WhatsApp Green Tick: Requirements and How to Apply
The green tick next to a business name is officially an Official Business Account. Meta grants it to a limited number of accounts, it is not for sale, and nobody can guarantee it — any offer claiming otherwise is not honest.
Before you read on: the tick is not required to operate. The API works fully without it. If your goal is to send and automate, start now and do not wait for it.
What Meta actually looks at
- A working WhatsApp API account tied to a verified business in Meta Business Manager.
- Business verification — a commercial registration or tax card in the company name, plus a domain and an email on it.
- Notability outside your own properties. This is the decider: Meta looks for coverage in recognised news outlets about your company. Your own site and social pages do not count.
- A clean record. Number quality not rated low, and no repeated customer reports.
The steps, in order
| # | Step | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verify the business in Business Manager | 1 day to 2 weeks |
| 2 | Connect and actually run the number on the API | Same day |
| 3 | Complete the profile: name, description, domain, address | An hour |
| 4 | Gather press coverage links | The long part |
| 5 | Apply from Business Manager | 1 week to a month for a reply |
The four common rejection reasons
- Thin press coverage. By far the most common. Paid placements on unknown sites are recognised and discounted.
- Name mismatch. The WhatsApp display name must match the registered legal name, not the marketing name.
- The domain is not yours. A Gmail address or a shared domain weakens the application badly.
- The number is brand new. A number activated yesterday with no traffic has no record to assess.
Frequently asked
Can I pay for the green tick?
No. Meta does not sell it and nobody can guarantee it. Anyone offering to get you one for a fee is selling you nothing — the application is free and the decision is Meta's alone.
Do I need it to send messages?
Not at all. The API works fully without it — broadcasts, automation, OTP, everything. The tick affects trust and how your name appears, not your ability to send.
I was rejected — now what?
Rejection is not final. Most rejections come from thin press coverage rather than an account problem. Build genuine coverage in recognised outlets, wait, and reapply. Do not reapply weekly — it does not improve your odds.
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Where to go next
By countryEgypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar — each with its own habitBy industryReal estate, clinics, stores, restaurants, salons, educationConnect your storeSalla, Shopify, WooCommerce, Easy OrdersHonest comparisonsAgainst WATI, respond.io and Twilio — starting with what they do wellPricingIn pounds, riyals or dollars — set by your country
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