You might have seen a white tick against a green background next to the names of brands while receiving text messages from them on WhatsApp. These verification badges (popularly known as the WhatsApp green tick), which the platform introduced in 2023, can only be earned and not bought.
What is a green tick on WhatsApp?
A green tick is a verification badge by WhatsApp. It is similar to the verification badges on platforms such as Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter). It helps to identify an authentic, trustworthy, and reliable profile on WhatsApp. It gives confidence to the users that they are engaging with a trusted brand and not a fake one.
The key difference between WhatsApp’s verification badge and other platforms is that the WhatsApp green tick is only for businesses and brands. Individuals cannot apply for and receive this verification.
The green tick appears next to the display name—identical to any other verified badge.
WhatsApp defines it as: “The green tick, officially known as the WhatsApp Business Account verification, is a symbol that appears next to a business's name in the chat thread headers, chat list, and business profile, indicating that WhatsApp has verified the account as a legitimate brand.”
The green tick verification process involves getting your business account verified by Meta. You need to meet certain eligibility criteria, and follow certain guidelines to earn the coveted green tick.
Benefits of having a green tick on WhatsApp?
As a business, having a green tick on WhatsApp offers many advantages such as:
1. Establishing trust
A green tick verification badge adds a stamp of credibility to your business. It tells the world out there that you are an authentic and trustworthy brand––helping establish a reliable connection with your prospective customers/users.
Bonus: Your brand name appears on their WhatsApp even if your number isn't saved by the customer.
2. Being distinctive
A lot of spammy and fraudulent messages find their way to unsuspecting users. You can differentiate your communication with WhatsApp’s stamp of approval. It’s also easier to stand apart from other entities offering similar products/services and other (unverified) businesses.
People are more likely to interact with a verified profile rather than a non-verified one.
3. Protecting your account
The green tick verification helps businesses reap the benefit of Meta’s ‘proactive impersonation monitoring’ feature, which prevents others from pretending to be you on WhatsApp. This protects both you and your customers.
This feature enhances brand protection by actively monitoring for impersonators who might target businesses or creators with growing online audiences. (Source: Meta).
4. Having no broadcast limitations
You can broadcast messages to as many people as you want using your WhatsApp Business API account.
Pro tip: Sync WhatsApp with your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool or other customer database tools to help you make your processes more efficient and reliable.
- Reducing chances of getting banned
A green tick helps you add credibility and authenticity to your account — preventing unnecessary blocks or reports from users.
Note: It doesn’t guarantee immunity from all bans, you must comply with WhatsApp’s policies.
6. WhatsApp Chatbots
You can create and set up custom whatsapp chatbots for 24/7 communication with customers. Instant automated replies can help you assure them, and provide timely/important information, or a timeline by which customers can expect responses from one of your colleagues/teammates. This feature enables you to provide a seamless customer experience— as you can ship automatic responses even when you are asleep/away.
7. Interactive Messages
One-tap replies and clickable buttons are the options you can choose to apply. This can greatly help with higher and better user engagement.
This feature helps streamline communication with (prospective) users and elevate customer support and experience in a couple of easy steps.
Eligibility Criteria for a Green Tick Verification
To qualify for a green tick verification badge on WhatsApp, you need to meet the following eligibility requirements:
Business Account Eligibility
As a business, you must:
- Have WhatsApp Business API integration. Free WhatsApp Business accounts cannot apply for a green verification tick badge.
- Have a presence on the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) “for a certain number of days”. WhatsApp does not specify the number of days a business needs to be on the WhatsApp Business Platform but based on our experience, it has to be at least 15-21 days, if not more.
- Have an authentic brand presence and PR, especially non-paid media coverage.
- Have consistently maintained 1,000 to 10,000 messages a day with a low spam rate. (To add once we have a relevant post: Find out how to achieve a low spam rate.)
- Be located in a country where Meta Verified for WhatsApp Business is available.
- Have an approved business name and business logo/image.
- Be on at least a Tier- 2 messaging level. The messaging level a business is at determines the number of unique users a business can send messages to–in 24 hours. A Tier-2 messaging level allows a business to send messages to 10,000 unique users in a 24-hour-period. There are four tiers, which are reflective of how users are responding to your messages. The better the response, the higher the messaging tier level. This is determined by WhatsApp’s algorithms and not an upgrade that can be done manually.
- Two-step verification: (For an additional layer of protection against unauthorized access to your WhatsApp account, create a six-digit PIN. This is – required whenever you register your phone number with WhatsApp.)
Business verification (Steps given later in this article)
Source: WhatsApp
Pro tip: If you run ads on Meta you have a higher success rate of getting the green tick approval. For this, you can use a feature called Click-to-WhatsApp-ads
How to get green tick verification by Meta? (Application Process)
This part covers the application process in depth. Let’s get to the prerequisites first.
Prerequisites
- A WhatsApp Business API account
- - A verified business on Meta Business Manager
- - Enabled two-step verification.
- - Be at *Tier-2 (or above) messaging level on WhatsApp.
- - A few–atleast 3-5 5 articles (non-paid) about your brand/company covered by reputed websites/ media outlets.
WhatsApp API access
You need to sign up for WhatsApp API access. Here’s how you do it:
- Create a Facebook or Instagram page for your business/company.
- Set up a Meta Developers account.
There are two ways to create a WhatsApp application within your Meta Ddeveloper’s’ Aaccount: one, by working with a business solution provider (BSP) and two, by signing up with a WhatsApp software provider such as Gallabox.
Once you have access, you can integrate WhatsApp into your business communication systems.
How to verify your business on Meta Business Manager?
