Question

What are the WhatsApp authentication template requirements, restrictions, and international fees?

Product

Programmable Messaging

Answer

Authentication Template Requirements

WhatsApp requires authentication templates to include one-time password (OTP) buttons for approval. These templates must follow the format predetermined by WhatsApp and cannot be edited by the business.

These authentication template formats are supported in Content Template Builder which supports basic authentication message, and optional expiry code and security advisory. See here for how to create and send Authentication templates using Content Templates.

Authentication Template International Fees

Notice: Starting July 1, 2025, the eligibility threshold for authentication-international rates will be based on authentication template messages sent instead of authentication conversations opened across all 9 markets that have authentication-international rates

WhatsApp charges International Fees for certain eligible businesses initiating authentication conversations with users.

The international rates will apply for eligible* businesses for conversations that are opened with authentication category templates:

• From July 1, 2024:

  • India (+91)

  • Indonesia (+62)

• From February 1st, 2025:

  • Egypt (+20)

  • Malaysia (+60)

  • Nigeria (+234)

  • Pakistan (+92)

  • Saudi Arabia (+966)

  • South Africa (+27)

  • United Arab Emirates (+971)

Businesses will incur these new authentication-international rates only if two specific conditions are both satisfied:

• The business’s Primary Business Location from their Meta Business Manager account is a different country than a rate’s country.
• The business is considered eligible* for authentication-international rates for the country.

*Meta considers businesses as eligible for a country’s authentication-international rate if they open more than 750,000 conversations in a moving 30-day period to users from that country based on their country code. Once you are determined eligible in one country, you will be determined eligible in all countries. Eligibility is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Review Meta’s business eligibility requirements to learn more and understand if your business is subject to these rates.

We will bill eligible customers according to the rate applied by WhatsApp for authentication-international fees on the dates from which Meta applies them as well as any Twilio specific fees. Fees apply to messages sent using the Programmable Messaging API as well as Verify. You can see Meta’s current rate cards here.