What the Green Tick Actually Means
The green checkmark next to a business name on WhatsApp is Meta's Official Business Account (OBA) verification. It signals to customers that Meta has confirmed this account belongs to an authentic, notable brand. It builds trust, reduces impersonation risk, and makes customers more likely to engage — particularly important when you are messaging them first.
Note: a green tick is different from the simpler grey "business account" indicator. The green tick is the premium trust signal, and Meta grants it selectively.
Prerequisites Before You Can Apply
You cannot get the green tick on the free Business App. You need:
- A WhatsApp Business API account (via Cloud API and a platform)
- A verified Meta Business Manager account — business verification completed with valid documents
- A display name that complies with WhatsApp's naming policy (your real business name, properly formatted)
- An active, in-good-standing account with a healthy quality rating
Step-by-Step: Applying for the Green Tick
Step 1 — Complete Business Verification in Meta Business Manager
In Meta Business Manager, go to Security Centre and complete business verification. You will upload documents proving your business is legitimate — registration certificate, utility bill, or similar in the business's legal name. This usually takes 24–48 hours.
Step 2 — Set a Compliant Display Name
Your WhatsApp display name must match your actual brand and follow Meta's display name guidelines (no unnecessary capitalisation, no generic terms, must reflect the real business). Submit it through your API platform and wait for approval.
Step 3 — Submit the Official Business Account Request
Once verified with an approved display name, request Official Business Account status. This is submitted through Meta Business Manager (under WhatsApp Account settings) or via your platform provider. Meta reviews the request against its eligibility criteria.
Step 4 — Wait for Meta's Review
Meta evaluates whether your brand is "notable" — its assessment considers your brand's presence and recognition (news coverage, online presence, brand prominence). Review can take days to weeks. Not every application is approved; smaller or newer brands are sometimes declined initially.
What Improves Your Chances
- A strong external presence — Meta looks for evidence your brand is recognised: press mentions, an established website, social presence. Build this up before applying.
- Completed business verification — non-negotiable; do this first.
- A high message quality rating — send valuable, wanted messages so your account is in good standing.
- A clean, policy-compliant display name — naming violations are a common rejection reason.
If You Get Rejected
Rejection is not permanent. Build more brand presence, ensure verification and quality are solid, and reapply later. Many businesses get the tick on a second or third attempt once their notability has grown. In the meantime, business verification alone still gives customers a degree of confidence.
How Tenreply Helps
Tenreply guides you through API onboarding, Meta business verification, and display name approval, and helps you submit the Official Business Account request — handling the technical steps so you can focus on building the brand presence that earns the green tick.