Meta Business Verification for the WhatsApp API
Business Verification is Meta’s check that your business is real. It is required before your WhatsApp messaging limits can grow, and it is the prerequisite for applying for the green tick later. Here is the process as it works for an Indian business.
By WakiPublished Updated 5 min read
What verification does
Three things it does, and one thing it does not.
Higher messaging limits
A WhatsApp Business Account starts on an entry-level limit for new conversations per day. Meta raises the limit as volume grows and quality stays good, and Business Verification is required for the higher tiers.
An identity check, not a badge
Verification confirms the legal business behind the Business Manager through documents. It does not show anything to your customers and it does not add a tick next to your name.
The prerequisite for the green tick
The green tick, or Official Business Account, is a separate application you can make after verification. Meta judges it on how well known the business is, and no provider can guarantee it.
Verification is not the green tick
Business Verification is Meta checking, through documents in Meta Business Manager, that a real legal business stands behind the account. It is required before your WhatsApp Business Account can move to higher messaging limits, and it applies to every WhatsApp account under that Business Manager. Customers see nothing change.
The green tick marks an Official Business Account. It is a separate application you can make only after verification, Meta judges it on how well known the business is, and it is not guaranteed for anyone. It changes how your business name is displayed in chats; it does not change limits, features or pricing. Anyone selling a guaranteed green tick is selling something they do not control.
Step by step
The screens move around in Meta Business Manager from time to time, but the sequence stays the same.
Step 1: Open Meta Business Manager
Go to business.facebook.com and sign in with the Facebook account that administers your Business Manager (also called a business portfolio). If the business does not have one yet, create it in the business’s name rather than a person’s.
Tip: Use a desktop browser; the verification screens are easier to find there.
Step 2: Find Business Verification in Business settings
Open Business settings and go to Security Centre (older layouts show it under Business info). The Business Verification section has a Start verification button when your account is eligible.
Tip: No button usually means you are not an admin of the Business Manager, or that Meta has not yet opened verification for this account.
Step 3: Enter your legal business details
Type the legal business name exactly as it appears on your registration or GST documents, then the registered address, a business phone number and your website. The website should show the same business name and address.
Tip: A small difference between the name you type and the document, such as a missing “Private Limited”, is a common cause of rejection.
Step 4: Choose a verification method
Meta offers to confirm the business through a phone call or text message to the business number, an email on your business domain, or uploaded documents. For most Indian businesses the document route is the most dependable; a domain email, if you have one, is quick.
Tip: An email address on your own domain, such as one at your company’s website address, counts; a free webmail address does not.
Step 5: Upload supporting documents
Upload the documents Meta asks for from its accepted list: a GST registration certificate, a Udyam (MSME) registration, a certificate of incorporation, a recent utility bill or a bank statement, each showing the business name and address. Upload clear scans or PDFs with every page included.
Tip: The name and address on the document must match what you typed in the previous step.
Step 6: Submit and track the review
Review everything and submit. Meta reviews the documents and emails the result; it usually takes a few business days and can take longer. The status is shown in the same Security Centre section.
Tip: Do not resubmit while a review is pending; wait for the result and the stated reason.
Step 7: After approval
Once verified, every WhatsApp Business Account under that Business Manager is eligible for higher messaging limits as volume and quality grow. In Waki, check your channel’s status in the channel settings; nothing else changes on its own. If you want the green tick, you can now make that separate application.
Tip: Keep business details consistent across your website, Meta Business Manager and your WhatsApp business profile; the green tick review looks at all three.
Accepted documents in India
Any one of these in the business’s name, showing the same name and address you entered. Meta shows its current list when you apply.
GST registration certificate
Shows the legal business name and the registered address; the most common document for Indian businesses.
Udyam (MSME) registration
The registration certificate from the Udyam portal, for micro, small and medium enterprises.
Certificate of incorporation
The MCA certificate for a private limited company or LLP, with the registered name.
Utility bill
A recent electricity or telephone bill in the business name showing the business address.
Bank statement
A statement of the business bank account showing the business name and address.
Common reasons and the fix
Business name does not match
Fix: Type the name exactly as the document shows it, including the legal suffix such as Pvt Ltd or LLP.
Address does not match
Fix: The address in Business Manager must match the document; update one to match the other before resubmitting.
Document is unreadable or incomplete
Fix: Upload a clear scan or PDF with every page, not a cropped photo.
Website does not show the business
Fix: Your website should display the business name, address and a contact method that match the application.
Personal document instead of a business document
Fix: Use a document issued to the business, not an individual’s identity document.
Frequently asked questions
Is Business Verification the same as the green tick?
Does Meta charge for Business Verification?
How long does it take in India?
Can I send WhatsApp messages before verification?
What happens if the application is rejected?
Does Waki do the verification for me?
Connect your number and go live
Connect your WhatsApp Business Account through Meta’s embedded signup in Waki, complete verification, and your messaging limits can grow with your volume and quality rating.