WhatsApp green tick verification: what it is, who gets it and what it costs

“How do I get the WhatsApp green tick?” is one of the most common questions small businesses ask, usually after a competitor gets one or a vendor promises it. Here is what the badge really is in 2026, the two routes to it, and whether you need it at all.

Details change. Meta adjusts badge rules and Meta Verified pricing by country. Checked November 2026; confirm in your app and on Meta’s Official Business Account guidance.

What the green tick is

The green tick was WhatsApp’s verified business badge: a checkmark next to a business name showing WhatsApp had confirmed it was the real brand. WhatsApp has since switched it to a blue checkmark, the same as on Facebook and Instagram, but almost everyone still calls it the green tick.

A verified badge tells customers they are talking to the real business, not an impostor using its name and logo.

Two routes to the badge

Route 1: Official Business Account (through the API)

• Available on the WhatsApp Business Platform (API), not the free app.
• You request it through your provider or WhatsApp Manager.
• No fee from Meta, but approval is strict. Meta looks for a notable business: one that people search for, usually with coverage in independent news media (paid or promotional articles do not count).
• Your Meta business portfolio must be verified first, and you need two-step verification on the number.
• If rejected, you can usually reapply after 30 days.

Who gets it: well-known brands, large hospitals, national chains, popular apps.

Route 2: Meta Verified for business (subscription)

• A paid monthly subscription offered in the WhatsApp Business app (and for Facebook and Instagram) in supported countries, including India.
• You verify your business details and identity; Meta then shows the badge and adds features such as account protection, direct support and, in some plans, extra linked devices.
• At its India launch in 2024, Meta Verified for business started at about ₹639 a month for one app. Check the current price in the app.
• It is not available on every account type, and it was being extended to API accounts during 2025 and 2026.

Who it suits: businesses being impersonated, or those that want a badge without press coverage.

Business verification is not the green tick

Many guides mix these up.

	Meta business verification	Verified badge (green/blue tick)
What it is	Meta confirms your company’s legal details	A public badge next to your name
Needed for	Higher API messaging limits, display name approval, many API features	Nothing; it is optional
How	Upload registration documents in Meta Business Suite	Official Business Account request or Meta Verified subscription
Cost	Free	OBA free (strict); Meta Verified paid

For most businesses using the API, business verification is the step that matters. It lets your messaging limit grow and gets your display name approved.

How to apply for the Official Business Account

1. Move your number to the WhatsApp Business Platform through a provider or CRM. See app vs API.
2. Complete Meta business verification with documents that match your business name (GST, certificate of incorporation, utility bill).
3. Turn on two-step verification for the number.
4. Collect links to independent articles about your business (not paid, not your own blog).
5. Submit the request in WhatsApp Manager or through your provider, with the links.
6. Wait for Meta’s review, usually a few days.

Beware of “guaranteed green tick” offers

Only Meta grants the badge. No agency can guarantee it. Common scams ask for an upfront fee, your Facebook login or your WhatsApp verification code. Never share the six-digit code WhatsApp sends you; whoever has it can take over your number.

Do you really need it?

For a clinic, coaching centre, broker or local service, usually no. Customers decide whether to trust you from:

• A clear display name and logo that match your website and ads.
• A complete business profile: description, hours, address or service area, website.
• Fast, useful replies. A lead who gets a real answer in 30 seconds trusts you more than one who sees a badge and waits until tomorrow. See speed to lead.
• Messages they asked for, not spam. See WhatsApp opt-in.

How OakDeal helps

OakDeal connects your number through Meta’s official WhatsApp Business Platform, so you get a verified business setup from day one. Its AI replies to every new enquiry in seconds from your own business facts, which does more for trust than any badge.