# WhatsApp business API

*In this article, we will tell you how to connect the WhatsApp Business API (WABA) channel.*

To connect, you will need:

* Personal account [Facebook](https://facebook.com/)\*.
* Access to a registered [Facebook Business Manager account](https://business.facebook.com/)\*.
* A phone number connected to WhatsApp Business. The number must be active and able to receive calls and SMS.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Before connecting, make sure there are no issues with your [Facebook advertising account](https://business.facebook.com/business-support-home/)\*.
{% endhint %}

## Preparation for connection

Before connecting WABA, check that your website meets Meta\* requirements.

For successful verification, the website footer must contain:

* **A link to the privacy policy or personal data processing policy.** It is important that there is a clause stating that you may send newsletters to clients and clients can unsubscribe from them. The wording may be different.

<details>

<summary>Example wording</summary>

The company has the right to send the user notifications about new products and services, special offers, and various events. The user can opt out of receiving messages by sending a letter to the company at <mail@gmail.com> with the note «Unsubscribe from notifications».

</details>

* **The legal name of the company.** It must match the one specified in the Meta\* business portfolio in [Facebook\* Business Manager](https://business.facebook.com/select/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fbusiness.facebook.com%2Fsettings%2Finfo\&ext=1719569849\&hash=Afngqy8QoolXzCGMaaQBWbLfDhtLbwAUI1OPQL39uJC48w). A mismatch will result in account blocking.
* **Legal address.** It must also match the one specified in the Meta\* business portfolio in [Facebook\* Business Manager](https://business.facebook.com/select/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fbusiness.facebook.com%2Fsettings%2Finfo\&ext=1719569849\&hash=Afngqy8QoolXzCGMaaQBWbLfDhtLbwAUI1OPQL39uJC48w). A mismatch will result in account blocking.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Be sure to check all the points described above, otherwise your account may be blocked!
{% endhint %}

## Connecting WhatsApp Business API

### Step 1. Creating a Meta\* for Developers account

1. Go to the [Meta\* for developers page](https://developers.facebook.com/).
2. In the top menu, click «*Get Started*».
3. Click «*Continue*».
4. Enter your phone number.
5. Enter the code from the SMS. Click «*Continue*».
6. Enter your email address.
7. Check the box to agree to receive newsletters and click «*Send Email*».
8. In the window that opens, enter the code sent to your email. Click «*Continue*».
9. In the next step, select «*Developer*».
10. Click «*Complete Registration*».

### Step 2. Creating an application

Go to the [page](https://developers.facebook.com/apps/creation/). Select the business portfolio you want to connect the application to, click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/33f82ad6b2ea0da5976c5b26954ba124492e4f6f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the next step, select «*Other*» section and click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/f6552d96a5d2ec1854586b90213b698ca604947b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Then select the application type «*Company*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/beb3183b668827b24e9afa419b42f01c5f455924" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Enter the application name and your contact email. Click «*Create Application*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/aa42211188387f6d1246161fb6116d0ddd0eb1a2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 3. Create a WhatsApp account

In the list of applications, find WhatsApp and click «*Set Up*».

<figure><img src="/files/235f7208f8fdc6ef1d6aad7ce6925b5e93d46926" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the drop-down list, select the business portfolio and click «*Continue*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/d1ece8978cc3c5323b482c4382b90d4c6c2b952e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the opened settings, in the «Messaging»section, click the drop-down list with numbers and select «*+ Add phone number*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/61b9962a6a5b28afe7669d1cff4e6cd48c8685df" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To add a number, enter the display name, select the time zone and category, optionally add a company description, then click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/fd3286976e78f83244e312a2e33384001f597e04" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Enter the phone number, select SMS verification, and click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/fd3816b0a2fa2a2b91be87d5a2ce49a4f019b2fc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
If you see the error «This number is registered to an existing WhatsApp account…», use another number or delete the WhatsApp account linked to this phone number.
{% endhint %}

Enter the verification code from the SMS and click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/aefa6d32e9233bd7c2b52706c10d2ff8324bcfc2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

After adding the number, save the phone number ID and account ID, you will need them when setting up in your Selarti personal account.

