Waitlist Duration and Approval Process
The Instacart shopper waitlist duration can vary significantly depending on factors like location, existing supply of shoppers, and demand for the service. On average, an Instacart shopper might remain on the waitlist for about 2-6 months.
Instacart keeps an eye on shopping trends and adjusts the need for shoppers based on what they are seeing. In busy city areas, some shoppers have reported waitlists of 6 months or more, whereas more rural areas may not have a waitlist.
Background Checks
Instacart runs background checks yearly to prioritize all employees and customers’ safety. Processing time for checks may take longer during peak periods or when many applicants join. It’s important to allow sufficient time for thorough checks.
Background checks take around 10 days, but delays are common, and it can even take as few as 5 days. The time varies depending on location and record.
Applicants can expect a response within 2–5 days. Some may receive approval within a day, but it can take up to 7 days or more. After applying, you’ll get an email with the estimated timeline.
Getting Started with Instacart
How long does it take to get started with Instacart? It takes about a few days. You sign up online, which takes a couple of minutes. Then there is a background check, which takes about 1-2 days. After you pass the background check, you get set up with the Shopper app and can start taking orders.
In some busy areas, the waitlist could be a few months. However, in most areas, applicants can start shopping within a week or two. The timeline varies based on many factors, including location, demand for the service, and processing time for background checks.
Instacart aims to keep shopper supply matched to consumer demand. When demand goes up in an area, wait times may reduce. However, if many shoppers are already working in an area, new applicants may wait longer to start. The signup and approval process is designed to be quick and seamless for most.