Short answer
The WhatsApp green tick in India now means one of two badges. An Official Business Account, shown as a blue checkmark, is requested in WhatsApp Manager, with no fee listed by Meta, by Business Platform (API) users who meet Meta's five criteria. Meta Verified is a subscription bought in the WhatsApp Business app, priced in India from ₹639 a month for one app at its 2024 launch.
What is the WhatsApp green tick now?
The phrase outlived the badge. Meta's current developer documentation describes the Official Business Account badge as a blue checkmark, and a second, paid badge called Meta Verified now exists for small businesses on the WhatsApp Business app.
For years the WhatsApp green tick was the only verification mark for businesses: the Official Business Account (OBA) status on the WhatsApp Business API. Two things have changed. Meta's own OBA page now says that Official Business Account phone numbers "have a blue checkmark beside their name in the contacts view" (Meta for Developers). And in June 2024 WhatsApp began rolling out Meta Verified for businesses on the WhatsApp Business app in Brazil, India, Indonesia and Colombia, with a verified badge, impersonation protection, enhanced support and use across multiple devices (WhatsApp Blog).
So when someone in India asks for the WhatsApp blue tick for business or the green tick, the first question is which WhatsApp they use. A number on the Business Platform (the API, usually through a provider) can request OBA. A number on the WhatsApp Business app can subscribe to Meta Verified. The routes, the criteria and the costs are different, and many vendor pages mix them up.
Official Business Account vs Meta Verified: what is the difference?
They solve different problems for different WhatsApp products. OBA marks a recognised business on the API; Meta Verified sells verification, protection and support to businesses on the app.
| Official Business Account (OBA) | Meta Verified for business | |
|---|---|---|
| For which WhatsApp | WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API or via a provider); not available to WhatsApp Business app numbers | WhatsApp Business app (Meta's page describes subscribing in the app) |
| How you get it | Request in WhatsApp Manager or via the API; Meta decides | Subscribe in the app: Tools, Meta Verified, choose a package, pay |
| Published cost | No fee listed on Meta's OBA page | India: from ₹639 a month for one app; up to ₹21,000 a month for two apps on the introductory 12-month offer (July 2024) |
| What customers see | A blue checkmark beside the name in contacts | A verified badge in the Calls tab, business profile, context cards, chats and incoming calls |
| Other benefits | Number appears in WhatsApp search; non-OBA numbers do not, unless saved | Impersonation protection, enhanced support, custom web page, multi-agent use, verified badge on up to 10 Channels |
| Main requirements | Policy compliance, 30 days on the Platform, verified business portfolio, two-step verification, approved display name | Business details up to date; verification based on activity across Meta, with documents if asked |
- You send messages through the Business Platform (API)
- You want the checkmark at no listed fee
- You can complete Business Verification and two-step verification
- You accept that Meta may decline the request
- You run the business on the WhatsApp Business app
- Impersonation is a real risk for your brand
- You want faster support from Meta
- A monthly fee from ₹639 fits the benefit
Who is eligible for the Official Business Account badge, and how to request it
Meta lists five conditions and two ways to ask. Meeting the conditions makes a request possible; it does not make approval automatic.
- Policy compliance. The business follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, which requires explicit opt-in before contacting people and bans categories such as illegal goods, adult products, dating services, multi-level marketing and payday loans.
- 30 days on the Platform. The business has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- Verified business portfolio. The Meta business portfolio that owns the number has completed Business Verification, which is done in Meta Business Manager by a business admin (Meta for Developers).
- Two-step verification is enabled on the business phone number.
- Approved display name. Display name verification is triggered when the number reaches a higher messaging limit; Meta allows up to 10 display name changes in 30 days (Meta for Developers).
Requesting an Official Business Account
- PortfolioComplete Business VerificationIn Meta Business Manager, verify the business portfolio that owns the WhatsApp number.
- NumberGet the display name approvedUse a name that matches the business; approval arrives as a webhook and in WhatsApp Manager.
- NumberTurn on two-step verificationOn the business phone number, in WhatsApp Manager if it is not on already.