Note: Facebook Business Manager and Meta Business Manager are the same.
1. Go to the Business Manager's Security Centre. Click on “Start verification”.
2. Provide your business details:-
- The legal business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Website
Note: Ensure all the details match those of your legal business entity. Also, make sure that your website is functional and secure (HTTPS compliant).
3. Confirm your business details
Upload any supporting documents (such as business license or articles of incorporation) to confirm the business details.
4. Choose a method to confirm your connection
A confirmation code will be sent to your email, phone, text message, or WhatsApp.
5. Once you’ve completed, click “Done.”
Steps to request an Official Business Account (Green tick verified)
1. Access WhatsApp Manager from your Business Manager.
Go to Business Manager > Business Settings > Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts. A list of WhatsApp Business Accounts (WABAs) associated with your business will open up.
Click on the one you want to review and select Settings to check details such as the Business Verification status, account status and payment method.
Click on the phone number for which you want to request an official business account (OBA).
2. Turn on 2-step verification for this phone number to apply for OBA.
(Note: Your Business Verification and display name approval must be completed before applying for OBA.)
3. Click the “Submit Request” button and fill out the required information.
You can submit up to five supporting links, preferably from renowned publications (such as Times of India, The Economic Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wikipedia, and Business Insider) to show social proof and credibility of your business.
This helps WhatsApp determine notability.
“Notability reflects substantial presence in online news articles. Notability is assessed based on an account’s presence in news articles from publications with sizable audiences. We do not consider paid or promotional content as sources for review, including business or app listings.”
Source: Meta
Here is a quick summary for you:
WhatsApp Green Tick verification has the following prerequisites:
1. Verified Business Account
2. Two-factor authentication enabled
3. Media coverage by prominent publications.
Note: Notability/ social proof also includes organic high-ranking search results on leading search engines. You can also apply for a green tick with the help of a Business Solution Partner (BSP).
[Note: The decision to grant a green tick rests only with Meta.]
But wait, what is a BSP?
We have got you covered. Business Solution Partners (or Providers) Solution Partners offer end-to-end solutions for businesses including driving awareness of WhatsApp Business Platform solutions, providing integration services, and offering customer support. (source: WhatsApp)
Here’s how you can apply for a green tick using a BSP for WhatsApp:
- Choose a BSP: Select a reputed and reliable Business Solution Provider that offers WhatsApp Business API integration and verification services.
- Ensure eligibility: Make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria for verification.
- Registration and Application: Create a WhatsApp business account and register with the BSP you’ve selected. Start the WhatsApp Business API application process.
- Submit documentation: Submit the necessary business information and verification documents to your BSP.
- BSP Review: The business solution provider will review your documentation and start the verification process with WhatsApp on your behalf.
- WhatsApp Review: WhatsApp independently reviews your application for compliance with their policies.
- Verification and activation: Upon approval, your BSP will inform you and activate the WhatsApp Business API.
- API Integration: Integrate the API with your systems (e.g., CRM) and configure messaging tools and automation features your BSP provides.
- Green tick verification: WhatsApp issues the green tick verification badge for your business account.
- Compliance: Continuously adhere to WhatsApp's policies to retain the green tick status and its benefits.
You can get a FREE green tick (subject to Meta's approval) by signing up for Gallabox as it has many added advantages when compared to a BSP! Here's your ticket to a 7-day free trial.
INELIGIBILITY
The following businesses cannot get access to WhatsApp API or apply for a green tick:
- Drugs
- Tobacco Items
- Gambling businesses
- Alcohol brands
- Weapons & ammunition businesses
- Live animals
- Adult product/services
- Medical & healthcare products
- Dating services
- Cryptocurrencies
Tips to increase your chances of green tick acceptance
Create and maintain a strong social presence and following. It will help you to build authority.
Ensure consistent messaging across platforms to establish trust and credibility.
Maintain timely and responsive communication. Handle customer grievances and offer reliable support to your customers.
Get permission from customers/prospective customers before you send messages to them. Do not text outside of business working hours and respect their privacy.
Ensure that you send relevant content and don’t bombard them with messages.
Give the users/customers a chance to opt out of receiving WhatsApp messages from your business handle if they so wish to.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a green tick on WhatsApp mean?
A green tick is a verification badge for businesses and brands. It’s a symbol that your account is authentic, trustworthy, and reliable.
2. Why is there no green tick on my WhatsApp?
If you are a person, you are not eligible for a green tick. It is only meant for businesses, not people.
3. How can I apply for a WhatsApp green tick for my business?
You can apply for a WhatsApp green tick with a WhatsApp Business API provider such as Gallabox or sign up with a business solution provider (BSP).
4. How much time does it take after applying for the green tick?
It usually takes a few days to weeks for WhatsApp to get back to you.
5. What is the meaning of “Tier-2 messaging level?”
It means a business has achieved the status that enables it to send messages to 10,000 unique customers in 24 hours. This depends on the quality of messages the business sends and the engagement it drives from its users/customers.
6. Is it free to get a WhatsApp green tick?
You can’t get a green tick for free from the WhatsApp Business app, but you can get it for free through a WhatsApp Business API provider such as Gallabox–once you follow the pre-requisites.
7. What if my application for the WhatsApp green tick gets rejected?
You can re-apply for the same after 30 days.
Conclusion
If you adhere to the basic guidelines, maintain a consistent and authentic relationship with your customer base, and carefully follow all the steps—you will easily be able to get the official green tick badge via WhatsApp.
Just do not skip any step and avoid making mistakes in your application—you’ll be good to go!
Further reading
Here are a few other articles you might be interested in:
