You cannot create a Pokéstop yourself, but you can nominate a location for one
Pokéstops are created by Niantic, the company that makes Pokémon Go, not by players. What you can do is nominate a real-world location — a park, library, mural, or landmark — to become a Pokéstop. Niantic reviews nominations and decides whether to approve them based on their guidelines. The process takes weeks or months, and most nominations are rejected.
To nominate a location, you need to be at least level 38 in Pokémon Go and have a Niantic Wayfarer account. Wayfarer is Niantic's community review system where players vote on whether nominations should become Pokéstops or Gyms. You also need to be physically at the location you want to nominate — the app uses your phone's location services to confirm this.
The location you nominate must meet Niantic's criteria: it should be a real place of interest, a landmark, a public art installation, or a community gathering spot. You cannot nominate private homes, businesses that exist only to make money (like a gas station), or places that are unsafe to visit.
Key Takeaways
- You must reach level 38 in Pokémon Go and create a Niantic Wayfarer account before you can nominate any location.
- Nominations must be for real places that are safe and accessible to the public, such as parks, libraries, murals, or historical markers.
- You have to be physically at the location when you submit the nomination, and your phone's location services must be turned on.
- After you nominate a location, other players review it through Wayfarer, and Niantic makes the final decision — this can take several weeks or months.
- Most nominations are rejected, so read Niantic's full criteria before you spend time on a nomination.
How to reach level 38 and set up Wayfarer
Before you can nominate anything, you need to reach level 38 in Pokémon Go. This requires catching Pokémon, battling in raids, and completing research tasks over many weeks or months. There is no shortcut — you have to play the game to earn experience points.
Once you reach level 38, open Pokémon Go and go to your profile. Look for the "Nominations" section or a link to Niantic Wayfarer. You will be asked to create or log into a Niantic account if you do not already have one. This is separate from your Pokémon Go account, though they can be linked. You will need to verify your email address and agree to Niantic's terms.
After your Wayfarer account is set up, you can start nominating locations. You will see a "Nominate" button in the Pokémon Go app. Tap it to begin the process.
What makes a location may be able to access for a Pokéstop
Niantic publishes a list of what kinds of places can become Pokéstops. The location must be a real, physical place that is safe and legal to visit. Good examples include public parks, libraries, community centers, schools, churches, temples, murals, sculptures, historical markers, and scenic viewpoints.
Locations that are almost always rejected include private homes, businesses that exist only to sell things (gas stations, fast food restaurants, chain stores), parking lots, generic office buildings, and places that are dangerous or difficult to reach. Niantic also rejects nominations for locations that are too close to other Pokéstops or Gyms — there is usually a minimum distance of about 20 meters between them.
If you are unsure whether a location qualifies, check the Wayfarer criteria in the Pokémon Go app or visit the official Niantic support pages. Reading the criteria before you nominate saves you time, because most rejections happen because the location does not meet the guidelines.
How to submit a nomination
When you tap "Nominate" in Pokémon Go, the app will ask you to confirm your location using your phone's location services. Make sure location services are turned on — you learned how to do this from the previous guide. You must be standing at or very near the location you want to nominate.
Next, you will enter the name of the location, a description of what it is, and the address. Be specific and accurate. For example, if you are nominating a mural, describe what the mural depicts and where on the building it is located. If you are nominating a park, give the official name of the park.
You will also upload a photo of the location. This photo should show the actual place clearly — not a blurry picture or a photo of something nearby. Niantic uses this photo to verify that the location exists and matches your description. You can also upload a second photo that shows the location in context, such as the street it is on or the building it is part of.
Finally, you will choose a category for the location: landmark, public art, community gathering place, or another option depending on what the location is. Select the category that best fits. Then submit your nomination.
What happens after you submit
Once you submit a nomination, it enters a queue. Other players who have Wayfarer accounts will review it. They will look at your description, your photos, and the location on a map. They vote on whether the location should become a Pokéstop, a Gym, or be rejected.
This review process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how many nominations are in the queue and how many reviewers are active. You will receive a notification in the Pokémon Go app when a decision is made. If your nomination is approved, the location will become a Pokéstop or Gym within a few days. If it is rejected, you will see a reason — usually something like "does not meet criteria" or "too close to existing Pokéstop".
If your nomination is rejected, you can nominate the same location again after some time has passed, but only if you believe the rejection was a mistake. Read the rejection reason carefully. If the location truly does not meet the criteria, nominating it again will likely result in another rejection.
Why most nominations get rejected
The most common reasons for rejection are: the location does not meet Niantic's criteria, the photo is unclear or does not show the location, the description is vague or inaccurate, or the location is too close to an existing Pokéstop or Gym. Some nominations are also rejected because reviewers cannot verify that the location exists or is accessible to the public.
To improve your chances, take a clear photo in good lighting, write a detailed description that explains why the location is interesting or important to the community, and double-check that the address and name are correct. If the location is a small or local landmark, explain what makes it special — reviewers may not know about it otherwise.
Keep in mind that even nominations that meet all the criteria can be rejected if reviewers disagree about whether the location is worth becoming a Pokéstop. This is subjective, and there is no way to may provide approval.
Other ways to get more Pokéstops in your area
If you do not want to wait for a nomination to be reviewed, or if you are not level 38 yet, you can still help your community get more Pokéstops. You can encourage other players who are level 38 to nominate locations. You can also report locations that are already Pokéstops but have incorrect information — Niantic can edit these.
Another option is to check whether your area has any Ingress portals. Ingress is another Niantic game, and some Ingress portals automatically become Pokéstops or Gyms in Pokémon Go. If you know of a location that is an Ingress portal but not yet a Pokéstop, it may appear in Pokémon Go within a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be level 38 to nominate a Pokéstop?
Yes. Niantic requires all nominators to be at least level 38 in Pokémon Go. This is to may support that people making nominations understand the game and the community. There is no way around this requirement.
Can I nominate a location that is on private property?
No. Pokéstops must be at locations that are safe and legal for the public to visit. Private homes, private businesses, and private property are not may be able to access. If the location is on private property but open to the public (like a museum or park), you can nominate it, but you should have permission to be there.
How long does it take for a nomination to be reviewed?
It varies. Some nominations are reviewed within a few weeks, while others take several months. The timeline depends on how many nominations are waiting to be reviewed and how many active reviewers there are in your region. You will receive a notification when a decision is made.
What if my nomination gets rejected?
You can read the rejection reason in the app and nominate the location again later if you believe the decision was wrong. However, if the location does not meet Niantic's criteria, nominating it again will likely result in another rejection. Focus your efforts on locations that clearly fit the guidelines.
Can I nominate a business like a coffee shop or restaurant?
Only if it is a well-known local landmark or has historical significance. Chain restaurants and generic businesses are almost always rejected. Independent businesses with unique character or community importance have a better chance, but they still need to meet Niantic's criteria for being a place of interest.