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WhatsApp Business API

WhatsApp Template Approval: Pass Meta's Review First Time

Category mismatch, unclear variable usage, and prohibited content cause most rejections. Use this guide to write a WhatsApp template that Meta approves on the first submission.

4 min readUpdated 01 Mar 2026

Meta reviews templates against three things: category accuracy, variable clarity, and the absence of forbidden content like financial solicitation, political content, or vague offers.

The recipe that passes

  1. 01Open with the customer's name or order reference in variable one.
  2. 02Include a verb that matches the category — 'shipped', 'delivered', 'confirmed' for utility.
  3. 03Keep variable slots for dynamic info, static text for everything else.
  4. 04End with a clear call-to-action button or opt-out instruction.
  5. 05Match the category — marketing, utility, or authentication — to what the body actually does.

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