- RequestSubmit the requestWhatsApp Manager: Overview, select the number, then the Official business account option under its profile. Or request it with the Official Business Account Status API.
- DecisionWait for the decisionMeta notifies whether OBA was granted. If denied, wait 30 days before resubmitting.
Meta's page adds three practical points. OBA is not granted to business employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers. A denial does not stop you from using the number or editing its profile picture, email, website and description. And if you meet the criteria but cannot see the option, Meta says to contact your Meta point of contact, your solution provider's support, or Meta Support. Once approved, an OBA number cannot change its display name through the normal flow; Meta asks you to contact direct support.
Many vendor pages add a "notability" test, saying the brand needs press coverage. Meta's OBA page, as checked on 18 October 2026, does not list notability among its criteria. Meta still decides each request, so a strong, consistent brand presence will not hurt, but no vendor can promise the outcome.
Meta Verified price in India and what the plans include
Meta Verified for business is a subscription, priced by plan and by how many of Meta's apps it covers. Meta's India prices were announced in July 2024; the in-app screen is the current price.
| Offer | One app (for example WhatsApp) | Two apps (Facebook and Instagram bundle) |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory offer, first 12 months | From ₹639 a month | Up to ₹21,000 a month |
| Standard rate after 12 months | From ₹639 a month | Up to ₹30,000 a month |
| Plans | Business Standard, Business Plus, Business Premium, Business Max | Same four plans |
| Where to buy in India | iOS or Android only, at launch | iOS or Android only, at launch |
Every plan includes the base set: the verified badge, account support and impersonation protection. Higher plans add more, and support rises from chat or email to a callback and then active case monitoring (Meta Newsroom). On WhatsApp specifically, the WhatsApp Business Meta Verified page lists a custom web page with its own link, enhanced in-app support whose coverage varies by Business Plus, Premium and Max, a multi-agent account so several devices and sales agents can handle chats, and a verified badge on up to 10 WhatsApp Channels. It also mentions Meta One, a broader subscription that includes everything in Meta Verified plus AI and proactive messaging tools, with plans and availability varying.
To subscribe, Meta's page describes the steps inside the WhatsApp Business app: open Tools, choose Meta Verified, pick a package, select the accounts to verify and make the first payment. For Facebook and Instagram, Meta's 2023 launch post listed eligibility conditions such as minimum account tenure and activity and two-factor authentication, with the connection to the business confirmed by phone, email or domain (Meta Newsroom). For WhatsApp, Meta's page says verification draws on your activity across Meta technologies and you may be asked for documents.
Third-party pages quote conflicting Meta Verified prices, often from older launches. Meta's own figures are the July 2024 India announcement above; the price shown in your WhatsApp Business app at checkout is the one you will pay.
How the badge relates to WhatsApp API messaging and pricing
A badge changes how customers see you, not what Meta charges per message or how many people you can message. Those depend on separate rules.
| Topic | What Meta's documentation says | Does the badge change it? |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Since 1 July 2025, Meta charges per delivered template message in three categories: marketing, utility and authentication | Not mentioned; pricing is set by category, volume tier and recipient country |
| Free messages | Non-template messages are free inside the 24-hour customer service window; utility templates in that window are free; a 72-hour free entry point applies after Click to WhatsApp ads | No |
| Country rates | Charged by the country calling code of the recipient; INR rate cards published | No |
| INR billing | From 1 January 2026 for eligible partners and direct clients with India as Sold-To; all WABAs must move to INR by 31 December 2026 | No |
| Messaging limits | New portfolios start at 250 unique users per 24 hours, rising to 2,000, 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited; Business Verification is one path to scaling | Not mentioned; Business Verification (also an OBA criterion) is what helps |
The practical link is Business Verification. It is one of the five OBA criteria and also one of Meta's documented paths to raising messaging limits, so completing it pays off twice even if the badge request is declined (Meta for Developers). Quality matters as well: the Business Messaging Policy says WhatsApp may limit or remove access based on user feedback such as blocks and reports, and a badge does not protect a number that is sending messages people did not ask for.
