WhatsApp Cloud API — Call Permission Overview

1. Overview

To place a call to a WhatsApp user, your business must receive explicit user permission. Call permissions are temporary and can be obtained in three ways:

1. Call Permission Request — Send a free-form or templated message requesting calling permission.
2. Callback Permission — A WhatsApp user calls the business first (callback setting must be enabled).
3. Business Profile Permission — The user grants permission via the business profile.

2. Permission Validity & Limits

• Validity: Temporary permissions last 7 calendar days (168 hours) from user approval.
• Connected Call Limit: Maximum of 5 connected calls per 24 hours, per business phone number.
• Purpose: Protects WhatsApp users from unwanted calls.

3. Call Permission Requests

• Businesses may proactively request permission via:

  • Free-form interactive messages
  • Template messages

• User actions:

  • Approve
  • Decline
  • Ignore (no response)

• Revocation:

  • Users can revoke granted permission at any time.
  • Declining doesn’t prevent future permissions until the request expires.

4. Expiration Rules

A permission request expires when:

• The user interacts with a new permission request.
• 7 days after acceptance or decline.
• 7 days after delivery if there is no response.

5. System-Enforced Limits

For Sending Permission Requests

• Max 1 request per 24 hours
• Max 2 requests per 7 days
• Limits reset when any connected call (business-initiated or user-initiated) occurs.
• Limits apply to both free-form and template messages.

For Unanswered or Rejected Calls

• 2 consecutive unanswered calls → System sends user a message to reconsider permission.
• 4 consecutive unanswered calls → Approved permission is automatically revoked.

6. Key Takeaways

• Always obtain permission before calling.
• Respect the limits to avoid revocation.
• Users have full control: they can approve, decline, revoke, or re-grant permission.
• Permissions are temporary and must be managed within the 7-day validity window.

7. Consecutive unanswered calls

• 2 consecutive unanswered calls — System message for user to update permission
• 4 consecutive unanswered calls — Permissions automatically revoked
• Permission request expires after 7 days — User interacts with request