The Ultimate Guide on How to Get on Raya Dating App

get on raya
  • DatingforLove
  • April 5, 2025

If you’re single and are getting tired of the same old dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, it might be time to make an upgrade.

Raya is an invite-only, exclusive dating app that specifically caters to people in the creative industry. Known as the celebrity dating app, the app is full of well-known faces and high-status celebs looking for love.

But, is the Raya community strictly only for celebrities? In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Raya, and how to get on Raya.

What is Raya?

The dating app Raya is very selective with its members, having reportedly just 10,000 members across countries in 2018. Celebrities like Ben Affleck, Chelsea Handler, Cara Delevigne, Demi Lovato, and John Mayer have all been spotted online dating on Raya.

How Does Raya Work?

Raya works similarly to apps like Tinder or Hinge but does have a few unique features you won’t find on any other dating app. Here are the next steps to follow once you’ve been accepted to Raya.

Create your profile: your profile will be in a slideshow format and be photo-focused, so make sure to choose photos that show off your best self.

Add your bio: you can add a bio if you want that includes your age, location, and occupation.

  • Start swiping for potential matches: just like with Tinder, you can swipe right on a profile to approve them, or left to reject them.
  • Once the matches start coming in, you can message or video chat with them on the app. Matches expire after 10 days if neither you nor your match sends a first message. You’re only shown a limited amount of profiles per day, so you’ll be limited in how many matches you get per day.
  • You can’t filter out potential matches by location, which means your matches can be from all over the world. You can use the “Maps” feature to find users near you, but you’ll have to pay extra to message people in your area.

Unique Features of Raya

There are a few features that make Raya a unique app and sets it apart from popular dating apps like Tinder and Hinge.

Here are some unique features you can find on the exclusive dating site:

  • Photo slideshow: instead of showing your profile photos as stand-alone images, with Raya you add your photos to play to a song of your choice.
  • Instagram handle: Raya requires an Instagram account to use the app.
  • Written bio: a written bio is completely optional – you don’t have to add one if you don’t want to.
  • Map: you can use the map to find other Raya members near you and browse their profiles if you both have social mode.
  • Pay-to-play DMs: you can pay to message potential matches before you’ve matched.
  • Directory: you can find other Raya members based on location, profession, interests, or any other filters you want to search through.

How to Get on Raya

Raya is not an easy app to get onto – but it’s not impossible!

To get accepted on the app, you need to get a current member of the app to invite you to join the community. The more referrals you have, the better your chances will be of getting accepted. Once you get a referral, there’s still no guarantee you’ll be accepted onto the app. Raya has just an 8% acceptance rate and takes a multi-step process to get admitted on the app.

You’ll need to fill out an application which is then viewed by hundreds of anonymous committee members. Then, you’ll have to wait to be contacted by the app if you’ve been accepted.

Raya Application Process

The Raya application process is a multi-step process that takes time to complete. If you're committed to getting on the ultra exclusive dating app, here is the full Raya application process:

  • Share your basic information: Raya will ask for your first and last name, email, DOB, and your Instagram handle.
  • Fill out info about your location and career: you’ll be asked to fill out where you live, and add details about your career like industry, occupation, and company.
  • Add a referral: once everything’s filled out, you’ll be asked to add a referral from your phone’s contact list.

How Long Does it Take to Get Off The Raya Waitlist?

Typically, Raya doesn’t reject anyone from becoming a member. If your Raya status isn’t improved, you’ll continue to see a “pending” status on your profile. You’ll get no notification or rejection letter – your profile will say “pending. In 2018, it was reported that the Raya waitlist consisted of over 100,000 people, so it's common to have a pending status on the Raya app.

The Rules of Raya

Since Raya is such an exclusive and secretive app, there are some strict rules you will need to follow and be mindful of when using the app. Here are 5 rules you need to abide by in order to be in the app’s good books.

  • You cannot take screenshots of the app
  • Avoid talking about the app in public
  • You must be over 18 to use the app
  • You cannot have any public depictions of hate
  • You cannot have any consistent displays of excessive wealth

Once you’re accepted to the app, you will have to agree to a list of rules to create your profile on Raya, which includes the rules above. If you break any of the rules above, Raya reserves the right to suspend or remove anyone who does not follow the community guidelines.

Is Raya Worth it?

You may be wondering whether Raya is worth it – after all, it’s not free and does have an extensive application process. If you want a better selection of date-worthy candidates and have grown tired of the typical dating apps, Raya is worth it.

The people on Raya are often very attractive – that’s part of the app’s allure and the reason it’s so selective. You can find many eligible bachelorettes or bachelors on the app, and you may even come across a celebrity or two.

Conclusion

Raya isn't just a dating app, it's an exclusive community that's tough to get onto. But, if you follow these steps, you may have a chance to get on the app.