Business Verification, Display Name & Green Tick
Business Verification, Display Name, and the Green Tick (Official Business Account, shown as a blue checkmark) explained — what each one confirms, how to request OBA status and who is eligible, and what to do when a submission gets rejected.
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Three different, often-confused things live under "verification": the Display Name (what customers actually see next to the number), Business Verification (confirms the business itself is real), and the Green Tick — Meta's Official Business Account (OBA) status, a separate, harder-to-get badge on top of that, shown today as a blue checkmark. None of these are settings in a messaging platform — all three happen entirely inside Meta Business Manager / WhatsApp Manager, before or alongside connecting a number to any provider.
Display Name, Business Verification, and the Green Tick#
| Display Name | Business Verification | Green Tick (Official Business Account) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it confirms | The name shown to customers next to the number and profile picture | The business is a real, legally registered entity | Meta has reviewed the number and confirmed it belongs to an authentic business that meets the OBA criteria |
| Required for | Sending any messages under that name | One of three ways to raise WhatsApp messaging limits beyond the 250 starting limit | The blue checkmark shown next to the business name in WhatsApp; OBA numbers also appear in WhatsApp search |
| Guaranteed if you qualify? | No — Meta reviews it against naming guidelines each time it's set or changed | Yes — approval is a documentation match, not a judgment call | No — Meta reviews every request and can decline even a fully verified business; you can re-apply after 30 days |
| Where it's applied for | WhatsApp Manager, during phone number registration | Business Manager → Security Center → Start Verification | WhatsApp Manager → your phone number → Profile → Official business account → Submit request |
The Display Name#
The Display Name is set the first time a phone number is registered for the WhatsApp API, and it's what customers see in their chat list — not the business's legal name or Meta account name unless those happen to match. Meta reviews every Display Name against its naming guidelines: it generally has to closely reflect the business's real, recognizable name, and gets rejected for things like generic terms, slogans, unnecessary punctuation or ALL CAPS, or someone else's trademark. A Display Name can be approved even before Business Verification is complete, though an unverified business may show as unconfirmed alongside it. If rejected, it can be edited and resubmitted from WhatsApp Manager.
Business Verification vs. the Green Tick#
A business must complete Business Verification first — the Green Tick (OBA) request isn't possible until that's done, and passing verification is no guarantee the request is accepted.
To be eligible for OBA status, all of these must be true:
- The business complies with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
- The business has been on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- The business portfolio that owns the number has completed Business Verification.
- The phone number has two-step verification turned on.
- The phone number's display name is approved.
Meta does not grant OBA status to business employees, test accounts, or WhatsApp Business app numbers. A number without OBA status doesn't show up when users search for it in WhatsApp (unless they've saved it as a contact).
Requesting the Green Tick (Official Business Account)#
Open the phone number in WhatsApp Manager
Go to WhatsApp Manager → Overview and click the business phone number.
Turn on two-step verification
Enable two-step verification for the number if it isn't on already.
Submit the request
Under Phone numbers → Profile → Official business account, click Submit request. Meta reviews it and notifies you whether the number was granted OBA status.
If you meet every criterion but don't see the option, contact your Meta point-of-contact, your
solution provider's support, or Meta Support. You can also check the status through the Graph
API by requesting the official_business_account field on the phone number ID (oba_status,
for example NOT_STARTED).
Applying for Business Verification#
Open the Security Center
In Meta Business Manager, go to Business Settings → Security Center (or the banner prompting verification, if one appears), select the business account, and click Start Verification.
Provide business details
Select the country the business is registered in, then enter its Legal Name, Address, Phone Number, and Website — exactly as they appear on the document you'll upload next.
Choose a contact method
Pick how Meta reaches you to confirm the submission — email, SMS, phone call, or domain verification. Use one you have immediate access to.
Upload a supporting document
Provide one accepted document showing the same legal name and address just entered — see the accepted list below.
Enter the verification code
Confirm your contact details, then enter the code sent via the method chosen above to submit the verification.
| Accepted documents | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation or Incorporation | Invoices |
| Articles of Incorporation | Purchase orders |
| Business License and Permits | Self-filled applications for the company |
| Business tax registration | Tax returns filed by you or your company |
| Business Bank Account Statements | Personal bank statements |
| Business Credit Reports | Website print-outs |
| Utility Bills | Company flyers, letterheads, and similar marketing material |
| A government-issued business tax ID (e.g. GST/VAT certificate, PAN) | |
| Shop establishment certificate |
Review can take anywhere from a few days up to 30 days. Meta emails the outcome to the Business Manager's admin, and status can be tracked from the Security Center in the meantime.
When verification is rejected#
The most common causes are all mismatches between what was typed into Business Manager and what the uploaded document actually shows:
- Name mismatch — the business name in Business Manager doesn't exactly match the legal name on the document (including punctuation, "Pvt Ltd" vs "Private Limited", etc.).
- Address mismatch — a registered office address that differs from what's on file, or a residential address submitted where a business address is expected.
- Document quality — blurry, cropped, or expired documents get auto-rejected.
- Wrong document type — some regions require a specific document (e.g. a GST certificate) rather than a generic business license.
After verification#
Business Verification is one of the scaling paths off the 250-customer starting limit: once it's done, Meta reviews your message quality and, if approved, raises the business portfolio's limit to 2,000. From there it scales automatically based on message quality and how much of the limit you use, not on verification status itself. See Messaging Limits & Quality Rating for how that scaling works.
Removing a phone number from Meta#
A number already registered on the regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business consumer app can't be connected to the Cloud API at the same time — it has to be freed up first. See How to Delete Your Phone Number on Meta for the full walkthrough, or How to Migrate from the WhatsApp App to a Business API Account if you're moving a personal WhatsApp number over.
Frequently asked#
Why was my Display Name rejected?
It didn't match Meta's naming guidelines — usually a generic term, a slogan instead of a real name, unnecessary punctuation or ALL CAPS, or a name too different from the business's actual, recognizable name. Edit it in WhatsApp Manager and resubmit.
Do I need Business Verification before I can set a Display Name?
No — a Display Name can be submitted and approved before Business Verification is complete, though an unverified business may show as unconfirmed next to it.
Why doesn't my business have the green checkmark yet?
Verification alone never adds the badge. You also have to request Official Business Account status (WhatsApp Manager → phone number → Profile → Official business account → Submit request), meet the other criteria — 30+ days on the platform, two-step verification, an approved display name, policy compliance — and Meta has to approve the request. It's a review, not automatic just because verification passed.
My verification was rejected — what do I check first?
Compare the business name and address in Business Settings → Business Info character-for- character against the uploaded document. Name/address mismatches are the most common rejection reason by far.
Do I need the Green Tick to send messages through the API?
No — the Green Tick is a visual badge on top, not a functional requirement for sending messages. Business Verification is one of the ways to raise messaging limits; the badge isn't.
Can I apply for the blue tick, and what if it's rejected?
Yes, once you're eligible — submit the request from the number's Profile tab in WhatsApp Manager. If Meta declines it, you must wait 30 days before submitting a new request. Meanwhile you can still fill in the business profile (picture, description, email, website).
Can I reuse a phone number that's currently on my personal WhatsApp?
Yes — see How to Migrate from the WhatsApp App to a Business API Account for the full steps.
How long does Business Verification take?
Anywhere from a few days up to 30 days. Track the status from Business Manager's Security Center while you wait — Meta also emails the outcome.
What contact methods can Meta use to verify my submission?
Email, SMS, phone call, or domain verification — pick whichever one you have immediate access to when you submit.
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