Meta Business Verification Documents for India: What to Upload (GST, PAN, Udyam) in 2026

Meta accepts official documents that prove your legal business name and your address or phone number: a certificate of incorporation, business registration or licence, government-issued tax document (not self-filed), business bank statement, or a utility bill (address or phone only). In India, providers commonly list the GST certificate, business PAN, shop and establishment certificate and Udyam/Udyog Aadhaar. The legal name must match exactly, your website must load over HTTPS, and reviews can take up to 14 working days.

You can start using the WhatsApp Business Platform before verification, but verification affects what you can do:

• Messaging limits. New business portfolios start at 250 business-initiated conversations per 24 hours. Verifying your business is one of Meta's routes to the higher 2,000 limit (see messaging limits).
• Templates. Unverified portfolios can have up to 250 templates. Verified ones with an approved display name get far more.
• Blue checkmark. A verified business portfolio is a requirement for applying for an Official Business Account.
• More phone numbers and other features may require it.

Meta's Help Centre says verification helps confirm your portfolio "belongs to a legitimate business" and that it's different from Meta Verified, the paid badge subscription (About business verification).

From Meta's article Upload official documents to verify your business:

Key rules from Meta:

• Documents should be valid, not expired, and issued by the relevant authority.
• Self-filed tax documents are not accepted, so don't upload ITR acknowledgements.
• A utility bill can't prove the legal name on its own.
• Cover personal information you don't need to share, such as Aadhaar numbers.
• Documents must be in a supported language. English, Hindi and Bengali are on the list. Otherwise, upload certified English translations.

For India, the 360dialog guide to Meta business verification lists the GST certificate, PAN, shop establishment certificate and Udyog Aadhaar. Udyog Aadhaar has since been replaced by Udyam registration on the government Udyam portal. Treat Udyam as the current form, but expect Meta reviewers to judge each document on its content.

Example (hypothetical): "Glow Studio" in Chennai is a proprietorship run by Priya. Her GST certificate shows legal name "Priya R" and trade name "Glow Studio". She should enter the legal name exactly as on the certificate and show "Glow Studio by Priya R" (or similar) on her website footer, so the link between names is obvious.

Following Meta's guide on how to verify your business:

1. Make sure you have full control of the business portfolio.
2. Go to Meta Business Suite → Security Centre → Start verification. If you see "Ineligible", you may not need to verify yet, or you'll be prompted elsewhere, for example by your WhatsApp provider.
3. Enter the legal name, address, phone and website exactly as on your documents. The website must load and use HTTPS.
4. Pick your business from the matches, or choose "My business isn't listed" and upload documents.
5. Confirm your connection by email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp or domain verification. Third-party guides note that email codes are expected to use your website's domain (not Gmail).
6. Submit. A decision can take up to 14 working days.
7. Don't edit business details while it's in review. Meta says editing requires verifying again.

• Legal name typed character-for-character as on the document (Pvt. Ltd. vs Private Limited matters)
• Address matches the document, including PIN code
• Website is live on https://, with legal name, address and phone in the footer or contact page
• No broken links on the website
• Business email on your own domain if you choose email confirmation
• Documents are clear PDF/JPG scans, current, and not cropped
• Personal IDs masked where not needed

Some providers can submit verification for you through Meta's partner-led business verification route, which has its own document limits (third-party docs describe up to 3 documents, under 5 MB each, in PDF/JPEG/PNG). Availability depends on the provider and your account. Ask yours.

WatsBerry onboards you through Meta's Embedded Signup on the official Cloud API, and I'll walk you through verification so your name, website and documents line up before you submit. You can start messaging while verification is pending, at the starting limits. Meta bills WhatsApp usage to your own payment method and WatsBerry charges a separate platform plan (₹1,599 / ₹2,999 / ₹5,999 per month + GST).

Not sure which document to use? Message me from watsberry.com with your business type (no documents in chat, please) and I'll suggest the best combination.

Abbas Ali, Founder, WatsBerry