WhatsApp platform3 min read
WhatsApp blue tick for business: how to apply
By Shraddha Agarwal
The short answer: A business gets the WhatsApp blue tick in one of two ways. On the API, Meta grants Official Business Account status free to notable brands with a verified business; on the Business app, Meta Verified is a paid monthly subscription.
Either way, Meta decides, and no provider can guarantee it.
The badge beside a business name is different from the two blue ticks under a message, which only mean it was read.
The two verified badges
| Badge | Official Business Account | Meta Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Where it applies | A number on the WhatsApp Business API | The WhatsApp Business app |
| Cost | Free | Monthly subscription, priced in the app |
| Who qualifies | Notable, frequently searched brands | Businesses that pass Meta's identity check |
| How you apply | A request in WhatsApp Manager or the API | Purchase in the app's settings |
| Decided by | Meta's review of your brand's notability | Meta's verification of your details |
The green tick you may remember is the old Official Business Account badge. Meta now shows a blue checkmark.
Official Business Account criteria
Meta requires all of these before you apply:
- your business follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy;
- it has been on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days;
- your business portfolio has passed Meta's business verification;
- two-step verification is on for the number;
- the number's display name is approved;
- the brand is notable: well known and frequently searched for.
Meta does not grant it to WhatsApp Business app numbers, test accounts or employees' numbers. Still on the app? See the app versus API guide.
What notable means to Meta
Notability is where most requests fail. Meta looks for your brand in news articles from publications with sizable audiences; paid or promotional content and business or app listings do not count.
Meta judges the display name on the number, so a sub-brand of a well-known parent can use a name like "Sub-brand by Parent brand".
A new business without independent news coverage is unlikely to qualify, however well it runs WhatsApp.
How to apply
- In WhatsApp Manager, open Overview and select your business phone number.
- Turn on two-step verification if it is off.
- Open the number's profile, choose Official business account, and select Submit request.
- Add supporting links, ideally news articles about your brand in established publications.
Your provider can also submit the request through the API. Meta notifies you of the decision; a submitted request is not an approval.
If Meta says no
You can submit a new request after 30 days. Use the time to earn independent coverage, such as a launch or milestone that news outlets report on their own terms.
You do not need the badge to use the API. You can reply to customers, send approved templates and run campaigns. A complete business profile (picture, description, address, email and website) helps customers trust the chat.
Meta Verified on the Business app
On the WhatsApp Business app, the route to a badge is Meta Verified, where Meta offers it. You buy it in the app's settings, which show the local price, and Meta verifies your business details.
It adds the badge and impersonation protection for as long as you keep paying. It does not move your number onto the API.
Beware guaranteed-badge offers
Some agencies sell a "guaranteed" green or blue tick. Meta decides every Official Business Account request itself. A fair offer is help meeting the criteria and preparing the request.
Where Otobiz fits
Otobiz connects your number to the official WhatsApp Business API inside your own Meta business, which is where an Official Business Account request is made. For UAE businesses, the UAE setup guide covers verification, display names and messaging limits.
