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Business-Initiated Calls | Developer Documentation

Business-Initiated Calls

Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Overview

The Calling API supports making calls to WhatsApp users from your business.
The user dictates when calls can be received by granting call permissions to the business phone number.

Call sequence diagram

Business-initiated call sequence diagram showing flow between business, Cloud API, and WhatsApp user
Note: The ACCEPTED call status webhook will typically arrive after the call has been established. The Cloud API primarily sends it for call event auditing.

Prerequisites

Before you get started with business-initiated calling, ensure that:
    Subscribe to the “calls” webhook fieldCalling APIs are enabled on your business phone number
    Lastly, before you can call a WhatsApp user, you must obtain their permission to do so.

    Business-initiated calling flow

    Part 1: Obtain permission to call the WhatsApp user

    You can obtain call permissions from the WhatsApp user in one of the following ways:
    Send a call permission request message
    You can request call permissions by sending the WhatsApp user a permission request. Send it as a free form message during an open customer service window, or use a template message.
      Learn how to send a free form call permission requestLearn how to send a template call permission request
      Enable callback_permission_status in call settings
      When callback_permission_status is enabled, the user automatically provides call permission to your business when they place a call to you.
      WhatsApp user grants permanent permissions
      The user can also grant permanent permissions to the business at any time through their business profile.

      Part 2: Your business initiates a new call to the WhatsApp user

      Now that you have user permission, you can initiate a new call to the WhatsApp user in question.
      You can now call the POST <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls endpoint with the following request body to initiate a new call:
      POST
      <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","to":"12185552828",// The WhatsApp user's phone number (callee)"action":"connect","session":{"sdp_type":"offer","sdp":"<<RFC 8866 SDP>>"}}
      If there are no errors, you will receive a successful response:
      {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","calls":["id":"wacid.HBgLMTIxODU1NTI4MjgVAgARGCAyODRQIAFRoA",//
      The WhatsApp call ID]}
      Note: Response with error code 138006 indicates a lack of a call request permission for this business number from the WhatsApp user.

      Part 3: You establish the call connection using webhook signaling

      After you successfully initiate a new call, you receive a Call Connect webhook response containing an SDP Answer from Cloud API. Your business will then apply the SDP Answer from this webhook to your WebRTC stack to initiate the media connection.
      {"entry":[{"changes":[{"field":"calls","value":{"calls":[{"biz_opaque_callback_data":"TRx334DUDFTI4Mj",//
      Arbitrary string passed by business for tracking purposes"session":{"sdp_type":"answer","sdp":"<RFC 8866 SDP>"},"from":"13175551399",// The business phone number placing the call (caller)"connection":{"webrtc":{"sdp":"<RFC 8866 SDP>"}},"id":"wacid.HBgLMTIxODU1NTI4MjgVAgARGCAyODRQIAFRoA",// The WhatsApp call ID"to":"12185552828",// The WhatsApp user's phone number (callee)"event":"connect","timestamp":"1749196895","direction":"BUSINESS_INITIATED"}],"metadata":{// ID and display number for the business phone number placing the call (caller)"phone_number_id":"436666719526789","display_phone_number":"13175551399"},"messaging_product":"whatsapp"}}],"id":"366634483210360"// WhatsApp Business Account ID associated with the business phone number}],"object":"whatsapp_business_account"},
      You then receive an appropriate status webhook, indicating that the call is RINGING, ACCEPTED, or REJECTED:
      {"entry":[{"changes":[{"field":"calls","value":{"statuses":[{"id":"wacid.HBgLMTIxODU1NTI4MjgVAgARGCAyODRQIAFRoA",//
      The
      WhatsApp
      call
      ID"type":"call","status":"[RINGING|ACCEPTED|REJECTED]",// The current call status"timestamp":"1749197000","recipient_id":"12185552828"// The WhatsApp user's phone number (callee)}],"metadata":{// ID and display number for the business phone number placing the call (caller)"phone_number_id":"436666719526789","display_phone_number":"13175551399"},"messaging_product":"whatsapp"}}],"id":"366634483210360"// WhatsApp Business Account ID associated with the business phone number}],"object":"whatsapp_business_account"}

