WhatsApp Green Tick Verification: How to Get the Official Badge

WhatsApp green tick verification is what most people still call the Official Business Account badge. WhatsApp now shows it as a blue badge next to a business name, to confirm the account belongs to an authentic, notable brand. It's free, you request it in WhatsApp Manager, and Meta decides who gets it.

If you run a business on WhatsApp, you've probably seen a verified badge next to some brand names and wondered how to get one. For years it was a green tick. Today WhatsApp shows a blue badge instead, but the idea is the same, and you can't simply buy it. It helps to know how it works before you put time into it.

Below we cover what the badge is, how it differs from a normal business profile and from Meta Verified, who qualifies, and how to apply.

What the WhatsApp green tick means today

The badge is Meta's Official Business Account badge. WhatsApp used to show it as a green tick and now shows a blue badge. It appears next to the business name in chats and on the profile, and tells customers that WhatsApp has confirmed the account belongs to an authentic, notable brand rather than an impersonator.

That trust signal matters. When customers see the tick, they're more confident they're talking to the real company and not a scam account using your logo. For brands that handle payments, bookings, or sensitive support over chat, that reassurance is valuable.

Not every business can get it, though. It's not automatic, and it's not a setting you switch on. You have to meet Meta's requirements and apply.

Business profile, Official Business Account and Meta Verified

This is where people often get mixed up. There are three different things:

• A WhatsApp Business profile: any business can have one. It shows your business name, category, description and catalogue. You need a WhatsApp Business account to run a WhatsApp AI agent, and on its own it does not come with a badge.
• The Official Business Account badge (the old green tick): a free badge Meta grants to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform that meet its requirements and are judged to be notable. You request it in WhatsApp Manager.
• Meta Verified: a separate paid subscription from Meta for businesses. It is not the same as the Official Business Account badge, and it has its own sign-up and requirements.

You can run a fully working, automated WhatsApp setup, answering questions, collecting leads and handing over to your team, without any badge. The badge adds credibility; it doesn't unlock features.

If you're still choosing between the regular Business app and the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API), which you need for the official badge, our guide on WhatsApp Business API vs. the app explains which fits your size.

Who is eligible for the official badge

Before you can request the badge, a few things need to be in place. When it reviews your request, Meta also looks at notability: whether your brand is well known, for example through coverage in news or other independent sources.

The requirements to apply:

• Your business verification is complete in Meta Business Manager.
• Your number has been on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
• The phone number has two-step verification switched on.
• Your business has an approved display name.
• Your account follows WhatsApp's Business and Commerce policies.

Meeting these requirements lets you apply, but it doesn't guarantee approval. A new local shop with little media coverage may well be declined, however legitimate it is. That says nothing bad about small businesses; it's simply how Meta decides who gets the badge.

How to apply for WhatsApp green tick verification

You can't request the badge from the regular WhatsApp Business app. It goes through the WhatsApp Business Platform and WhatsApp Manager. The steps look like this:

• Get on the API. Connect your number to the WhatsApp Business Platform, directly or through a provider. SimplyBoost connects through Meta's embedded signup. If you're not set up yet, start with how to set up a WhatsApp chatbot.
• Verify your business. Complete business verification in Meta Business Manager. It confirms your company is real and is required before you can request the badge.
• Check the other requirements. Turn on two-step verification for the number, make sure your display name is approved, and wait until the number has been on the platform for at least 30 days.
• Request the badge in WhatsApp Manager. In WhatsApp Manager, open the settings for your phone number and submit the request for an Official Business Account. Add links that show your brand is well known, such as press articles about your business.
• Wait for Meta's review. Meta reviews the request and decides. If it's declined, you can apply again after 30 days, ideally with stronger evidence that your brand is notable.

A provider can help you get the platform setup and business verification right, so you're ready when you apply. Nobody can promise the outcome, though, because the decision is Meta's.

Realistic expectations

A few things to keep in mind:

• It's discretionary. Meta can decline a request even when the listed requirements are met, and it doesn't always explain why.
• It's not for sale. The Official Business Account badge is free, so be wary of anyone offering to sell you one. Meta Verified is a separate, paid subscription sold by Meta itself.
• It can take time. Reviews aren't instant, and after a refusal you wait 30 days before trying again.
• It's optional for results. Many businesses answer questions and collect leads on WhatsApp every day without a badge.

So apply if you meet the requirements and your brand is well known, but don't wait for the badge before putting an AI agent on WhatsApp. Customers build trust from quick, accurate replies at least as much as from a badge.

Frequently asked questions

Does the green tick cost money?

No. The Official Business Account badge, still often called the green tick, is free. Meta grants it based on its requirements and on notability. Meta Verified is different: it's a paid subscription from Meta. Be suspicious of any third party charging to guarantee a badge.

Can a small business get the green tick?

It's possible but not easy. You need to meet the requirements (business verification, 30 days on the platform, two-step verification, an approved display name and policy compliance), and Meta favours brands with wider recognition. A small business can still run an automated WhatsApp setup and build trust through good service without the badge.

Do I need the green tick to use a WhatsApp chatbot?

No. You can put a WhatsApp AI agent on your number to answer questions and collect leads whether or not you have the badge. The badge adds credibility, but it isn't needed to automate conversations. If budget is a question, see our breakdown of WhatsApp chatbot cost.

How long does verification take?

Meta doesn't publish a fixed review time. You can only apply once your number has been on the platform for 30 days, and if you're declined you wait another 30 days to reapply. Sorting out business verification, two-step verification and your display name before you apply gives you the best chance.

The short version

WhatsApp green tick verification now means the blue Official Business Account badge. It's free, Meta decides who gets it, and it's separate from both the standard business profile and the paid Meta Verified subscription. To apply, complete business verification, turn on two-step verification, get your display name approved, spend 30 days on the platform, and submit the request in WhatsApp Manager. In the meantime, you can build trust the way customers notice most: quick, accurate replies at any hour. Try SimplyBoost's WhatsApp AI agent free for 7 days