diff --git a/docs/usage/dependency-callables.md b/docs/usage/dependency-callables.md
index a74b4240..00399431 100644
--- a/docs/usage/dependency-callables.md
+++ b/docs/usage/dependency-callables.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Return a dependency callable to retrieve currently authenticated user, passing t
 
 * `optional`: If `True`, `None` is returned if there is no authenticated user or if it doesn't pass the other requirements. Otherwise, throw `401 Unauthorized`. Defaults to `False`.
 * `active`: If `True`, throw `401 Unauthorized` if the authenticated user is inactive. Defaults to `False`.
-* `verified`: If `True`, throw `401 Unauthorized` if the authenticated user is not verified. Defaults to `False`.
+* `verified`: If `True`, throw `403 Forbidden` if the authenticated user is not verified. Defaults to `False`.
 * `superuser`: If `True`, throw `403 Forbidden` if the authenticated user is not a superuser. Defaults to `False`.
 
 ### Examples
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def protected_route(user: User = Depends(fastapi_users.get_current_active_user))
 
 ### `get_current_verified_user`
 
-Get the current active and verified user. Will throw a `401 Unauthorized` if missing or wrong credentials or if the user is not active and verified.
+Get the current active and verified user. Will throw a `401 Unauthorized` if missing or wrong credentials or if the user is not active. Will throw a `403 Forbidden` if the user is unverified.
 
 ```py
 @app.get("/protected-route")
diff --git a/fastapi_users/authentication/__init__.py b/fastapi_users/authentication/__init__.py
index 41c8eb38..57b5a1c1 100644
--- a/fastapi_users/authentication/__init__.py
+++ b/fastapi_users/authentication/__init__.py
@@ -183,12 +183,13 @@ class Authenticator:
 
         status_code = status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
         if user:
+            status_code = status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             if active and not user.is_active:
+                status_code = status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
                 user = None
             elif verified and not user.is_verified:
                 user = None
             elif superuser and not user.is_superuser:
-                status_code = status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
                 user = None
 
         if not user and not optional:
diff --git a/tests/test_fastapi_users.py b/tests/test_fastapi_users.py
index a545caa5..217c4c03 100644
--- a/tests/test_fastapi_users.py
+++ b/tests/test_fastapi_users.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class TestGetCurrentVerifiedUser:
             "/current-verified-user",
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
-        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_valid_token_verified_user(
         self, test_app_client: httpx.AsyncClient, verified_user: UserDB
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class TestGetCurrentVerifiedSuperuser:
             "/current-verified-superuser",
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
-        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_valid_token_verified_user(
         self, test_app_client: httpx.AsyncClient, verified_user: UserDB
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ class TestGetCurrentVerifiedSuperuser:
             "/current-verified-superuser",
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
-        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_valid_token_verified_superuser(
         self, test_app_client: httpx.AsyncClient, verified_superuser: UserDB
diff --git a/tests/test_router_auth.py b/tests/test_router_auth.py
index 21a05214..2552f5f1 100644
--- a/tests/test_router_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_router_auth.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class TestLogout:
             path, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
diff --git a/tests/test_router_users.py b/tests/test_router_users.py
index eec2d51e..350ff696 100644
--- a/tests/test_router_users.py
+++ b/tests/test_router_users.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class TestMe:
             "/me", headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
             data = cast(Dict[str, Any], response.json())
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json={}, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json=json, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json=json, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json=json, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json=json, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ class TestUpdateMe:
             "/me", json=json, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
             assert after_update.called is False
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -535,8 +535,6 @@ class TestGetUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
-        else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_verified_user(
@@ -562,7 +560,7 @@ class TestGetUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND
 
@@ -589,7 +587,7 @@ class TestGetUser:
             f"/{user.id}", headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -633,8 +631,6 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
-        else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_verified_user(
@@ -661,7 +657,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND
 
@@ -689,7 +685,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             f"/{user.id}", json={}, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -727,7 +723,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -808,7 +804,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -847,7 +843,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -886,7 +882,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
 
@@ -930,7 +926,7 @@ class TestUpdateUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
             assert mock_user_db.update.called is True
@@ -982,8 +978,6 @@ class TestDeleteUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
-        else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
 
     async def test_verified_user(
@@ -1009,7 +1003,7 @@ class TestDeleteUser:
             headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"},
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND
 
@@ -1040,7 +1034,7 @@ class TestDeleteUser:
             f"/{user.id}", headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {superuser.id}"}
         )
         if requires_verification:
-            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
         else:
             assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT
             assert response.content == b""