      Part 4: Your business or the WhatsApp user terminates the call

      Either you or the WhatsApp user can terminate the call at any time.
      You call the POST <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls endpoint with the following request body to terminate the call:
      POST <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "call_id": "wacid.HBgLMTIxODU1NTI4MjgVAgARGCAyODRQIAFRoA", // The WhatsApp call ID
  "action" : "terminate"
}
      If there are no errors, you will receive a success response:
      {"success":true}
      When either the business or the WhatsApp user terminates the call, you receive a Call Terminate webhook:
      {"object":"whatsapp_business_account","entry":[{"id":"366634483210360",// WhatsApp Business Account ID associated with the business phone number"changes":[{"value":{"messaging_product":"whatsapp","metadata":{// ID and display number for the business phone number placing the call (caller)"phone_number_id":"436666719526789","display_phone_number":"13175551399",},"calls":[{"id":"wacid.HBgLMTIxODU1NTI4MjgVAgARGCAyODRQIAFRoA","to":"12185552828",// The WhatsApp user's phone number (callee)"from":"13175551399",// The business phone number placing the call (caller)"event":"terminate","direction":"BUSINESS_INITIATED","timestamp":"1749197480","status":["Failed","Completed"],"start_time":"1671644824",// Call start UNIX timestamp"end_time":"1671644944",// Call end UNIX timestamp"duration":480// Call duration in seconds}]},"field":"calls"}]}]}
      Endpoints for business-initiated calling
      

      

      

      

      Initiate call
      

      Use this endpoint to initiate a call to a WhatsApp user by providing a phone number and a WebRTC call offer. There is a rate limit of 10000 per 24 hours for initiating new calls per business phone number.
      

      

      

      Request
syntax
      POST <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls
      
Placeholder

Description

Sample Value

      <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>
      Integer
      Required

      
ID of the business phone number from which you are initiating the new call.
      106540352242922
      Request body
      {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","to":"14085551234","action":"connect","session":{"sdp_type":"offer","sdp":"<<RFC 8866 SDP>>"},"biz_opaque_callback_data":"0fS5cePMok"}
      Body parameters
      

      
Parameter
      

      
Description
      

      		
Sample Value

      to
      Integer
      Required

      
The number being called (callee)
      “17863476655”
      action
      String
      Required

      
The action being taken on the given call ID.
      Values can be connect | pre_accept | accept | reject | terminate
      “connect”
      session
      JSON object
      Optional

      
Contains the session description protocol (SDP) type and description language.
      Requires two values:
      sdp_type — (String) Required
      “offer”, to indicate SDP offer
      sdp — (String) Required
      The SDP info of the device on the other end of the call. The SDP must be compliant with RFC 8866⁠.
      "session":{"sdp_type":"offer","sdp":"<<RFC 8866 SDP>>"}
      biz_opaque_callback_data
      String
      Optional

      
An arbitrary string you can pass in that is useful for tracking and logging purposes.
      Any app subscribed to the “calls” webhook field on your WhatsApp Business Account can receive this string, as it is included in the calls object within the subsequent Call Terminate Webhook payload.
      Cloud API does not process this field.
      Maximum 512 characters
      “0fS5cePMok”
      Success response
      

      {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","calls":[{"id":"wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V",}]}
      

      

      

      

      Error response
      

      Possible errors that can occur:
      

        Invalid phone-number-idPermissions/Authorization errorsRequest format validation errors, for example connection info, sdp, iceSDP validation errorsCalling restriction errors



        

        

        

        Terminate call
        

        Use this endpoint to terminate an active call.
        

        This must be done even if there is an RTCP BYE packet in the media path. Ending the call this way also ensures pricing is more accurate.
        

        When the WhatsApp user terminates the call, you do not have to call this endpoint. Once the call is successfully terminated, you will receive a Call Terminate Webhook.
        

