WhatsApp verified badge: how the Official Business Account works today

Updated on October 29, 2026

The WhatsApp verified badge is the checkmark that appears next to a business name, and today it is blue. There are two ways to get it: request an Official Business Account (OBA) for a WhatsApp Business API number, or subscribe to Meta Verified in the WhatsApp Business app. The official account requires a verified business, two-step verification on the number, an approved display name, 30 days on the platform and a business Meta considers notable, which puts approval out of reach for many brands.

This article explains each path, how to submit the request through the API and WhatsApp Manager, and what to expect realistically.

Why people still say “green badge” when it’s blue

For years, the WhatsApp official account badge was green, and in some markets the name stuck (in Brazil, people still search for the selo verde). Meta’s current documentation describes the Official Business Account badge as a blue checkmark next to the name in the contacts view (Official Business Accounts). Anyone searching for the “green tick” today is looking for that blue badge.

According to WhatsApp Business, the badge shows that Meta has verified the business is who it says it is across Meta’s technologies. It can appear on the business profile, in chats, in context cards, in the Calls tab and on incoming calls from verified businesses (Meta Verified for business).

The two paths to the badge

Aspect	Official Business Account (OBA)	Meta Verified for business
For whom	WhatsApp Business Platform (API) numbers	WhatsApp Business app accounts
Cost	Meta’s documentation doesn’t mention any charge for the request	Paid subscription
Where to request	WhatsApp Manager or API	In the app, when available for the account
Main criterion	Technical requirements and the business’s notability	Verification based on the business’s activity across Meta technologies
Denial	New request only after 30 days	Not described on the pages we checked
Effect on search	OBA numbers appear in WhatsApp search; non-OBA numbers only appear if the user saved the contact	Not described in the documentation we checked

Meta also makes it clear that it doesn’t grant OBA status to business employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers. If your number uses coexistence, meaning it runs on the app and the API at the same time, confirm eligibility with support before counting on the badge.

Want to try it while you read? Create a Vectalk account and send your first message through the official API. Create free account →

Official Business Account (OBA): current requirements

The Official Business Accounts page lists five eligibility criteria:

1. The business complies with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
2. The business has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
3. The business portfolio that owns the number has completed business verification.
4. The number has two-step verification enabled.
5. The number’s display name has been approved.

On top of these five, the help page on display names says the business must be considered notable: a well-known business with a relevant presence in news articles from outlets with large audiences (About WhatsApp Business display names). This is the criterion that rejects most requests from small and mid-sized businesses.

How to prepare each requirement

• Business verification. This is the first blocker for anyone starting out. The step-by-step guide, with common name and domain errors, is in Meta business verification.
• Approved display name. The name must be clearly related to the brand. The review happens when the messaging limit goes up, and the status is in the number’s name_status field. See the naming rules in WhatsApp display name.
• Two-step verification. This is the number’s six-digit PIN. On Vectalk, it is used in the number registration endpoint; registering a number on the Cloud API covers the PIN and common errors.
• 30 days and good conduct. Count from registration on the platform. The business also needs to comply with the messaging policy.
• Notability. Collect links to independent news coverage of the business in relevant outlets. Meta doesn’t detail how it measures this criterion.

How to request the official account

Through WhatsApp Manager

1. Open WhatsApp Manager > Overview and click the number.
2. Enable two-step verification if it isn’t already on.
3. Under Phone numbers > Profile > Official business account, click Submit request.

If you meet the criteria and don’t see the option, Meta suggests reaching out to your Meta contact, your solution provider’s support or Meta Support.

Through the API

Meta offers the Official Business Account status API, which returns the number’s official_business_account field. In a direct integration:

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v26.0/YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER_ID?fields=official_business_account,verified_name,name_status' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_META_TOKEN'

Sample response for a number that hasn’t requested it yet:

{
  "official_business_account": {
    "oba_status": "NOT_STARTED"
  },
  "verified_name": "My Company",
  "name_status": "APPROVED",
  "id": "106540352242922"
}

On Vectalk, the phone number details endpoint accepts the fields parameter with the instance token. The documentation shows fields such as verified_name and quality_rating; official_business_account and name_status don’t appear in the examples, so test them on your account.

curl 'https://apis.vectalk.com.br/api/phone-numbers?fields=id,display_phone_number,verified_name,quality_rating' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_INSTANCE_TOKEN'

A simple check script in Node.js, useful to run before submitting the request:

const GRAPH = 'https://graph.facebook.com/v26.0';

async function checkEligibility(phoneNumberId, token) {
  const fields = 'official_business_account,verified_name,name_status';
  const res = await fetch(`${GRAPH}/${phoneNumberId}?fields=${fields}`, {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
  });
  const data = await res.json();

  return {
    name: data.verified_name,
    nameApproved: data.name_status === 'APPROVED',
    obaStatus: data.official_business_account?.oba_status ?? 'UNKNOWN',
  };
}

The script doesn’t check notability or the 30 days, which depend on Meta’s review and your history.

