Three things that get confused
| What it is | Who it’s for | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Verification | Meta checks your business is real, using documents | Any business in Meta Business Manager | A route to higher messaging limits. It is required before you can request the badge. |
| Official Business Account | A blue checkmark, granted on request | Numbers on the WhatsApp Business Platform | The checkmark, and your number can appear when people search within WhatsApp. |
| Meta Verified | A paid subscription, where available | Businesses on the WhatsApp Business app, where offered | A verified badge for an app number, plus the plan’s other features. Check the app’s settings for availability and price. |
What Meta requires
For an Official Business Account, every one of these must be true:
- Your number has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- Your business portfolio has passed Business Verification.
- Two-step verification is switched on for the number.
- Your display name is approved.
- You comply with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
Meta does not grant the badge to employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers. So a number on the app has to move to the API first, or use Meta Verified instead.
How to request it
- Complete Business Verification in Meta Business Settings. Keep your GST or Udyam registration ready, and make sure the legal name and address match your documents and your website.
- Open WhatsApp Manager → Overview and click your phone number.
- Switch on two-step verification if it’s off.
- Go to Phone numbers → Profile → Official business account and click Submit Request.
If you’re rejected
Meta lets you submit a new request after 30 days. Use the time to make your business easier to confirm. Meta’s list of requirements doesn’t mention press coverage, but providers widely report that recognisable businesses get approved more easily. These are worth doing either way:
- Show the same business name, address and phone number on your website and your Meta profile.
- Build up independent mentions, such as local press, trade associations and review sites.
- Keep your number free of quality problems before you apply again.
What the badge won’t do
- It won’t raise your messaging limit. Limits rise through Business Verification, sending volume and message quality. Your quality rating matters more here than a badge.
- It won’t change what you can send. Templates, the 24-hour rule and Meta’s fees all stay the same.
- It won’t answer your customers. A fast, correct reply often does more for trust than a checkmark.
Don’t skip it if you’re a bank, insurer or large brand that people may try to impersonate. For a local clinic or salon whose customers already know the number, it can safely wait.
Watch out for “guaranteed” badges
Meta alone grants this badge. Anyone selling a guaranteed green tick is promising something they don’t control. A partner can help you prepare the paperwork, and that’s all. WapTalk doesn’t grant or sell badges either, and you don’t need one to set up the API or use WapTalk.