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How to Get WhatsApp Business API Access

If you're using the API for your own business — not building a platform other businesses will use — this is simpler than most guides make it sound. No App Review, no demo videos, no Tech Provider status (see the Meta App guide below for why). You just need two things first:

With both of those in place, here's what to do next.

1. Try it with a free test number

Once your app has the WhatsApp product added, its Quickstart page gives you a free, temporary test number — no verification, no cost. You can add up to 5 recipient numbers to an "allowed recipients" list (each one confirms via a code sent in WhatsApp), then send them the pre-built hello_world template straight from the API Setup screen to confirm everything's wired up.

Full steps: WhatsApp Cloud API — Get Started.

2. Go to production with your real number

When you're ready to send/receive on your actual business number, add it as a business phone number on the same WhatsApp app (instead of the temporary test number) and generate a permanent access token for it via a System User in Business Settings. This is still Standard Access — no review needed, same as the test number.

Reference: Business phone numbers — Meta for Developers.

3. Know your messaging limits

Every new Business Portfolio starts at 250 unique customers per 24-hour period, regardless of verification status — this is the free tier and it applies to real (non-test) numbers too. To scale up:

• Reach 2,000 by either verifying your business, or by sending 2,000 delivered messages outside customer-service windows with high-quality templates within 30 days.
• Beyond 2,000, limits scale automatically (to 10,000 / 100,000 / unlimited) as long as you keep messaging quality high and use at least 50% of your current limit in the past 7 days.

Full details: Messaging Limits — Meta for Developers.

The above is everything a single business needs. Building a platform for other businesses instead? That needs App Review and Tech Provider status — see the Meta App guide for the details and source.