What the WhatsApp green tick actually means
The green checkmark marks an Official Business Account — Meta's own confirmation that a business is who it says it is. It is not a purchase, a plan tier, or a setting anyone can switch on.
Short answer: you need the WhatsApp Business API, a verified Meta Business account, and then Meta reviews and decides based on authenticity and notability. It cannot be bought, and it is not available to the free WhatsApp Business app or a QR-linked WhatsApp Web connection.
What actually has to be true first
1. You're on the WhatsApp Business API
Not the free app, and not a QR-linked connection — Official Business Account status only exists for numbers on the official Cloud API. This is the gate everything else sits behind.
2. Your Meta Business account is verified
Business verification confirms the legal entity behind the account — documents, a real address, a working domain. This has to be complete before an Official Business Account application can be reviewed at all.
3. Meta reviews and decides
Meta looks at whether the business is authentic and, in practice, whether it is notable enough — a recognisable brand, meaningful public presence, that kind of signal. There is no published checklist that guarantees an approval, and the decision is Meta's alone.
Common questions
- How do I get the WhatsApp green tick?
- You need a WhatsApp Business API number (not the free app), a verified Meta Business account, and then you apply for Official Business Account status through Meta. Meta reviews the business — mainly its authenticity and public notability — and decides. There is no fixed checklist that guarantees approval.
- Can I buy the WhatsApp green tick?
- No. There is no paid tier, upgrade or fee that grants it directly. Anyone or anything claiming to sell the green tick is not describing Meta’s actual process — the badge is Meta’s own decision, based on business verification and notability, not a purchase.
- Does the free WhatsApp Business app get the green tick?
- No. Official Business Account status only applies to numbers on the WhatsApp Business API. The free phone app has no path to it at all — moving to the API is the first requirement, not the last one.
- Does WhatsApp Web (QR-linked) get the green tick?
- No — the same rule applies. A QR-linked WhatsApp Web connection is not the official API, so it is not eligible for Official Business Account status either. Only a number on the Cloud API can apply.
- What’s the difference between the WhatsApp green tick and a blue checkmark on other Meta apps?
- They are unrelated. Instagram and Facebook’s blue checkmark verifies identity and is available through Meta Verified, a paid subscription. WhatsApp’s green tick marks an Official Business Account and follows a completely separate process tied to the Business API — one cannot be used to get the other.
- How long does WhatsApp Business verification take?
- It varies by business and is entirely Meta’s timeline, not the platform providing your API access — often days to a few weeks, sometimes longer if Meta requests more documentation. There is no way to expedite it from the platform side.
Get set up on the official Cloud API
Meta Embedded Signup handles the business verification step — start there before applying for the badge.