<figure><img src="/files/289cb2e760ed2e8a7a620bb157649968e02e14b3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 4. Connecting the Webhook

In your Meta\* for Developers personal account, in the upper right corner, go to the «[*My Apps*](https://developers.facebook.com/apps)».

<figure><img src="/files/06620633fdc6a5f27053a8e24b49868a80c9e5c1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Select the created application.

On the left, go to *WhatsApp > Setup*. In the «Webhook» section, click «*Edit*».

<figure><img src="/files/f2e84ac09769ff7011f54b92a829ae00e450e2da" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Fill out the form:

* In the «Callback URL» field, paste the link: <https://api.selarti.com/waba>.
* In the «Verify Token» field, enter: selarti\_is\_the\_best\_service.

Click «*Verify and Save*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/71403076c6b222bbe1ac51288591dcb35824c2fd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the same section, click «*Set Up*» to edit the Webhook fields.

<figure><img src="/files/dd16bcea0f122696450e1d6255176bb3228f4167" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the opened window, check the box next to «*messages*»*,* then click «*Done*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/826981f534f6dd7cfb6623679779678acc2ec6cf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 5. Creating a system user

In the section «[*Company settings*](https://business.facebook.com/settings/)» go to *Users > System Users* section and click «*Add*».

<figure><img src="/files/b4429f966e0f91bace7405cd4c027b892645b71e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Enter the system user's name, select the role from the drop-down list «Admin» section and click «*Create system user*».

<figure><img src="/files/4db4877dd322753acfdfc24303180cba976624c2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 6. Creating an access token

In the section «[*Company settings*](https://business.facebook.com/settings/)» go to *Users > System Users*. Select the previously created user and click «*Create new token*».

<figure><img src="/files/f724f3cac2aad8f6183ba92cb221a2e289887b72" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Select the application from the drop-down list, token expiration, and permissions:

* whatsapp\_business\_management.
* whatsapp\_business\_messaging.

Click «*Generate Token*».

<figure><img src="/files/5cf48827679b0144aabd64860afda70a0b72e08a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

A window with the token will open. Copy it and click «*OK*».

<figure><img src="/files/1c9d56019d8742cea019329f6869ab8502d3e713" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 7. Connecting payment

In the [company settings](https://business.facebook.com/settings/) go to *Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts*. Select the desired account from the list and click «*Payment Settings*».

<figure><img src="/files/ef66ef8194063c5fd27d9a4c12edcca3e8c72d3f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Select the country, currency, and time zone, click «*Next*».

<figure><img src="/files/2bb641e48352ef72f127efb978a77f91d0f83303" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Enter card details, click «*Save*».

<figure><img src="/files/154d2d1d7cdcfbb933a448e3ce74ed6152f77805" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Connecting WhatsApp business API in the Selarti dashboard <a href="#podklyuchenie-whatsapp-cloud-api-v-kabinete-chatapp" id="podklyuchenie-whatsapp-cloud-api-v-kabinete-chatapp"></a>

Open your Selarti dashboard, go to the «[***Channels***](https://selarti.com/panel?menu=channels)» section and click «*Add channel*».

<figure><img src="/files/Bt9QDFhl9LQvFdQGuAVo" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the drop-down menu, select the channel type «*WhatsApp business API*» and fill in the fields:

* **Service user access token** — token marker from [step 6](#step-6.-creating-an-access-token).
* **WhatsApp phone ID** — phone number ID from [step 3](#step-3.-create-a-whatsapp-account).
* **WhatsApp Business ID** — account ID from [step 3](#step-3.-create-a-whatsapp-account).

Click «*Get Template*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/vjGXNOXz3hnffbpofIi1" alt="" width="465"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Select a template in the field «*Select template*»— for incoming only, you can select the hello\_world template.

For outgoing, you need to create a separate template in your personal account [Meta\* for developers page](https://developers.facebook.com/).

After selecting a template, click «*Add channel*»*.*

<figure><img src="/files/e4Nk2E1UjxzydLGcuyy9" alt="" width="465"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\*Facebook is owned by Meta\*, which is recognized as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://manual.selarti.com/manual-en/external-integrations/whatsapp-business-api.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.