transport yourself to the new location to work. Learn how many batches you can accept as a shopper on Instacart.
How Long Does Instacart Waitlist Usually Take?
It typically takes between a few weeks to a few months depending on your location. The length of time it takes to be approved from the Instacart waitlist can vary depending on a number of factors, including the number of shoppers in your area, the time of year, your availability, and the results of your background check. In most cases, it takes a few weeks to a few months to be approved from the waitlist.
Instacart Waitlist For Full-Service Shopper
The Instacart waitlist for full-service shoppers largely depends on the location. In some areas, it may only take a few days to be removed from the waitlist, while in others it could take several months. The average wait time is typically around 2-6 months, it depends on the number of shoppers already in your market, the demand for Instacart services in that area, and the time of the year.
Also find out if there is Instacart in Puerto Rico.
Instacart Waitlist To Become A Shopper
The Instacart waitlist is a list of people who have applied to become Instacart shoppers but are not yet approved. The waitlist can vary in length depending on the market, but it can take anywhere from a few days to several months to be removed from the waitlist. Understand this, if you live in a popular area with a lot of Instacart shoppers, you’re more likely to be removed from the waitlist sooner.
FAQs
- How long does it take to get off the Instacart waitlist? The average wait time on the Instacart waitlist is 2-6 months. However, it can take longer in some markets.
- Why have I been on the Instacart waitlist for so long? There are a few reasons why you might have been on the Instacart waitlist for so long. One possibility is that there are a lot of other shoppers in your market. Another possibility is that the demand for Instacart services in your area is low.
- What can I do to get off the Instacart waitlist faster? There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting off the Instacart waitlist faster. One possibility is to change the zip code to high-demand areas. Another possibility is to contact Instacart and ask about your application.
- Can I contact Instacart support to get off the waitlist faster? Yes, you can contact Instacart support to get off the waitlist faster. However, they may not be able to do anything to speed up the process.
- What are my other options if I’ve been on the Instacart waitlist for months? If you’ve been on the Instacart waitlist for months, you may want to consider other options for making money. Some other options include delivering food with DoorDash or Uber Eats, or driving for Lyft or Uber.