How to Request a WhatsApp Official Business Account (Blue Tick)

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

To request the WhatsApp Blue Tick (Official Business Account), enable two-step verification on the phone number, finish Business Verification and Display Name approval, then submit a request with up to 5 supporting links from major publications proving notability.

The WhatsApp Blue Tick — formally an Official Business Account (OBA) — is granted to phone numbers that represent notable, well-known brands. It's not automatic, it's not appealable, and it's awarded at the phone-number-and-display-name level, not the business level.

Prerequisites

Before you can submit an OBA request:

Two-step verification must be enabled on the phone number.
Business Verification must be complete.
Display Name approval must be in place.

OBA is only available to WhatsApp Business Platform users. Business App accounts don't go through Business Verification, so they aren't eligible.

Submit the request

Open WhatsApp Manager from your Business Manager.
Click the phone number you want OBA for in the Overview section.
Confirm two-step verification is on for that number.
Click Submit Request.
Fill in the form: country/countries of operation, parent business or brand (especially if it's a known parent), primary language.
Add up to 5 supporting links from notable publications — for example, India Today, Economic Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Wikipedia, Business Insider.

WhatsApp reviews the request and notifies you with a decision. If denied, you can reapply 30 days later.

What "notability" means

Notability is about presence in news coverage from publications with sizable audiences. It's not about how authentic or established your business is — plenty of legitimate businesses don't qualify because they aren't widely covered in press.

Paid placements, sponsored articles, and business directory listings don't count toward notability review.

Display name and OBA

OBA is tied to a specific phone number and display name combination. Two consequences:

If you change the display name after getting OBA, WhatsApp re-reviews it for notability and compliance against the new name.
OBA approval on one number in your WhatsApp Business Account does not guarantee approval on another number with a different display name.

If you have one notable parent brand and several sub-brands sharing the WABA, the workaround is to format sub-brand display names as {sub-brand} by {notable parent}. The parent's notability then carries through.

If your request is denied

Denials cannot be appealed. You can resubmit after 30 days. Use that time to build genuine press coverage in major publications — that's the path forward, not paid mentions.

While you wait, your business profile (picture, email, website, address, hours, description) is still editable. Customers can find and contact you regardless of OBA status.

Two account types

Account type	What it shows
Business Account	Default for any WhatsApp Business Platform or Business App account. After Business Verification, the business name shows even when the customer hasn't saved the contact.
Official Business Account	Has a blue checkmark in profile and chat headers. Reserved for notable brands meeting OBA criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for a WhatsApp Official Business Account?

Only WhatsApp Business Platform users with completed Business Verification, Display Name approval, and two-step verification on the phone number. Business App accounts aren't eligible.

What counts toward notability?

Coverage in news articles from publications with sizable audiences. Wikipedia entries also help. Paid placements, sponsored content, and business directory listings don't count.

Can I appeal a denied OBA request?

No. Denials are final for that submission. You can submit a new request 30 days later, ideally after building more press coverage.

Does OBA carry over if I change the display name?

No. OBA is tied to the phone number and display name pair. Changing the display name triggers a fresh notability review.

How do I get OBA for sub-brand numbers?

If a parent brand is notable, format sub-brand display names as "Sub-brand by Parent Brand". The parent's notability then supports the sub-brand request.