Migrating Phone Numbers between WABAs or BSPs
Number Porting means that a phone number that is already registered in the WhatsApp Business API can be moved between WhatsApp Business API accounts. This allows for businesses to change BSPs (Business Solution Provider) or move their number to a new account, but only if the source and destination Facebook Business Manager IDs are the same. After being migrated, a phone number keeps its display name, quality rating, messaging limits, Official Business Account status, and any high quality message templates previously approved.
Template Messages and chat history migration Only the high quality message templates are migrated on this process. In practice, they are copied to the destination WABA. These templates do not need to go through review again and can be sent immediately. Low quality, rejected, or pending templates are not migrated. Any existing message templates in the destination WABA will not be overwritten. Message and chat history are not migrated with this process.
Billing Migration Messages sent before migration are charged to the source BSP. Messages sent after migration are charged to the destination BSP. Messages sent from the source, and that are not delivered before migration, are still charged to the source BSP when they get delivered.
Official Business Accounts (Green Badge) Official Business Accounts (OBAs) can be migrated between WABAs. The only requirement is that the two-factor authentication needs to be disabled during the migration process. It can be re-enabled after the number is migrated.
A Phone Number to be ported to 360dialog:
The client must be able to receive and verify a 6 Digit PIN Code through SMS or Voice Call.
The WhatsApp Business Account connected to the number to be ported must be verified by Facebook. Accounts in Sandbox mode cannot be ported.
Two-Factor Verification must be disabled for the number.
The client needs to request the old BSP to disable Two-Factor Verification (2FA).
Facebook rules states that the BSP cannot delay or difficult the disablement of 2FA or the porting process at all. If something similar happens, please report to us.
Admin Access to Facebook Business Manager:
Facebook Business ID of the number to be ported.
Admin access is required to accept the Message-on-Behalf request.
Before migrating a number, it's important to go through the following checklist:
Valid Facebook Business ID You can find your FB_ID by following these steps. The FB_ID must be associated with (own) the WhatsApp Account > Number that you are trying to migrate. An overview of the ownership model can be found here.
Admin Access to Facebook Business Manager You must have Admin access to the FBM Account.
Facebook Business Manager is verified Your Facebook Business Manager must be fully verified.
Phone number access You must have access to the phone number to receive a 6 Digit PIN Code via SMS or Phone Call.
2FA Disabled You must check and confirm with your old BSP that Two-Factor Verification (2FA) is disabled on the existing WhatsApp Business API Client.
Please access your 360 Client Hub and select the option right next to the Add number button:
You will be asked to input the phone number to be migrated, as well as the Facebook ID that owns the number:
You will need a form from a Solution Partner to create an account and start the migration process.
Before starting, please double check with your Solution Partner if this is the correct number porting form. It should look like this one:
After you have submitted the initial information either through your 360 Client Hub or through a Solution Partner Number Porting Form, you will start the number porting process that is detailed below.
After finishing the setup in step 3, the migration is automatic and immediate.
You will need to accept the Message on Behalf request of 360dialog. You must have admin access to the Business Manager to see and accept the request.
You must have access to the phone number to verify the ownership and receive a 6 Digit PIN Code per SMS or Voice Call.
You need to wait for the number to be set up. This step takes a few minutes, but right afterwards the API key generation will be possible.
After the phone number is migrated and set up, you will be able to generate the API key and send messages with the number migrated to 360dialog.
Please note the difference between:
Phone Number: the number used in the account; the number which customers send messages to
WABA ID: the ID of the WhatsApp Business API account
Facebook Business Manager ID: the ID of the Facebook Business account that owns this number
In this process, the Phone Number is migrated from one WABA ID to another. The Facebook ID needs to be the same.
Click here to understand more about the Facebook and WhatsApp accounts and IDs.
During the migration process, a few errors might occur. Here is how to solve them:
Before you can verify your phone number ownership, you first need to accept the message on behalf request that was sent to your Facebook Business Manager. You will also receive an email notification.
To approve the message on behalf request:
Click on the link in your email or log in to Business Manager.
Within Business Manager, click Business Settings.
Click Requests.
Under Received, find your 360dialogs request and click Approve.
If you can't see the message on behalf request, please check if the Facebook Business Manager you have access to has the same ID that you submitted in the migration form.
Before you can verify your phone number ownership you first need to disable two-factor authentication (2FA) for this number. This can be done either by you or by the Business Solution Provider, that is currently in charge of this number.
Please confirm that the 2FA was disabled before submitting the account for migration.
This means that you should not use the migration form to register this number. Please should follow the process listed here instead.
This means that the number is already available in 360dialog. You can use the 360 Client Hub to manage it.
This means that the Facebook Business ID sent in the form is not the same ID that currently manages this account. Please check the Facebook Business Manager and/or the old BSP dashboard to confirm which Facebook Business ID manages this WhatsApp account.
Click here to understand more about the Facebook and WhatsApp accounts and IDs.
This means that an unexpected error occurred. Please reach out to our Support team with the information about this number and account so we can investigate accordingly.
