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How much time does WhatsApp take to approve a template message?

Most WhatsApp Business templates are reviewed and approved within a few minutes, but Meta officially allows up to 24 hours. Approval time depends on your template’s content, media type, and compliance with WhatsApp’s Business & Commerce Policies.

📊 Average Approval Times by Template Type

Message Type	Typical Review Time	Notes
Text-only	Few minutes – 12 hrs	Usually fastest to approve
Image-based	Few minutes – 24 hrs	Media checks may slightly delay approval
File (PDF, DOC)	Few minutes – 24 hrs	Content is scanned for compliance
Video	1 hr – 24 hrs	Often slowest due to manual/media checks

Tip : Text-only templates typically pass review fastest, while video and file-based ones may need additional human checks.

✅ How to Check Template Status

Once submitted, each template will display one of the following statuses in your WhatsApp Business dashboard:

Pending → Under review by Meta
Approved (Green) → Ready to use immediately
Rejected (Red) → Includes rejection reason; edit and resubmit
Paused → Temporarily disabled due to quality issues or policy violation

⚠️ Why Might Approval Take Longer or Get Rejected?

Spammy formatting (ALL CAPS, excessive symbols/emojis)
Promotional wording in the wrong category (e.g., offer inside Utility template)
Links that look suspicious or don’t match your verified business domain
Violations of Meta’s Business Policy or Commerce Policy

🧭 What to Do If It’s Delayed Over 24 Hours

Review the content for compliance issues.
Ensure placeholders (e.g., {{1}}, {{2}}) are formatted correctly.
Contact your BSP (Business Solution Provider) or Meta Support if still pending.

💡 Pro Tip

Tip : Always test templates with realistic sample values (e.g., names, order IDs, links) before submission. Templates with missing or placeholder-like values (e.g., "test", "123") are more likely to be delayed or rejected.