How to Get WhatsApp Business API in India: Step-by-Step

To get the WhatsApp Business API, you need a Facebook account, a Meta business portfolio, a phone number that can receive an SMS or call, and a platform built on Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform. Through Meta's Embedded Signup, most businesses can connect a number and start sending approved templates on the same day. Business verification is not needed to start, but you will want it to grow your messaging limits.

This guide shows how to get WhatsApp Business API access step by step, what Meta checks, and the most common reasons applications get stuck.

What you need before you start

Keep these ready before you click signup. It saves a lot of back-and-forth.

Requirement	Details
Facebook account	A personal Facebook profile of the owner or an admin. It is used to log in, not to post anything.
Meta business portfolio	Formerly called Business Manager. You can create one during signup if you do not have it.
Phone number	A number you own that can receive an SMS or voice call. Landlines work with the voice option.
Display name	The business name customers will see. It must follow Meta's display name rules.
Website or social presence	Helps Meta confirm your display name and is needed for business verification.
Payment method	Card or other method so Meta can bill per-message charges.
Business documents	Needed later for business verification, such as GST certificate or company registration documents.

About the phone number

The number cannot be active on the regular WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app at the same time, unless your platform supports Meta's coexistence option. If it is, either delete the WhatsApp account on that phone first or use a fresh number. See our WhatsApp Business app vs API guide for the full rule.

Also remember that one number can be connected to only one platform at a time.

Display name rules

Meta reviews every display name. To get approved first time:

• The name should clearly match your business and your external branding, such as your website, shop board or Instagram page.
• Avoid generic words on their own, like "Best Deals" or "Delhi Properties".
• Avoid personal names unless your brand actually uses that name.
• Do not add URLs, phone numbers, emojis or promotional phrases.
• Do not use words like "Official" or "Verified", or Meta brand names like "WhatsApp".
• Use normal capitalisation, for example "Sharma Dental Clinic", not "SHARMA DENTAL CLINIC".

How to get WhatsApp Business API: step by step

Most platforms use Meta's Embedded Signup, a pop-up flow that runs on Meta's own pages. Here is what it looks like:

1. Sign up on your platform and click the connect WhatsApp button (on AiSender it is Continue with Facebook).
2. Log in to Facebook with the owner or admin account.
3. Choose or create a business portfolio. Enter your legal business name, website and country.
4. Create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) or choose an existing one.
5. Set up your profile. Enter the display name, business category and time zone.
6. Add your phone number and choose to receive the code by SMS or voice call.
7. Enter the verification code. Your number is now registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
8. Grant permissions so your platform can send and receive messages on your behalf.
9. Add a payment method in Meta's billing settings (or as your platform guides you).
10. Create your first templates and submit them for approval.

On AiSender this whole flow usually takes about 10 minutes. Once it is done, you can receive chats in the shared inbox right away and send templates as soon as they are approved.

After signup: business verification and limits

You do not need to verify your business before sending messages. But until you do, your account starts with a low limit. As of November 2026, Meta's documentation says new business portfolios can message 250 unique customers in a rolling 24 hours outside the customer service window. Replies inside the 24-hour window do not count toward this.

To move up, Meta looks for one of these:

• Completing business verification in Meta Business Suite (Security Centre).
• Sending enough high-quality template messages to unique customers over 30 days.

After the first increase, limits can grow step by step (2,000, 10,000, 100,000, then unlimited) as you use them with good quality. Limits are now shared across all numbers in a business portfolio. Meta can change these thresholds, so check messaging limits and tiers for details.

Business verification checklist

1. Open Meta Business Suite, go to Settings and find Business info or Security Centre.
2. Enter your legal business name exactly as it appears on your documents.
3. Add the business address and phone number matching your documents.
4. Add a website on a domain you own, showing the same business name.
5. Upload a document such as a GST certificate, Udyam registration certificate, shop and establishment licence or certificate of incorporation.
6. Confirm through email, phone or domain verification when asked.

Common rejection reasons (and how to fix them)

Most delays come from a handful of mistakes:

• Display name rejected. The name does not match your website or branding, or uses generic or promotional words. Fix your website or social profile to show the same name, then request again.
• Number already in use. The number is still active on a WhatsApp app or connected to another platform. Delete the app account or disconnect it from the old provider.
• Verification code not received. The number cannot receive SMS. Switch to the voice call option, or make sure the line is active and not on DND blocking automated calls.
• Business verification failed. The legal name, address or website on your portfolio does not match your documents. Make all three match exactly.
• Website issues. No website, a site under construction, or a site that does not mention the business name.
• Restricted business type. Meta's Commerce and Business Policies restrict some categories, such as tobacco, alcohol, weapons, gambling and certain healthcare products. Read the policies before applying.
• Template rejected. Wrong category, unclear variables, or a promotion labelled as utility. Our template approval guide has examples that pass.

Your first week checklist

Once you are live, start carefully so your quality rating stays healthy:

1. Upload only customers who opted in to WhatsApp messages.
2. Send a small first campaign to your most engaged customers.
3. Keep templates short, useful and clearly from your brand.
4. Reply quickly to chats in the inbox.
5. Watch delivered and read reports, and pause if blocks rise.

A simple first utility template could be:

Hi {{1}}, aapka order #{{2}} confirm ho gaya hai. Delivery 3-5 din mein hogi. Track karne ke liye isi chat par "Track" likhein.

If you are new to the platform, start with what the WhatsApp Business API is.

FAQ

How long does it take to get WhatsApp Business API?

With Embedded Signup, connecting a number usually takes minutes. Template approval is often quick, and business verification can take from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Do I need a registered company to get WhatsApp Business API?

No. You can start without verification. To verify later and raise limits, you need documents that prove your business, such as a GST certificate or Udyam registration.

Can I use my personal number for WhatsApp Business API?

You can use any number you own, but it must be removed from the WhatsApp app first (unless your platform supports coexistence). Many businesses use a dedicated new number.

Why is my display name not approved?

Usually because it does not match your website or branding, or contains generic or promotional words. Align your online presence with the name and resubmit.

Ready to go live? Connect your number on AiSender with Continue with Facebook in about 10 minutes, with a prepaid wallet and no monthly fee.