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WhatsApp Official Business Account: the blue checkmark explained
A WhatsApp Official Business Account is a business phone number that Meta has confirmed belongs to an authentic business. As of 6 November 2026, Meta shows it with a blue checkmark beside the business name.
The short answer
As of 6 November 2026, Meta calls it an Official Business Account. It is a business phone number that Meta has reviewed and found to belong to an authentic business. It shows a blue checkmark beside the name in the contacts view (Meta, Official business accounts, checked 6 November 2026).
To qualify, you need business verification, two-step verification, an approved display name, compliance with Meta’s Messaging Policy and at least 30 days on the platform. You request it in WhatsApp Manager. If Meta says no, you can try again after 30 days.
The badge tells customers that Meta has confirmed the business. It does not raise your messaging limit or lower Meta’s fees.
Green tick, OBA or Meta Verified: what is current?
Three names get mixed up. Here is what Meta’s own pages say.
| Name | Where it applies | What Meta says |
|---|---|---|
| Official Business Account (OBA) | Business phone numbers on the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API) | A blue checkmark beside the name in the contacts view. Current in Meta’s documentation, checked 6 November 2026 (Meta). |
| “Green tick” | Informal name used in older guides | Meta’s current OBA and phone number documentation describes a blue checkmark, not a green one. |
| Meta Verified | WhatsApp Business app | Meta began rolling it out on 6 June 2024 in Brazil, India, Indonesia and Colombia. The badge means the business registered its information with Meta (Meta Newsroom). |
Source: Meta, Official business accounts, Meta, Business phone numbers, Meta Newsroom, 6 June 2024, checked 6 November 2026.
Meta’s Platform pages on OBA and display names, checked 6 November 2026, do not mention Meta Verified. If you use the API through a provider such as Unecast, OBA is the badge to plan for. Check with Meta for Meta Verified availability in your country.
Who is eligible?
Meta lists five requirements. You must meet all of them (Meta, Official business accounts):
- Your business complies with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
- Your business has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- The business portfolio that owns the number has passed Business Verification.
- The business phone number has two-step verification turned on.
- The number’s display name has been approved.
Meta does not give OBA status to business employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers.
Meta runs business verification for your business portfolio. Its review usually takes 1 to 10 days, as our WhatsApp Business API page explains.
How do you request it?
- In WhatsApp Manager, go to Overview and click your business phone number.
- Turn on two-step verification if it is not already on.
- Under Phone numbers > Profile > Official business account, click Submit Request.
Meta notifies you when the review is complete. Its page does not give a review time (Meta, Official business accounts).
Can’t see the option, even though you meet the requirements? Meta says to contact your Meta point of contact, your solution provider or Meta Support. Developers can check progress through the official_business_account field, which returns an oba_status value.
If Meta rejects the request, the number did not meet the requirements at that time. You must wait 30 days before you submit again. You can still edit your profile photo, email, website and description.
What are the display name rules?
Your display name is the business name customers see. Meta’s naming rules are in its display name guidelines. Meta’s developer documentation adds these points (Meta, Display names):
- Automatic review. When you reach a higher messaging limit, Meta checks your display name against its guidelines.
- Where it shows. The name always appears on your WhatsApp profile. It appears at the top of chats and in the chat list only once approved.
- Customer edits win. If a customer saves your number under another name, they see their own name instead.
- Change limits. You can change a display name 10 times in 30 days. After approval, re-register the number within 14 days, or resubmit the name.
- OBA numbers. Once you have OBA status, you must contact direct support to change your display name.
Meta checks that your display name matches your business and website. A mismatch is the most common reason for a delay, as our WhatsApp Business API guide notes.
What does the badge do, and what does it not do?
| It does | It does not |
|---|---|
| Shows a blue checkmark beside your name in the contacts view | Raise your messaging limit. Meta’s limits page does not list OBA status as a factor |
| Signals that Meta has confirmed the number belongs to an authentic business | Change Meta’s fees, which depend on message category, volume tier and country |
| Moves display name changes to Meta direct support | Skip template review or the opt-in rules in the Messaging Policy |
| Applies to the specific business phone number you requested it for | Stop customers from blocking or reporting you |
Source: Meta, Official business accounts, Meta, Display names, Meta, Messaging limits, Meta, Pricing, checked 6 November 2026.
Messaging limits rise through Meta’s scaling paths and steady quality. Our messaging limits guide explains how.
What if you are not eligible yet?
You can message customers without the badge. Meanwhile, work through the requirements:
- Complete business verification with documents that match your registered name.
- Get your display name approved, and keep it consistent with your website.
- Turn on two-step verification for the number.
- Follow the policy: message only people who opted in, and use the right template categories.
- Fill in your business profile: photo, description, email and website.
Unecast is a verified Meta Tech Provider. Our guided onboarding is optional and quoted after a discovery call. If you choose it, we prepare the verification paperwork with you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the WhatsApp green tick still available?
Meta’s current Official Business Account documentation, checked 6 November 2026, describes a blue checkmark beside the business name. Older guides often call it the green tick.
Who can get a WhatsApp Official Business Account?
A business on the WhatsApp Business Platform that follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, has been registered for at least 30 days, has passed Business Verification, has two-step verification on the number and has an approved display name.
What happens if my OBA request is rejected?
Meta says you must wait 30 days before you submit a new request. Meanwhile, you can still edit your business profile photo, email, website and description.
Is Meta Verified the same as an Official Business Account?
No. Meta began rolling out Meta Verified on the WhatsApp Business app on 6 June 2024 in Brazil, India, Indonesia and Colombia. Official Business Account status applies to business phone numbers on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
Does the blue checkmark increase my messaging limit or lower Meta’s fees?
Meta’s messaging limits and pricing pages do not list Official Business Account status as a factor. Limits depend on scaling and quality, and fees depend on message category, volume tier and country.
Can I change my display name after I get the badge?
Yes, but not through self-service. Meta says numbers with Official Business Account status must contact direct support to change the display name.
Keep reading
Get your verified business number ready
Book a demo to see how Unecast’s optional guided onboarding, quoted after a discovery call, can help with your verification paperwork, display name and business profile, the groundwork for an Official Business Account request.