Why WhatsApp rejects templates (and how to get approved)
Promotional messages are allowed on WhatsApp — as approved templates sent to opted-in customers. Templates get rejected for specific, fixable reasons:
Content
- Requesting sensitive data — never ask for full card numbers, financial account numbers, or government IDs (last-4 digits is acceptable).
- Policy violations — content must comply with WhatsApp's Commerce and Business policies (see restricted categories); no abusive or threatening wording.
Formatting
- Floating variables — a line that's only
{{1}}with no surrounding text. - Variables with special characters (#, $, %) or missing sample values.
- Emojis in the header, spelling/grammar errors, vague template names.
- Too generic — "Hello {{1}}, thanks!" gives reviewers nothing; include real transaction/promo context.
- Language mismatch — the selected language must match the text.
- Duplicate — same body+footer as an existing template.
SuperLemon validates most of this in real time before submission. Still rejected? Email support@superlemon.xyz with the template name.
Frequently asked questions
Are promotional messages allowed on WhatsApp?
Yes — promotional templates are fully supported on the WhatsApp Business Platform. Promotions must go to opted-in customers as approved templates. The old 'transactional only' rule ended in 2021.
How long does WhatsApp template approval take?
Meta officially says 24–48 hours, but most templates are approved in about 15–20 minutes. SuperLemon's real-time validation catches most rejection causes before you submit.