        

        

        

        RequestBody syntaxparameters
        

        POST
<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls
        



Parameter 

Description 

Sample Value 




        <PHONE_NUMBER_ID>
        Integer
        Required

        
The business phone number which you are terminating a call from.
        18274459827
        Request body
        {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","call_id":"wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V-Hc5eCgK5Gh","action":"terminate"}
        Body parameters
        
Parameter

Description

Sample Value

        call_id
        

        String
        


        

        Required
        


        
The ID of the phone call.
        

        For inbound calls, you receive a call ID from the Call Connect webhook when a WhatsApp user initiates the call.
        


        

        “wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V-Hc5eCgK5Gh”
        



        

        action
        

        String
        


        

        Required
        


        
The action being taken on the given call ID.
        

        Values can be connect | pre_accept | accept | reject | terminate
        


        

        “terminate”
        

        

        

        

        Success response
        

        {"messaging_product":"whatsapp","success":true}
        

        

        

        

        Error response
        

        Possible errors that can occur:
        

          Invalid call idInvalid phone-number-idThe WhatsApp user has already terminated the callReject call is already in progressPermissions/Authorization errors



          

          

          

          Webhooks for business-initiated calling
          

          With all Calling API webhooks, there is a ”calls” object inside the ”value” object of the webhook response. The ”calls” object contains metadata about the call that is used to action on each call placed or received by your business.
          

          To receive Calling API webhooks, subscribe to the “calls” webhook field.
          


          

          

          Call
connect webhook
          You receive a webhook notification in near real-time when a call initiated by your business is ready to connect to the WhatsApp user (an SDP Answer).
          Critically, the webhook contains information required to establish a call connection via WebRTC.
          Once you receive the Call Connect webhook, you can apply the SDP Answer received in the webhook to your WebRTC stack to initiate the media connection.
          {"object":"whatsapp_business_account","entry":[{"id":"<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_ACCOUNT_ID>","changes":[{"value":{"messaging_product":"whatsapp","metadata":{"display_phone_number":"16315553601","phone_number_id":"<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>"},"contacts":[{"wa_id":"16315553602"}],"calls":[{"id":"wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V-Hc5eCgK5Gh","to":"16315553601","from":"16315553602","event":"connect","timestamp":"1671644824","direction":"BUSINESS_INITIATED","session":{"sdp_type":"answer","sdp":"<<RFC 8866 SDP>>"}}]},"field":"calls"}]}]}
          Webhook values for "calls"
          
Placeholder

Description

          id
          String
          A unique ID for the call
          to
          Integer
          The number being called (callee)
          from
          Integer
          The number of the caller
          event
          Integer
          The calling event that this webhook is notifying the subscriber of
          timestamp
          Integer
          The UNIX timestamp of the webhook event
          direction
          String
          The direction of the call being made.
          Can contain either:
          BUSINESS_INITIATED, for calls initiated by your business.
          USER_INITIATED, for calls initiated by a WhatsApp user.
          session
          JSON object
          Optional

          
Contains the session description protocol (SDP) type and description language.
          Requires two values:
          sdp_type — (String) Required
          “offer”, to indicate SDP offer
          sdp — (String) Required
          The SDP info of the device on the other end of the call. The SDP must be compliant with RFC 8866⁠.
          contacts
          JSON object
          wa_id — The WhatsApp ID of the callee.
          Call status webhook
          

          This webhook is sent during the following calling events:
          

            Ringing: When the WhatsApp user’s client device begins ringingAccepted: When the WhatsApp user accepts the callRejected: When the WhatsApp user rejects the call. You also receive the call terminate webhook in this case

            The webhook structure here is similar to the Status webhooks used for the Cloud API messages.
            

