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Blue tick (OBA)

WhatsApp blue tick verification, explained step by step

The blue tick marks a number Meta has made an Official Business Account. See what it is, what Meta checks, how to apply and what changes in your team inbox. Only Meta decides.

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What is WhatsApp blue tick verification?

WhatsApp blue tick verification is Meta’s review that can make a business phone number an Official Business Account (OBA), shown by a blue checkmark beside the business name. It is open to numbers on the WhatsApp Business API, not the Business app. It is not the blue double tick for read messages, and only Meta can grant it.

Common mix-ups

Three things often confused with the blue tick

  • Blue ticks on messages

    Two blue ticks under a message mean the customer read it. They are read receipts and have nothing to do with the badge beside a business name.

  • Meta Verified

    Meta Verified for business is a separate paid subscription with its own badge. It is not the Official Business Account review.

  • The old green tick

    Older guides talk about a green tick. Meta now shows Official Business Accounts with a blue checkmark beside the business name.

In your team inbox

A verified API number works like every other number

The badge changes how customers see your number, not how your team works. In Risponse the verified number sits in the same inbox as your other numbers, with the same tools for replies and follow-up.

  • Same inbox, same tools. Assign chats, add private notes and see which teammate sent each reply.
  • Next to your QR numbers. Run the verified API number beside the numbers you linked by QR code.
  • Approved templates. Send Meta-approved templates from the same inbox your team replies in.
WhatsApp Business API inbox

What the badge does

What the blue tick changes and what it does not

  • A blue checkmark by your name

    Customers see a blue checkmark beside your business name in their contacts view. It tells them Meta has verified the business behind the number.

  • Small groups on the API

    With the badge, a number can use Meta’s Groups API for small groups of at most 8 participants, who join through an invite link.

    Meta’s Groups API

  • No fee to apply

    Meta lists no fee for the Official Business Account review. Meta Verified is the paid product, and it is a different badge.

  • Templates still need review

    The badge does not skip Meta’s template approval. Every template still has a category and goes through Meta’s review.

  • Same per-message pricing

    Meta charges per delivered message, by category and recipient country, with or without the badge.

  • The policy still applies

    A verified number follows the same messaging policy as any other. Message people who expect to hear from you, and make opting out easy.

    Messaging best practices

Meta’s criteria

What Meta checks before it grants the blue tick

Meta lists these criteria for an Official Business Account. Meeting them makes a number eligible to apply. It does not mean Meta will say yes.

CriterionWhat it meansWhere to sort it
Policy compliance Your business follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy Your opt-in and messaging habits
30 days on the platform The number has been on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days Nothing to do but wait
Business Verification Meta has verified your business portfolio Meta’s Business Verification for your portfolio
Two-step verification The phone number has two-step verification turned on WhatsApp Manager, for that number
Approved display name Meta has approved the name shown for the number Meta’s display name review for that number
Number type An API number, not a Business app, QR-linked or coexistence number Connect an API number

Meta lists no fee for this review, and it makes the final decision on every request.

How to apply

Apply for the blue tick through Meta

  1. 01

    Meet every criterion

    Check your number and business portfolio against each of Meta’s criteria, and fix anything that is missing.

  2. 02

    Send the request in WhatsApp Manager

    In Meta’s WhatsApp Manager, open the phone number’s profile and submit a request under Official business account.

  3. 03

    Wait for Meta’s decision

    Meta reviews the request and decides. If it says no, fix what is missing and apply again after 30 days.

FAQ

Blue tick (OBA): your questions answered

Still unsure? Email us and a person from our team will reply.

Email info@risponse.com
Are the WhatsApp blue tick and blue ticks on messages the same thing?

No. The two blue ticks under a message are read receipts, shown once someone has read it. The blue checkmark beside a business name is the Official Business Account badge, which Meta grants to some API numbers after a review.

Is Meta Verified the same as the WhatsApp blue tick?

No. Meta Verified for business is a subscription you pay for, and it comes with its own badge. The Official Business Account blue tick comes from a separate review of an API number, and Meta lists no fee for it.

Can a WhatsApp Business app number have the blue tick?

Not the Official Business Account badge. Meta grants it only to numbers on the WhatsApp Business API, not to WhatsApp Business app numbers, so numbers linked to Risponse by QR code and coexistence numbers cannot apply. Meta Verified is a different, paid product.

WhatsApp Business API inbox
How long does WhatsApp blue tick verification take?

Meta decides the timing of each review. Before you can apply, the number needs at least 30 days on the WhatsApp Business Platform, and if Meta says no, you wait another 30 days before you apply again.

Meta’s Official Business Account guide
Do I need press coverage to qualify for the blue tick?

No. Meta’s current developer pages do not list notability or press coverage. The criteria cover your business and number: policy compliance, time on the platform, Business Verification, two-step verification and an approved display name. Meta still decides each request.

Can Risponse arrange the blue tick for my business?

No. Only Meta grants the badge, and no provider can promise it. Risponse lets your team work the API number from one inbox while you meet Meta’s criteria, and the number keeps working the same way after Meta decides.

Guides

Read more in our guides

In the docs

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