How WhatsApp sending works
WhatsApp business messaging is template-first: to start a conversation you send a message built from a template that Meta has approved. The lifecycle is:1
Connect a number
In Settings → Connections, connect a WhatsApp sender. You can connect more than one number (multi-sender /
multi-WABA). See List WhatsApp senders.
2
Create a template
Build the template — body text, variables, buttons. Templates have a category (Utility, Marketing,
Authentication) that affects approval and pricing.
3
Submit for approval
Submit the draft to Meta. It moves through
PENDING → APPROVED (or REJECTED). Approval usually takes minutes to
hours.4
Send
Once
APPROVED, send the template to a contact, filling its variables per recipient. See Send a WhatsApp
template.Check template status
A template can only be sent when it’sAPPROVED. List your templates and their status in the app,
or via List WhatsApp templates.