Before we begin
Before starting the signup process
This section provides the guidelines, specifications, and other information that you need before the signup and business verification processes.
Phone number
The sender (phone number) should meet the following requirements from WhatsApp:
- Must be in the E.164 international format and must be internationally reachable.
- Must be active during the verification process. You will receive either an SMS or a voice call from 2FA to confirm the number of ownership
- No toll-free numbers or numbers under IVR.
- If the number is already registered in the Android, iPhone, or Business Application versions of WhatsApp, refer to the guidance in the Important Information section for embedded signup.
Display name
The WhatsApp Commerce and Business policies must not be broken by the display name. Display names must also adhere to the rules outlined in the following table.
| Policy | Description |
|---|---|
| Accurate representation of your business | Display name should reflect: a company or its department, service, or product A trial or demo account must continue to be linked to the company (Example: Fresh Produce Ltd. Test) Not acceptable display names include: a person's complete name a broad term (Example: Apparel) a broad geographical area (Example: New Delhi) A tagline or extensive description For instance, a shop that sells wine glasses (ACCEPTED) Wine Glasses ABC (UNACCEPTED) Wine ABC |
| Consistency with external branding | There must be consistent branding between the display name and outside sources (For example: company website). For instance, "Fresh Produce Cold Pressed Juices," a product line. Fresh Produce Cold Pressed Juices is your official company name and the name you use on your website. (ACCEPTED) "FP Cold Pressed Juices" is not acceptable because abbreviations must always be consistent. (UNACCEPTED) Fresh Produce Juices — the name should not be abbreviated. |
| Clear relationship with your business | The display name must obviously relate to your company. It must be mentioned on the company website or in outside media references. Example: Name of a charity listed on the website of a non-profit organization (ACCEPTED) Name of a charity not featured on any external websites (UNACCEPTED) |
| Correct formatting | The display name must: Not have variations on title capitalization, must have grammatically correct capitalization, and must not include all capitals, except for acronyms. Example: (ACCEPTED) "New City Computers" (UNACCEPTED) "NEW CITY COMPUTERS" Do not have variations with spacing. Example: for a business called "Lil’Cupcakes" (ACCEPTED) "Lil’Cupcakes" - your official brand name (UNACCEPTED) "Lil’ Cupcakes" - space added. But the external business name does not contain a space Not have any extra punctuation Not include emojis Not include character symbols such as trademark designations Must contain a minimum of 3 characters. Example: for a business called "KT Sir" (ACCEPTED) KT Sir (UNACCEPTED) KT Not be in URL format |
These rules do not apply if a business or an organization already brands this way.
The visibility of the display name depends on the sender's location:
- Senders in Indonesia, Mexico, or Columbia: Your display name is visible to the end user.
- Senders in other regions: If you have a verified sender, your display name is visible to the end user. If you have either an approved sender or an approved sender with limited access, the end user can view your display name only in the contact information section of WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Business profile
WhatsApp business profiles are similar to regular WhatsApp profiles. Business profiles represent your company whereas a regular profile represents an individual.
You must have a WhatsApp business profile to use WhatsApp for business communication. End users can view the following information about your WhatsApp business profile:
- Sender display name
- Business Category
- Business description
Documents for Business Verification
To verify the legal business name
| Acceptable Document - Examples | Unacceptable Document - Examples |
|---|---|
| Business License Certificate of formation or incorporation Business tax or VAT registration certificate | Utility bill (phone, electricity, and so on) Invoices Purchase orders Self-completed declaration about the company Tax returns filed by you or your company Bank statement Printout of website Other documents such as company flyers, letterhead, and so on. |
To verify the business address and phone number
| Acceptable Document - Examples | Unacceptable Document - Examples |
|---|---|
| Utility bill (phone, electricity, and so on) Bank statement Business License Certificate of formation or incorporation Business tax or VAT registration certificate | Invoices Purchase orders Self-completed declaration about the company Tax returns filed by you or your company Printout of website Other documents such as company flyers, letterhead, and so on. |
Updated over 1 year ago