What are authentication-international rates?

What are authentication-international rates?

Authentication-international rates refer to WhatsApp’s special pricing for authentication messages sent to certain countries or regions. These rates apply only to authentication conversations—a specific type of message category used for user verification (e.g., OTPs, login codes, identity confirmation).

📅 When Did These Rates Start?

Starting June 1, 2024, Meta introduced authentication-international rates for selected markets. These apply to businesses sending verification messages across borders or to countries outside their registered location.

🧾 What Counts as an Authentication Conversation?

An authentication conversation is triggered when:

  • You send a message template categorized as “Authentication”
  • The message is delivered and accepted by Meta as an authentication template

Examples include:

  • “Your code is 123456”
  • “Use this link to log in securely”
Note: These are distinct from marketing or utility messages and are priced separately.

🌍 Where Do Authentication-International Rates Apply?

These rates affect only certain countries. To check if your business is impacted:

  1. Visit the WhatsApp Rate Card
  2. Select your country and currency
  3. Look for the “Authentication - International” row in the pricing table
Example: If your business is based in the U.S. but you send an authentication message to a user in India, an international rate may apply.

✅ Why This Matters

  • You may be charged different rates depending on the recipient's location—even for the same template.
  • International rates are often higher than domestic authentication pricing.
  • This affects your monthly WhatsApp billing if you operate globally.

⚠️ Limitations and Notes

  • Rates are subject to change by Meta without prior notice.
  • Only messages classified as “authentication” are affected.
  • Other categories like utility or marketing are not impacted by these specific rates.

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