The official WhatsApp Green Tick (Official Business Account badge) next to your brand name represents trust, security, and verified legitimacy. When a customer receives a message from a Green Tick account, your business display name is shown even if the user hasn't saved your contact in their phone.
1. What is the WhatsApp Green Tick?
Meta distinguishes between two types of WhatsApp Business API accounts:
- Business Account (Default): Standard API account. Your phone number is visible to customers until they save your contact, accompanied by a small profile picture.
- Official Business Account (OBA - Green Tick): Awarded to established, notable brands. Your verified company name displays prominently with a green checkmark badge.
2. Eligibility Criteria for Indian Businesses
Meta enforces stringent criteria before granting an Official Business Account (OBA):
- WhatsApp Business API Enabled: You must be using the official WhatsApp Business API (via a Meta Cloud API provider like ZENChatz), not the free standard WhatsApp Business App.
- Verified Meta Business Manager: Your Facebook Business Manager account must have Completed Business Verification (GST, Certificate of Incorporation).
- 2-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enabled on your Meta Business account.
- Tier 2 Messaging Limit or Higher: Your phone number must have reached at least Messaging Tier 2 (10,000+ business-initiated conversations per day) with a High Quality rating.
- Brand Notability (Crucial): Meta reviews whether your brand has organic online presence in credible Indian press publications (e.g. YourStory, Economic Times, Entrackr, Times of India, Inc42). Paid press releases do not count.
3. Documents Required for Indian Verification
| Document Type | Accepted Proof in India | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Business Registration | GST Registration Certificate, Certificate of Incorporation (CIN), or MSME Udyam | Proves legal entity existence |
| Address Proof | Recent Electricity Bill, Bank Account Statement, or Rental Agreement in company name | Validates operating address |
| Website Domain Ownership | Domain matching business name with HTTPS & corporate email matching domain | Proves digital asset control |
| Media Coverage Links | 3 to 5 non-sponsored articles from notable news portals | Demonstrates public brand notability |
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Apply
Complete Meta Business Manager Verification
Navigate to Business Settings > Security Center > Business Verification. Upload your GST certificate and utility bill. Approval takes 24–72 hours.
Establish Tier 2 Messaging & Green Quality Rating
Send high-engagement transactional messages (order confirmations, OTPs) to reach 10K daily messaging tier with zero spam complaints.
Submit Official Business Account (OBA) Request
Go to WhatsApp Manager > Phone Numbers > Settings > Profile. Click Submit Request for Official Business Account. Provide 5 links to authoritative news coverage about your brand.
Review & Approval (2 to 4 Business Days)
Meta's compliance team manually inspects your brand authenticity. Once approved, the green tick immediately appears on your WhatsApp profile.
5. Top Reasons Applications Get Rejected
- Submitted Sponsored / Paid PR: Meta filters out PRNewswire, ANI syndications, and paid sponsored native articles.
- Display Name Discrepancy: Display name on WhatsApp does not match your legal entity or website branding.
- Low Messaging Volume: Applying on a brand new number with zero conversation history.
- Prohibited Categories: Brands dealing in crypto, adult goods, alcohol, gambling, or unregulated supplements cannot get verified.
6. How Much Does Green Tick Verification Cost?
Meta charges $0 (Free) for green tick application. However, many legacy BSP middlemen charge ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 in application processing fees.
With ZENChatz, we help our clients format and submit their OBA request directly through the Meta Cloud API console with zero markup and 100% free guidance.
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