Verify Your Business in Meta
Business verification is Meta's way of confirming that the legal entity behind your WhatsApp Business Account is real. Once verified, you graduate from Tier 1's 1,000-conversation-per-day cap into Tier 2 and higher — and become eligible to apply for the green/blue badge. This page walks the submission flow, lists the documents that actually work, and shows you the five most common reasons verifications get rejected.
The submission walkthrough
Open Security Center in Business Settings
Go to business.facebook.com → ⚙ Business Settings → Security Center. Click Start Verification next to Business Verification.
Don't see Security Center? You may not have admin permissions on the Business Portfolio. Check with whoever set it up.
Confirm or fill in your business details
Meta will ask for:
- Legal business name — exactly as on your registration document. Punctuation matters.
- Registered business address — must match the address on the document.
- Business phone number — landline or mobile that can receive a verification call.
- Country and primary website — domain you own (you'll verify this in step 4).
The biggest cause of rejection is a tiny mismatch here. Open your incorporation/GST certificate next to this form and copy-paste; don't retype.
Upload a business document
India (in order of approval speed):
- GST Registration Certificate — fastest, Meta cross-checks against govt databases.
- Certificate of Incorporation (MCA) — works reliably for Pvt Ltd and LLP.
- MSME / Udyam Registration — works for proprietorships and small businesses.
- Shop and Establishment License — accepted, manual review.
- Trade License / Professional Tax Certificate — last resort, manual review.
Other countries:
- US: Articles of Incorporation, IRS EIN letter, state business license.
- UK: Companies House certificate, VAT registration.
- EU: Chamber of Commerce extract, VAT certificate, national business registry.
- UAE: Active Trade License from Dubai DED / Abu Dhabi DED / relevant free zone authority.
- Singapore: ACRA BizFile extract.
PDF or clear scan. No phone-camera photos with glare. No expired certificates. No documents in languages other than English unless accompanied by a certified translation.
Verify your business domain
Meta requires a public website you control. They'll ask you to either add a TXT record to your DNS or upload an HTML file to the root of your domain. Either is fine — pick whichever your team can do faster.
The website itself must show your business name and a contact method (email or phone). A blank Shopify landing page won't pass.
Choose phone verification method
Meta calls or texts the business phone number from your document with a 6-digit code. Make sure:
- The line is reachable within 24 hours of submission.
- If it's a landline routed through an IVR, someone can listen for the code or use voice readout.
- If it's a mobile, switch off spam blockers temporarily.
Submit and wait
Hit submit. The status appears in Security Center: Submitted → In Review → Approved or Action Required.
Watch your business email (the one tied to your Meta account). Meta often asks for one clarification — a clearer scan, a matching address proof, a domain re-verification — and the review pauses until you respond.
The 5 most common rejection reasons
We see hundreds of submissions. These five cover ~85% of rejections.
1. Name mismatch
"Acme Pvt Ltd" on the document, "ACME Private Limited" in Meta. Or a brand name in Meta when the document has the legal entity name. Fix: copy-paste the exact name from the document into Meta — don't shorten, don't expand abbreviations.
2. Low-resolution or partial document
Phone photo with glare, or PDF where the seal/signature page is missing. Fix: upload the full PDF from the government portal, not a re-scan.
3. Address mismatch
Building number swapped, pin code wrong, "Bangalore" vs "Bengaluru". Fix: again, copy-paste from the document.
4. Domain doesn't qualify
The domain you listed redirects to a generic landing page, or has no business name / contact info. Fix: put your business name, registered address, and a contact email on the homepage or footer.
5. Personal vs business entity confusion
Sole proprietors using a brand name in Meta but a personal-name document. Fix: register MSME / Udyam in the brand name first, or change the Meta business name to your personal name.
Frequently asked questions
Do I actually need business verification?
To send messages from a new WhatsApp Business number, no — Tier 1 (1,000 conversations / 24h) works without it. But to graduate to Tier 2 (10,000) and beyond, business verification is required. Most businesses hit the Tier 1 ceiling within a few weeks, so verify early.
What documents does Meta accept in India?
Any one of: Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration certificate (recommended — fastest approval), MSME / Udyam certificate, Shop and Establishment License, Trade License, Professional Tax certificate. The business name on the document must match exactly what's in Meta. Pro tip: GSTIN certificates get approved fastest because Meta cross-checks them against government databases.
What about US, UK, EU, UAE?
US: Articles of Incorporation, IRS EIN letter, business license. UK: Companies House certificate, VAT registration. EU: Chamber of Commerce extract, VAT certificate. UAE: Trade License from the relevant emirate (Dubai DED, Abu Dhabi DED, etc.) — the trade license must be active, not expired. In all cases the legal entity name on the document must match Meta exactly.
Why was my verification rejected?
Top 5 reasons: (1) Business name in Meta doesn't match the document exactly — punctuation, 'Pvt Ltd' vs 'Private Limited', etc. (2) Document is expired or low-resolution. (3) Address mismatch — pin code or building number wrong. (4) The domain doesn't resolve, or the website doesn't show the business name and contact info. (5) Personal name on the document (sole proprietor cases where the entity is in your individual name, but Meta has it as a brand name).
Can I verify as a sole proprietor or freelancer?
Yes, but harder. Meta wants to see proof that the business exists as a legal entity. In India: a GST registration in your individual name, or a Shop & Establishment license, or an MSME / Udyam certificate works. Without any of these, register as MSME / Udyam first — it's free and takes 10 minutes online at udyamregistration.gov.in.
How long does verification take?
Usually 1-3 business days. Worst case 7 days. Watch the email tied to your Meta account — Meta sometimes asks for a clarification document, and the clock pauses until you respond.
Is business verification the same as the WhatsApp green/blue badge?
No. Business verification is a prerequisite for the badge but they're separate processes. After verification, you can apply for the Official Business Account badge from inside WhatsApp Manager. Approval for the badge is selective — Meta wants 'notable brands' and reserves it for businesses with significant public presence. Most SMBs don't get the badge even after verification; that's fine and doesn't affect your ability to send messages.
What's the green tick I see on some businesses?
The green tick is the OBA (Official Business Account) badge. It used to be more common but Meta has tightened criteria — now it requires either significant brand recognition (press coverage, Wikipedia page) or a large active customer base on WhatsApp. See our separate guide on the WhatsApp green tick for the full criteria.
Can Zaptilo speed up my verification?
We can't bypass Meta's review, but we can save you a round-trip rejection by pre-flighting your documents. Email your business documents and the exact name/address you've entered in Meta to connect@zaptilo.ai before submitting — we'll flag any mismatch we catch.
Understand WhatsApp messaging limits
Now that you're set up and verified, learn how the tier system works, what your quality rating means, and how to safely scale to Unlimited.
Continue to Step 4