What it means
The green tick is Meta's official-account verification badge, displayed next to a business name in WhatsApp chats. It signals that Meta has reviewed and confirmed the business is who they claim to be (similar to the blue checkmarks on Facebook and Instagram).
Eligibility is restrictive. Meta's policy is that the badge is for notable, public-facing brands with broad recognition or an established media presence, not just any business with a verified WhatsApp Business API account. The application is via Meta Business Manager and reviews are slow (weeks, sometimes months).
Why it matters
The green tick visibly raises trust in customer chats. For brands that have one, customers are more likely to open marketing messages, less likely to question authenticity, and the brand is harder to impersonate.
For most SMBs, the green tick is unattainable in the near term: Meta declines applications that lack significant media coverage or public recognition. The good news: it is not required for any WhatsApp Business API functionality. The badge is purely a trust signal, not a feature gate.
Example
A regional fashion brand applies for the green tick after building a strong Instagram following and being featured in two major retail publications. Meta approves the application after six weeks. The next time they broadcast a launch, open rates rise about 8 percent compared to the previous launch without the badge: small but measurable.