If you are choosing a provider for the API, the Interakt vs Wati vs AiSensy comparison covers platform fees and CRM integration depth; the provider usually handles the OBA request through its own support channel.
Check which badge route is open to you
A quick check against Meta's published criteria, with what is still missing and what Meta publishes about cost.
WhatsApp badge path checker
Tell the checker which WhatsApp product you use and what is already in place. It shows which badge route is open to you, what is missing, and what Meta publishes about the cost.
- Our number has been on the Business Platform for 30 days or more
- Our Meta business portfolio has completed Business Verification
- Our display name has been approved
Meta's OBA page lists no fee. Business Verification and display name review come first.
Rules from Meta's own pages only. Official Business Account (OBA): the five criteria on Meta's OBA developer page (Business Messaging Policy compliance, 30 days on the WhatsApp Business Platform, a verified business portfolio, two-step verification on the number, an approved display name), not available to WhatsApp Business app numbers, and a 30-day wait after a denial. Meta's page lists no fee and does not guarantee approval when criteria are met. Meta Verified: the subscription Meta describes for the WhatsApp Business app, bought in the app; India prices are from Meta's July 2024 announcement (from ₹639 a month for one app) and may have changed, so the in-app price is the one that counts. The readiness score is the share of the listed criteria you have met; it is not Meta's assessment.
Which badge should an Indian business go for?
Start from the WhatsApp product you use, then from what you need the badge to do.
Choosing a WhatsApp verification route
Which WhatsApp does your business use?
See the whole decision tree
Which WhatsApp does your business use?
- WhatsApp Business app
Do you need automation, CRM sync or messaging at scale?
- No, a few people chat with customersMeta VerifiedSubscribe in the app if impersonation or trust is a real issue; check the in-app price first.
- YesMove to the Business Platform, then OBAThe API supports automation and CRM integration; OBA can be requested after 30 days on the Platform.See WhatsApp automation →
- No, a few people chat with customers
- Business Platform (API)
Is your business portfolio verified and the display name approved?
- YesRequest OBA nowEnable two-step verification and submit the request in WhatsApp Manager or through your provider.
- NoComplete verification firstBusiness Verification also helps raise messaging limits, so it is worth doing before any campaign.
- Yes
Is a badge worth chasing for your business?
Vendor claims about the green tick, checked against Meta
Much of what ranks for this topic is written by WhatsApp providers. These are the claims most worth checking.
Myth We can guarantee your green tick.
Reality Meta grants OBA status and notifies you of the decision. No third party can guarantee it; a provider can only prepare and submit the request.
Myth You need press coverage to qualify.
Reality Meta's OBA page, as checked, lists five criteria and none of them is press coverage. Meta still reviews each request.
Myth The green tick costs a fixed fee.
Reality Meta's OBA page lists no fee. Meta Verified is a separate, paid subscription for the WhatsApp Business app.
Myth Verified numbers pay less per message.
Reality Meta's pricing documentation sets charges by message category, volume tier and recipient country, and does not mention badges.
Myth You can get the badge on the WhatsApp Business app by applying for OBA.
Reality Meta says OBA is not granted to WhatsApp Business app numbers. On the app, the badge comes from Meta Verified.
It helps customers recognise the real number and, for Meta Verified, adds protection and support. No conversion uplift from either badge was found in Meta's published material, so judge it on trust and fraud risk, not on promised sales.
What matters more than the badge for WhatsApp campaigns
A verified number that is not connected to your CRM or measured in your ad accounts is still a blind spot.
The badge is the last mile of trust. The commercial value of WhatsApp for Indian businesses comes from what sits behind it: opt-in capture, fast replies, CRM records for every conversation and attribution back to the ads that started them. The site's guides cover each piece: HubSpot WhatsApp integration for logging chats against contacts, Shopify WhatsApp order notifications for COD confirmation, tracking WhatsApp leads in Google Ads for attribution, and AI chatbots for business for automated first replies. If WhatsApp enquiries start from ads, Meta ads management and the Meta Conversions API setup guide cover sending qualified chats back as conversions, and the Zoho CRM consultant page covers WhatsApp in Zoho. Speed matters most: in the site's fintech speed-to-lead case study, cutting response time from 4.2 hours to 11 minutes moved form-to-call conversion from 8% to 27%.
