WhatsApp Business API Guide

This guide walks you through creating a WhatsApp Business number and getting access to Meta's Cloud API so you can use WhatsApp in your applications.

Overview

This procedure summarizes the steps needed to:

• Create a WhatsApp Business number via Meta
• Register it for the Cloud API
• Obtain a permanent access token with WhatsApp permissions

The information is based on Meta's official documentation and developer guides.

1. Create and verify your Business account on Meta

Create a Meta WhatsApp application

1. Sign in at developers.facebook.com (opens in a new tab)
2. Create a new app of type "Business"
3. This app will be linked to your business and your WhatsApp number

Verify your business

Ensure your Business Manager is verified with:

• Legal name
• Address
• Phone number

Important: Meta does not activate numbers until the business is approved.

2. Add and verify a phone number

Add the number

1. Open your app dashboard
2. In the sidebar, go to WhatsApp > API Setup
3. Under "Step 5: Add a phone number", click Add phone number

Configure the number

1. Set a display name that matches your brand
2. Choose your timezone
3. Select the business category
4. Add a description

Note: Meta checks the name—it must clearly reflect the business, otherwise the number stays "Pending".

Verify the number

1. Enter the phone number (it must be able to receive a call or SMS)
2. The number must not already be used on WhatsApp
3. Receive the code by SMS or call
4. Enter the code in the verification window

After validation, the number appears in the list and can be used to send messages.

Tip: The dashboard shows a "Phone Number ID" for each number. Note this ID; it is required in API requests.

3. Register the number (developer support)

Once the number is added in the dashboard, it may need to be "registered" via the Cloud API to be fully active.

No action is required from you: this technical step is done by your developer using the Phone Number ID and the token generated during setup.

The goal is to finalize validation of the number with Meta.

4. Create a system user and generate a permanent token

Create the system user

1. In business.facebook.com > Business Settings
2. Go to Users > System Users
3. Click Add to create a system user
4. Give it a name and set the role to Admin for full control over the app

Generate the token

1. Once the user is created, click Generate New Token on its card

2. Select your app from the list

3. Check the following Graph API permissions:

   • business_management — Access to business asset management
   • whatsapp_business_management — Manage WhatsApp Business API
   • whatsapp_business_messaging — Send WhatsApp messages

4. Confirm to generate a permanent token

Important: Copy the token immediately; it will not be shown again. Unlike user tokens that expire, this token is long-lived until you revoke it.

Assign assets

1. Back in the system users list
2. Use Add assets to assign your app and WhatsApp Business account to the user
3. Grant Full Control / Manage App

This ensures the token can access the number and send messages.

Summary

Creating a WhatsApp Business number and accessing Meta's Cloud API comes down to three main steps:

1. Add and verify the number
2. Register it via the API
3. Generate a permanent token via a system user

After following these steps you will have:

• A number identifier (phone_number_id)
• An access token with the permissions needed to use WhatsApp in your applications

Information to provide for integration

To complete the integration of your number, please send us:

With these, we can configure the API and send WhatsApp messages on your behalf.

Need help? Contact our support team for personalized assistance with your WhatsApp Business number setup.