If the request is denied

A denial means Meta’s team reviewed the account and concluded it doesn’t meet the criteria at that time. You can only submit a new request after 30 days. Meanwhile, Meta notes that you’re still free to complete your business profile with a photo, email, website and description.

On Vectalk, the profile is updated through the business profile endpoint, with the same body Meta uses:

curl -X POST https://apis.vectalk.com.br/api/business-profile \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_INSTANCE_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "about": "Official support for My Company",
    "description": "Orders, deliveries and support Monday through Saturday.",
    "email": "support@mycompany.com",
    "websites": ["https://mycompany.com"],
    "vertical": "RETAIL"
  }'

Check the business profile documentation for the exact path and each field’s limits; the “about” text has a maximum of 139 characters.

After approval

With OBA status, changing the display name is no longer a simple tweak: the display names page says you must contact Meta’s direct support to do it. Settle on the final name before requesting the badge.

OBA status also unlocks features. In February 2026, Meta opened Cloud API groups to all businesses with an Official Business Account, according to the platform changelog.

Meta Verified for business on WhatsApp

Meta Verified is a paid subscription that includes the verified badge, impersonation protection and support, among other features (Meta Verified for business). You subscribe through the WhatsApp Business app, not through the official account request in WhatsApp Manager.

To find out whether it’s available, open WhatsApp Business and look for Meta Verified in the app’s settings or business tools. If the option doesn’t appear, the feature isn’t available for the account at that time. Meta offers several packages, and the level of support varies by package; verification is based on the business’s activity across Meta technologies, and Meta may ask for additional information or documents. Check the current plans and local prices on the subscription screen itself, because they change by market.

In September 2026, Meta announced Meta One, a subscription that bundles benefits across several apps. Its business plans include a verified badge, subject to successful verification, and Meta notes that plans, benefits, pricing and availability vary by region, app and account (Meta One announcement). Check in the app what shows up for your number.

Realistic expectations

Situation	What to expect
Newly created business, no press coverage	OBA unlikely in the short term; focus on verification, an approved name and a complete profile
Brand known regionally, with coverage in local outlets	Worth requesting; the decision depends on how Meta assesses notability
National brand with frequent coverage	Natural candidate, as long as the technical requirements are in order
Number in coexistence (app and API)	Confirm eligibility first; Meta doesn’t grant OBA to app numbers
WhatsApp Business app only	The possible path is Meta Verified, if available for the account

Three points avoid frustration:

• The badge isn’t one of the limit-increase paths. The limits documentation mentions business verification and quality, not the badge. The article on WhatsApp API messaging limits explains the tiers, and phone number quality rating explains what drives quality.
• No one can guarantee approval. The decision is Meta’s. Be wary of anyone selling a “guaranteed badge”.
• The badge doesn’t replace good practices. Quality, opt-in and well-categorized templates matter more day to day than the badge. See the official WhatsApp API guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does the green badge still exist?

The name lives on, but Meta’s current documentation describes the Official Business Account badge as a blue checkmark. In practice, “green badge” and “blue badge” refer to the same verified badge.

Can I pay to get an Official Business Account?

The official account documentation doesn’t mention any charge or way to pay for the status: the request is reviewed against Meta’s criteria. The paid path is Meta Verified, a different subscription offered in the WhatsApp Business app when available for the account.

How long after creating the account can I request it?

Meta requires at least 30 days of registration on the WhatsApp Business Platform, plus the other criteria. If the request is denied, wait another 30 days before trying again.

Does the badge change message pricing?

Meta’s pricing page doesn’t mention the badge. Rates depend on the message category and the recipient’s country, as explained in WhatsApp API pricing in Brazil; for other markets, see WhatsApp API pricing by country.

Does my number show up in WhatsApp search without the badge?

According to Meta, a non-OBA number doesn’t appear when a user searches for it inside WhatsApp. If the customer saves the number in their contacts, the display name shows up in their search results.

Get started with Vectalk

Vectalk is a managed proxy for the official WhatsApp Cloud API: the same payloads and webhooks as Meta, one token for all accounts and coexistence with the app. You don’t add a card at Meta: you pay a monthly fee and keep a prepaid balance, and each delivered message is deducted from it. Create your account at apps.vectalk.com.br/register or ask questions through the Help Center.

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Sources checked on October 29, 2026: Official Business Accounts, About WhatsApp Business display names, Display names, Meta Verified for business on WhatsApp Business, WhatsApp Business Platform changelog, Meta One announcement.