            {"object":"whatsapp_business_account","entry":[{"id":"<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_ACCOUNT_ID>","changes":[{"value":{"messaging_product":"whatsapp","metadata":{"display_phone_number":"16315553601","phone_number_id":"<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>",},"statuses":[{"id":"wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V","timestamp":"1671644824","type":"call""status":"[RINGING|ACCEPTED|REJECTED]","recipient_id":"163155536021","biz_opaque_callback_data":"random_string",}]},"field":"calls"}]}]}
            


            

            

            

            Webhook values for "statuses"
            

            

            



Placeholder 

Description 




            

            id
            

            String
            


            

            A unique ID for the call
            



            

            timestamp
            

            Integer
            


            

            The UNIX timestamp of the webhook event
            



            

            recipient_id
            

            Integer
            


            

            The phone number of the WhatsApp user receiving the call
            



            

            status
            

            Integer
            


            

            The current call status.
            

            Possible values:
            

            RINGING: Business initiated call is ringing the user
            

            ACCEPTED: Business initiated call is accepted by the user
            

            REJECTED: Business initiated call is rejected by the user
            



            

            biz_opaque_callback_data
            

            String
            


            

            Arbitrary string your business passes into the call for tracking and logging purposes.
            

            Will only be returned if provided through Initiate New Call API requests
            

            

            

            

            Call terminate webhook
            

            A webhook notification is sent whenever the call has been terminated for any reason, such as when the WhatsApp user hangs up, or when the business calls the POST /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/calls endpoint with an action of terminate or reject.
            

            {"object":"whatsapp_business_account","entry":[{"id":"<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_ACCOUNT_ID>","changes":[{"value":{"messaging_product":"whatsapp","metadata":{"display_phone_number":"16505553602","phone_number_id":"<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>",},"calls":[{"id":"wacid.ABGGFjFVU2AfAgo6V-Hc5eCgK5Gh","to":"16315553601","from":"16315553602","event":"terminate""direction":"BUSINESS_INITIATED","biz_opaque_callback_data":"random_string","timestamp":"1671644824","status":[FAILED
            
|
            
COMPLETED],"start_time":"1671644824","end_time":"1671644944","duration":120}],"errors":[{"code":
            
INT_CODE,"message":"ERROR_TITLE","href":"ERROR_HREF","error_data":{"details":"ERROR_DETAILS"}}]},"field":"calls"}]}]}
            

            Webhook values for "calls"
            

            

            



Placeholder 

Description 




            

            id
            

            String
            


            

            A unique ID for the call
            



            

            to
            

            Integer
            


            

            The number being called (callee)
            



            

            from
            

            Integer
            


            

            The number of the caller
            



            

            event
            

            Integer
            


            

            The calling event that this webhook is notifying the subscriber of
            



            

            timestamp
            

            Integer
            


            

            The UNIX timestamp of the webhook event
            



            

            direction
            

            String
            


            

            The direction of the call being made.
            

            Can contain either:
            

            BUSINESS_INITIATED, for calls initiated by your business.
            

            USER_INITIATED, for calls initiated by a WhatsApp user.
            



            

            start_time
            

            Integer
            


            

            The UNIX timestamp of when the call started.
            

            Only present when the call was picked up by the other party.
            



            

            end_time
            

            Integer
            


            

            The UNIX timestamp of when the call ended.
            

            Only present when the call was picked up by the other party.
            



            

            duration
            

            Integer
            


            

            Duration of the call in seconds.
            

            Only present when the call was picked up by the other party.
            



            

            biz_opaque_callback_data
            

            String
            


            

            Arbitrary string your business passes into the call for tracking and logging purposes.
            

            Will only be returned if provided through an Initiate Call API request or Accept Call request
            



            

            errors.code
            

            Integer
            


            

            The errors object is present only for failed calls when there is error information available. Code is one of the calling error codes
            

            

            

            

            SDP overview and sample structures
            

            Session Description Protocol (SDP) is a text-based format used to describe the characteristics of multimedia sessions, such as voice and video calls, in real-time communication applications. SDP provides a standardized way to describe the session’s media streams. This includes media type, codecs, protocols, and parameters for establishing and managing the session.
            

            In the context of WebRTC, SDP is used to negotiate the media parameters between the sender and receiver, enabling them to agree on the specifics of the media exchange.
            

            
    
                    
            
    
            

            
            
        
            
    
            

    
            

    
    
            
        
            
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