Rahul D Sarker is a fractional CMO and RevOps consultant based in Kolkata who sets up WhatsApp journeys, CRM integration and attribution for companies in India, working remotely; the WhatsApp automation service describes that work. He does not sell verification and cannot obtain a badge on anyone's behalf; Meta decides. Where WhatsApp is one part of a wider revenue question, the Revenue Diagnostic (fixed price, two weeks, listed at ₹90,000 for companies in India and $1,500 elsewhere) maps the full funnel first, with the fee credited if you continue.
Get your WhatsApp setup reviewed
Tell me how you use WhatsApp today. You will get a reply on the verification route and how to connect the number to your CRM and ads.
Tell me about your WhatsApp setup
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WhatsApp green tick in India: common questions
How much does the WhatsApp green tick cost in India?
Meta's Official Business Account page lists no fee for the badge itself, which is requested on the WhatsApp Business Platform. Meta Verified, the paid route on the WhatsApp Business app, was announced for India from ₹639 a month for one app in July 2024. API messages are charged separately per delivered template message.
Is the WhatsApp green tick now blue?
Meta's current Official Business Account documentation describes a blue checkmark beside the business name in the contacts view. Many guides still call it the green tick. Meta Verified, a separate subscription, also shows a verified badge.
Can I get the green tick on the WhatsApp Business app?
Not as an Official Business Account: Meta says OBA is not granted to WhatsApp Business app numbers. On the app, the route to a verified badge is the Meta Verified subscription, bought inside the app.
What are the eligibility criteria for an Official Business Account?
Meta lists five: compliance with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, at least 30 days on the WhatsApp Business Platform, a business portfolio that has completed Business Verification, two-step verification on the phone number, and an approved display name. Meeting them allows a request; Meta decides it.
What happens if my OBA request is denied?
You must wait 30 days before resubmitting. A denial does not stop you from messaging or from editing your profile picture, email, website and description. If you meet the criteria but cannot see the request option, Meta suggests contacting your Meta point of contact, your solution provider or Meta Support.
What is the Meta Verified price in India?
Meta's July 2024 announcement priced Meta Verified for business in India from ₹639 a month for one app, up to ₹21,000 a month for two apps on a 12-month introductory offer, and up to ₹30,000 a month for two apps at standard rates afterwards. Check the current price in the app before subscribing.
Does a verified badge reduce WhatsApp API message costs?
No. Meta's pricing documentation charges per delivered template message by category (marketing, utility, authentication), volume tier and the recipient's country, and does not mention badge status. Business Verification can help raise messaging limits, which is a different benefit.
Can a vendor guarantee the green tick?
No. Meta reviews each OBA request and notifies the business of the outcome. A provider can help prepare and submit the request, but a guarantee is a warning sign about the vendor.
Should a small business pay for Meta Verified?
It is worth it when impersonation is a real risk, for example when customers pay over chat or fake accounts use your brand, or when faster support from Meta matters. If the main goal is more sales from WhatsApp, response speed, CRM integration and attribution usually matter more than the badge.
Sources
- Official Business Accounts, Meta for Developers (WhatsApp Business Platform). Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Display names, Meta for Developers (WhatsApp Business Platform). Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Messaging limits, Meta for Developers (WhatsApp Business Platform). Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta for Developers (WhatsApp Business Platform). Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Business Verification, Meta for Developers. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, WhatsApp Business. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Protect your business's brand with Meta Verified, WhatsApp Business. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Introducing AI tools, Meta Verified and more for businesses on WhatsApp, WhatsApp Blog. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Launching Meta Verified Subscription Plans for Businesses on Instagram and Facebook in India, Meta Newsroom. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Expanding Meta Verified to Businesses, Meta Newsroom. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Meta Verified, Meta. Accessed 2026-10-18.