# Get opt-in for WhatsApp | Developer Documentation

<div id="bkmrk-get-opt-in-for-whats">## Get opt-in for WhatsApp

<div><span>Updated: Nov 3, 2025</span></div><div>Businesses are required to obtain opt-in before messaging people on WhatsApp.</div><div>As per the November 2024 [WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy<span>⁠</span>](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbusiness.whatsapp.com%2Fpolicy&h=AT5w0otI9M0ckCkY21rKu3wkT6cPaWfuZ_PnWeEKKIFXZfGiYXC6E5QpQax5ttaaWuGH95BYEk-DXnW9z_9DHGv-JjCV7hufesEo5zuO88NqLmV8oLJf9QlxKV2ZuVLmxbBcTK7XQ1_s8Cx7XskuCw) update, before messaging people on WhatsApp, businesses are required to obtain opt-in permission, which can be general and not specifically for WhatsApp, as long as businesses comply with all local laws. Businesses may contact people on WhatsApp if: (a) they have given their mobile phone number; and (b) businesses have received opt-in permission from the recipient confirming that they wish to receive subsequent messages or calls from a particular business.</div><div id="bkmrk-requirements"><div id="bkmrk-requirements-1"><div>### Requirements

</div></div></div><div>Businesses must follow the below requirements when obtaining opt-in:</div>
<span>Businesses must clearly state that a person is opting in to receive communication from the business</span><span>Businesses must clearly state the business’s name that a person is opting in to receive messages from</span><span>Businesses must comply with applicable law</span><div id="bkmrk-opt-in-methods"><div id="bkmrk-opt-in-methods-1"><div>### Opt-in methods

</div></div></div><div>It is up to businesses to determine the method of opt-in, that they have obtained opt-in in a manner that complies with laws applicable to their communications, and that they have otherwise provided notices and obtained permissions that are required under applicable law.</div><div>As long as the opt-in method meets the above requirements, it will be policy compliant. The following are examples of supported opt-in methods:</div>
<span>SMS</span><span>Website</span><span>By phone (using an interactive voice response (IVR) flow)</span><span>In person or on paper (customers can sign a physical document to opt in)</span><div id="bkmrk-helpful-tips"><div id="bkmrk-helpful-tips-1"><div>### Helpful tips

</div></div></div><div>Businesses should continue to optimize for the user experience while obtaining opt-in. For example:</div>
<span>Users should expect the messages they receive. Businesses can set this expectation by: </span>
<span>Obtaining an opt-in that encompasses the different categories of messages that a business will send (ex: order updates, relevant offers, product recommendations, etc.).</span><span>Obtaining separate opt-in by specific message category. This mitigates the risk that users will block your business because they receive unsolicited messages.</span><span>Provide clear instructions for how people can opt out of receiving specific categories of messages, and honor these requests.</span><span>Ensure opt-in and opt-out flows are clear and intuitive for users.</span><span>Businesses should clearly communicate the value of receiving this information.</span><span>Businesses should monitor quality rating, especially when rolling out new opt-in methods.</span><div id="bkmrk-maintaining-high-qua"><div id="bkmrk-maintaining-high-qua-1"><div>### Maintaining high quality

</div></div></div><div>Driving high-quality chat threads between people and businesses is still a top priority. People can share feedback with WhatsApp or choose to [stop receiving marketing messages](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/marketing-templates-developer-documentation) from individual businesses. People can also block or report a business. Our systems will rate limit businesses if the business’s quality is low for a sustained period of time. We may also reactively evaluate user feedback to flag policy violations and develop additional types of enforcement over time.</div></div>