How To Add A PokéStop: The Official Niantic Waypoint Nomination Guide
Nominating a new PokéStop requires reaching Level 37 in Pokémon GO and submitting a high-quality location that meets specific criteria for safety, exploration, and social gathering. Successful nominations rely on the Wayfarer review process, where community members evaluate your submission based on historical significance, visual uniqueness, or public accessibility.
Prerequisite Requirements and Site Eligibility Criteria
Before you begin the nomination process, you must ensure you meet the fundamental account prerequisites and that your target location aligns with Niantic’s strict Wayfarer guidelines.
- Account Standing: You must be at least Level 37 in Pokémon GO. Additionally, your account must not have any active community standard violations or bans.
- Geographic Readiness: Ensure you are physically at or very near the location you intend to nominate. Niantic uses GPS coordinates to verify your presence at the site during the submission window.
- Submission Quota: You have a limited number of nominations available over a rolling 14-day period. Check your Wayfarer profile settings to confirm your remaining capacity before heading out.
- Essential Eligibility Standards:
- Exploration: Locations that encourage physical activity, discovery, or community gathering.
- Exercise: Walking paths, fitness trails, sports complexes, and recreational parks.
- Social Value: Local cafes, unique art installations, historical markers, libraries, or religious institutions that act as hubs for community interaction.
- Automatic Disqualifiers: Private residences (including backyards), locations that obstruct emergency services, K-12 schools, or areas where the primary purpose is purely commercial/retail are strictly rejected.
The Field Nomination Workflow
Submitting a nomination is a precise exercise in documentation. You are essentially acting as a field researcher providing data for the Lightship platform, which powers the augmented reality map.
Step 1: Initiating the Nomination
Open the main map view in Pokémon GO and tap the Main Menu (the Poké Ball icon). Select the Settings menu, navigate to the Uploads section, and tap New PokéStop. If the option is grayed out, check your account level or your remaining nomination quota.
Step 2: Selecting the Precise Location
Once the camera interface opens, tap on the map to place the pin.
Pro-Tip: Do not rely on automatic GPS placement if you are near dense buildings. Drag the map manually to align the pin exactly with the physical object or the entrance of the location. Being off by even a few meters can lead to rejection based on poor location accuracy.
Step 3: Capturing the Primary Photograph
Take a high-quality photo of the object. The image must be clear, well-lit, and centered.
Warning: Do not include human faces, license plates, or blurry, low-light imagery. These are common reasons for immediate rejection during the peer-review phase.
Step 4: Capturing the Surrounding Area
The second photograph serves as context for the reviewers. Use this photo to show the surrounding environment—sidewalks, nearby signage, or safety features—that prove the object is accessible to pedestrians and not located on dangerous private property.
Step 5: Crafting the Title and Description
Provide a title that is descriptive but concise. Avoid generic names like "Statue" or "Art." Instead, use "The Bronze Fountain of Founders Park." In the description, focus on the history, the artist, or the community importance. Explain why it is a great place for trainers to meet or play.
Step 6: Providing Supporting Information
The supporting information section is invisible to other players in the game; it is intended solely for the reviewers. Use this space to explain why your nomination is safe, why it meets the eligibility criteria, and include any links to public records or maps that verify the location's existence.
Pokemon GO: PokeStop Showcases (How They Work & Rewards)
Technical Parameters for Nomination Success
| Parameter | Recommended Specification | Impact on Review |
|---|---|---|
| Image Clarity | 1080p resolution or higher | High: Improves visual verification |
| GPS Accuracy | Within 5 meters of target | Critical: Prevents "Location Mismatch" rejections |
| Title Length | 20 to 60 characters | Moderate: Enhances searchability |
| Description Detail | 100 to 300 words | High: Increases perceived value to reviewers |
| Reviewer Context | Direct evidence of public access | Critical: Eliminates "Cannot find location" rejections |
Troubleshooting Common Nomination Failures
Even with perfect intentions, nominations are often rejected due to subtle policy misinterpretations. Addressing these failures requires a shift in how you document the location.
Failure Scenario: The "Location Mismatch" Rejection
- Root Cause: The pin was placed at the center of a large park rather than on the specific landmark, or the map data is outdated.
- Actionable Fix: Use the supporting photo to frame the target object with a recognizable landmark in the background. Use the supporting text to provide a Google Maps URL or an official town website link that verifies the physical location of the object.
Failure Scenario: The "Private Residential Property" Rejection
- Root Cause: The object, while public in nature, sits too close to a single-family home or appears to be on a private driveway.
- Actionable Fix: Adjust your photo angles to clearly demonstrate the existence of a public sidewalk or public thoroughfare between the residence and the object. Emphasize the public accessibility of the space in your description.
Failure Scenario: The "Low Quality/Generic" Rejection
- Root Cause: The nomination lacks historical or social context, or the object is too common, such as a mass-produced playground swing or a generic light pole.
- Actionable Fix: Research the item. If it is a memorial, include the name of the person being honored. If it is an art piece, include the name of the artist. If the object is genuinely generic, avoid nominating it and instead look for unique local points of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a nomination to be processed?
Processing times vary based on the density of active reviewers in your region. On average, it can take anywhere from a few days to several months. You can expedite the process by earning Upgrades through reviewing other submissions in the Niantic Wayfarer portal.
Can I nominate a PokéStop inside a business?
You can nominate businesses if they are locally owned and act as a hub for the community. Chain stores and major retailers are rarely accepted unless they possess significant historical or cultural value, such as a famous boutique or an iconic, long-standing local restaurant.
What happens if my PokéStop nomination is rejected?
If rejected, you will receive an email outlining the specific reasons, such as "Does not meet criteria" or "Inaccessible." Use this feedback to improve your next submission. You are encouraged to re-submit with better photos and a more compelling description if the object truly meets the requirements.
Can I edit a nomination after I have submitted it?
Once a nomination is submitted, you cannot edit the title, description, or photos through the game client. You must wait for the final decision from the Wayfarer community. If it is rejected, you can perform a new, improved submission for the same object.
Enhance your local community's Pokémon GO experience by submitting accurate, high-quality waypoints that celebrate the unique landmarks in your neighborhood. Start exploring your surroundings today to identify the next great PokéStop and build a more connected map for trainers everywhere.
