Summary
Meta has introduced additional restrictions for businesses that send cross-country WhatsApp messages to recipients in Brazil (BR) and Indonesia (ID). These restrictions are designed to reduce spam and fraudulent messaging from new accounts.
This guide explains why the restrictions were introduced, how they affect new businesses, the steps required to unlock higher messaging capabilities, and the error code you may encounter.
Instructions
Meta currently applies additional restrictions to businesses that send cross-country messages to recipients in Brazil and Indonesia.
These restrictions primarily affect new businesses that are building their messaging reputation. Businesses must demonstrate responsible messaging practices before they can access higher messaging capabilities for these countries.
Why has Meta introduced these restrictions?
Meta has observed a high volume of scams involving cross-country messaging to recipients in Brazil and Indonesia.
To help reduce abuse, Meta temporarily limits the messaging capacity of new businesses until they establish a history of high-quality messaging.
Which countries are affected?
The current restrictions apply to cross-country messaging sent to recipients in:
Brazil (BR)
Indonesia (ID)
All WhatsApp message types are affected by these restrictions.
How to unlock higher messaging capabilities
To unlock higher messaging capabilities for Brazil and Indonesia, businesses must complete Meta's required progression process:
Step 1: Complete a scaling path
Complete one of the following:
Meta Business Verification
Partner-led Business Verification
Quality Messaging
Step 2: Qualify for the 2,000 messaging limit
After completing one of the scaling paths, Meta evaluates your business for an upgrade to a 2,000 daily business-initiated conversation limit.
To be considered, your business should meet the following criteria:
Activity is evaluated over the previous 7 days.
At least 1000 unique contacts have been messaged.
Your messaging quality rating is Medium or High.
Note: Completing a scaling path does not automatically increase your messaging limit. Meta also considers additional internal eligibility signals when determining whether a business qualifies for a higher messaging limit. Maintaining consistent, high-quality messaging improves your chances of receiving an upgrade.
Step 3: Maintain high messaging quality
Once your messaging limit increases to 2,000 daily business-initiated conversations per phone number, continue maintaining a Medium or High messaging quality rating.
Businesses may need to maintain this quality level for up to 30 days before receiving full messaging capabilities for Brazil and Indonesia.
Error code
If your business is affected by this restriction, you may receive the following error:
Error code | Description |
130497 | Indicates a cross-country messaging restriction. |
Who is most affected?
These restrictions primarily affect new businesses based outside Brazil and Indonesia that are building their messaging reputation. Before they can unlock higher messaging capabilities to recipients in these countries, they must demonstrate responsible messaging practices.
Best practices
To improve your chances of unlocking higher messaging capabilities:
Complete one of Meta's approved scaling paths as early as possible.
Maintain a Medium or High messaging quality rating.
Build messaging volume gradually by engaging with legitimate customer conversations.
Continue sending relevant, high-quality messages that encourage positive customer engagement.
Following these practices helps demonstrate responsible messaging behavior and may improve your eligibility for increased messaging limits when sending cross-country messages to Brazil and Indonesia.
Note: If your business has legal business documents from Brazil or Indonesia, you can create a new Meta Business Portfolio for that country and migrate your WhatsApp phone number to it. This may help if your business is eligible to operate from one of the affected countries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Overview
1. What are Meta's cross-country messaging restrictions?
Meta's cross-country messaging restrictions are additional limits applied to businesses that send WhatsApp messages to recipients in Brazil (BR) and Indonesia (ID). These restrictions are designed to reduce spam and fraudulent messaging from new accounts.
2. Why did Meta introduce cross-country messaging restrictions?
Meta introduced these restrictions after observing a high volume of scams involving cross-country messaging to recipients in Brazil and Indonesia. The restrictions help reduce abuse by limiting the messaging capacity of new businesses until they establish a history of high-quality messaging.
3. Which countries are affected by the cross-country messaging restrictions?
The restrictions apply to cross-country WhatsApp messages sent to recipients in:
Brazil (BR)
Indonesia (ID)
All WhatsApp message types are affected.
4. Which businesses are most affected by these restrictions?
These restrictions primarily affect new businesses based outside Brazil and Indonesia that are building their messaging reputation. Before they can unlock higher messaging capabilities for recipients in these countries, they must demonstrate responsible messaging practices.
Messaging limits and eligibility
5. How can a business unlock higher messaging capabilities for Brazil and Indonesia?
To unlock higher messaging capabilities, a business must first complete one of Meta's approved scaling paths:
Meta Business Verification
Partner-led Business Verification
Quality Messaging
After completing a scaling path, Meta evaluates the business for an upgrade based on its messaging activity, messaging quality, and additional internal eligibility signals.
6. What are the requirements to qualify for the 2,000 messaging limit?
To be considered for an upgrade to 2,000 daily business-initiated conversations, the business should meet the following requirements:
Messaging activity is evaluated over the previous 7 days.
At least 1,000 unique contacts have been messaged.
The business maintains a Medium or High messaging quality rating.
Meta also considers additional internal eligibility signals before approving a messaging limit increase.
7. Does completing a scaling path automatically increase the messaging limit?
No. Completing a scaling path does not automatically increase the messaging limit. Meta also evaluates additional internal eligibility signals when determining whether a business qualifies for a higher messaging limit. Maintaining consistent, high-quality messaging improves the likelihood of receiving an upgrade.
8. What should a business do after reaching the 2,000 messaging limit?
After reaching the 2,000 daily business-initiated conversation limit, the business should continue maintaining a Medium or High messaging quality rating. Businesses may need to maintain this quality level for up to 30 days before receiving full messaging capabilities for Brazil and Indonesia.
Troubleshooting
9. What does WhatsApp error code 130497 mean?
Error code 130497 indicates that the business is affected by Meta's cross-country messaging restriction.
Business portfolio
10. Can I create a Meta Business Portfolio in Brazil or Indonesia if my business has legal documents from one of those countries?
Yes. If your business has legal business documents from Brazil or Indonesia, you can create a Meta Business Portfolio for that country and migrate your WhatsApp phone number to it. This may help if your business is eligible to operate from one of the affected countries.