What OBA Is
An Official Business Account (OBA) is the WhatsApp business account status that shows a blue checkmark next to the display name. OBA is granted by Meta for businesses that are authentic and notable.
Coexistence Limitation
OBA is not supported for Coexistence accounts. If your number is running in Coexistence mode, you cannot use OBA for that number. Evaluate Meta Verified for Business options instead.
Eligibility Criteria
Before requesting OBA, make sure all of the following are true:
- Your business complies with WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
- The business is active on WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- The business portfolio owning the number is business-verified by Meta.
- The phone number has two-step verification enabled.
- The display name is approved.
- The brand is notable (well-known and frequently searched).
Notability: What Meta Looks For
Notability is about public recognition, not basic account authenticity. Meta reviews external signals such as press coverage from credible publications.
- Use recent third-party coverage (generally from the last 12 months).
- Do not rely on your own site, social profiles, paid placements, or sponsored content as primary evidence.
- Keep your website business details consistent with your display name and company identity.
How to Request OBA
- Open WhatsApp Manager.
- Go to Account Tools → Phone Numbers.
- Select the target number.
- Open Profile.
- Under Official business account, click Submit request if available.
- Add supporting evidence links and complete the request form.
If the submit button is unavailable or grayed out, the account is currently not eligible.
Denials and Re-Apply Window
If Meta rejects the OBA request, there is no direct appeal path. You can strengthen your public notability signals and submit again after 30 days.
Display Name Changes After Approval
If you change the display name after OBA is granted, Meta may reassess the number for notability and compliance. OBA status is not guaranteed to remain after a display-name change.
Cost and Ownership
There is no separate fee to apply for OBA itself. Approval decisions are fully controlled by Meta. Neither Dualhook nor any BSP can guarantee approval.