Beginner guide · Documents

Documents needed for WhatsApp Business API in India

To unlock the full WhatsApp Business API, Meta asks you to verify your business. Here is what Meta asks for, the kinds of documents Meta itself lists, and the small mismatches that cause most problems.

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Last updated: 5 November 2026

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Quick answer

Meta asks for your legal business name, address, phone number and website, and these must exactly match your official records. If Meta can't confirm them automatically, you upload official documents that show your legal name and full address — for example a certificate of incorporation or a business licence. Self-filled forms, blurry scans and expired documents are not accepted.

Meta's own document page

Checklist

What Meta asks you to enter

Meta says the details you enter must exactly match the details of your legal business entity.

Legal business name

The registered name of your business, spelled exactly as on your official documents — not a shop name or short form.

Business address

The full address, as it appears on your documents. A partial address is not enough.

Phone number

A business phone number Meta can use to confirm your business.

Website

A website that belongs to your business, loads properly, uses HTTPS (the padlock) and shows your company name or logo.

Business email

Meta says the email domain should match your website address — for example name@yourbusiness.com for yourbusiness.com.

Document types

Document type → what it proves

Only the document types Meta's own Help Center lists. Meta's pages found give no separate list for India; where a country has no fixed list, Meta says to use official government documents that show your legal name and address.

Document type (as Meta lists it)	What it proves	Meta's condition
Certificate of incorporation or formation	Legal business name (and address, if shown)	Must be the official, issued document
Business or corporate charter / company registration form	Legal business name	Meta calls these 'business formation documents'; the name depends on the country
Business licence	Legal business name and address	Meta mentions this when no matching record is found
Articles of incorporation	Legal business name	Meta mentions this when no matching record is found
Approved registration certificate	Legal business name and address	Must carry an official signature and/or seal
Utility bill (phone or electricity)	Phone number or address	Only helps if it also shows the business name
Official government document	Legal business name and address	Meta's fallback where a country has no fixed list

Source: Meta Business Help Center — [required documents](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/193400874040813) and [troubleshooting](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2342133782492969). Meta's lists can change and can differ by country. Not sure which document to use? Message our team on WhatsApp before you apply.

Meta accepts

Good documents

Official documents issued to your business
Show your legal name exactly as you typed it
Show your full business address
Clear, readable, not expired
In a language Meta supports, or translated into English with the translation agency's official stamp
Up to two documents — and both must show the legal name

Meta does not accept

Documents that get rejected

•Self-filled forms or filing receipts without an official signature or seal
•Invoices
•Personal bank statements
•A utility bill with a phone number but no business name
•Expired documents
•Small, blurry, low-resolution or broken (corrupted) files

The mismatch mistakes Meta lists

Most verification problems are small differences between what you typed and what your document says. Meta's Help Center calls out these:

The name doesn't match. The legal name in your Meta business settings must match the name on your document exactly. Either change the name in business settings to match the document, or upload a document that shows the name exactly as it is in business settings.
The address is incomplete. The document must show your full business address, and it must match the address you entered.
The website doesn't work or isn't yours. Meta may reject a website that doesn't load, isn't HTTPS or opens an error page.
The email doesn't match the website. Use an email on your own website's domain.
The document is self-filled. A form you filled in yourself is not proof. Upload the approved certificate with an official signature or seal.

One more thing Meta says: if you later change your business details, you need to complete verification again. So get the details right the first time.

Not sure which document to use? Message our team on WhatsApp before you apply. Talk to our team →

Frequently asked questions

What documents are required for the WhatsApp Business API?+

Meta business verification asks for your legal business name, address, phone number and website. If Meta can't confirm them automatically, you upload official documents that show your legal name and full address, such as a certificate of incorporation or a business licence.

Does Meta have a separate document list for India?+

The Meta Help Center pages we checked don't give an India-only list. Meta says that where a country has no fixed list, you should use official government documents that show your legal business name and address.

Can I use an invoice or a bank statement?+

Meta lists invoices and personal bank statements as not accepted. A utility bill only helps if it shows your business name.

How many documents can I upload?+

Meta lets you upload up to two documents, and both must show the legal name of your business.

My documents are not in English. What now?+

Meta supports verification in certain languages only. If yours isn't supported, get the documents translated into English, with the translation agency's official stamp.

Do I need the documents before I connect WhatsApp to Lead Pattern?+

You can connect your number first and start messaging within Meta's starting limits. Business verification is done in Meta, and it is the biggest step for unlocking higher limits.

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Documents needed for WhatsApp Business API in India

What Meta asks you to enter

Legal business name

Business address

Phone number

Website

Business email

Document type → what it proves

Good documents

Documents that get rejected

The mismatch mistakes Meta lists

Frequently asked questions

Related beginner guides

WhatsApp Business API for beginners

Meta business verification

Verification rejected?

Who can get the API?

Setup checklist

Which phone number to use

How long setup takes

Green tick guide

Get the official WhatsApp Business API — free setup, 14-day trial.