Approval and rejection
Meta reviews every template before you can send it. This page explains how to submit, how to check the result, and what to do if Meta says no.
How do I send a template for review?
- Save the template as a draft. See Create a template.
- On its card, click Submit.
- You'll see "Sent to Meta for review" and the status changes to In review.
Only drafts and rejected templates have a Submit button.
How long does review take?
Usually a few minutes, and almost always within a day. Sometimes Meta takes up to 48 hours. KiliChat updates the status by itself as soon as Meta tells us. You don't need to keep the page open.
Status not changing?
Click Sync from Meta at the top of the Templates page. It fetches the latest status and quality of every template straight from Meta.
How do I know if it was approved?
The status badge on the card changes to Approved, and the template appears in the template lists for broadcasts, sequences, flows and the inbox. Use the Approved tab at the top to see only approved templates.
Why was my template rejected?
The reason shows in red at the bottom of the template's card. Here's what Meta's reasons mean:
| Reason on the card | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| INVALID_FORMAT | Something about the layout breaks Meta's rules: often variables side by side, a variable at the very start or end, wrong language code, odd characters, or examples that don't fit | Put words around each variable, check the language code, use realistic examples |
| INCORRECT_CATEGORY | The category doesn't match the content, for example an offer inside a "utility" template | Choose Marketing, or remove the promotional part. See Categories |
| TAG_CONTENT_MISMATCH | The words don't match the category or the language chosen | Check the category and that the Language code matches the language you wrote in |
| PROMOTIONAL | Promotional wording in a non-marketing template | Change the category to Marketing |
| ABUSIVE_CONTENT | Meta found the wording threatening, offensive or otherwise against policy | Rewrite in a calm, polite tone |
| SCAM | It looks like it could trick people, for example asking for money, passwords or card details, or using suspicious links | Remove any request for sensitive details and use your own website's links |
| Meta status: PAUSED | Meta paused the template because customers reacted badly (blocks, reports) | Wait for it to come back, or improve it. See Quality |
| Meta status: DISABLED | Meta turned the template off after repeated quality problems | Make a new, improved template |
| Meta status: LIMIT_EXCEEDED, ARCHIVED, DELETED, PENDING_DELETION | Meta stopped the template for an account reason, or it was deleted in WhatsApp Manager | Make a new template, or ask us to look |
| Uses features this app can't send yet | A template synced from Meta uses something KiliChat can't send | Recreate it in KiliChat |
Anything that stops a template being sent shows as Rejected in KiliChat, even if Meta calls it paused or disabled. This way nobody can pick it by mistake.
How do I fix and resubmit a rejected template?
- On the rejected card, click Edit.
- Make your changes. The rejection reason is cleared when you save.
- Click Save draft. The template becomes a Draft again.
- Click Submit.
If Meta says the name is already taken
Meta sometimes keeps the rejected template on its side under the same name. If Submit shows an error saying a template with this name or language already exists, click Edit, change the Template name (for example add _v2), save and submit again.
What errors can appear when I click Submit?
KiliChat shows Meta's own message, often with a code in brackets. Common ones:
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| An example file is missing. Upload it again. | Edit the draft, remove the header file and upload it again. |
| Only drafts and rejected templates can be submitted | The template is already in review or approved. |
| …access token… or (code 190) | The number's connection to Meta has stopped working. See Token expired. |
| …(code 100)… | Meta didn't accept something in the template. Read Meta's message for which part, fix it and try again. |
If you can't tell what's wrong, send us a screenshot on WhatsApp.
Tips for getting approved first time
- Start from a ready-made template and change the details.
- Make examples realistic:
Priya,#1042,12 March, nottest,abcor{{1}}. - Put words around every variable, and don't start or end the message with one.
- Be clear about who you are: "This is Sri Ganesh Stores. Your order…"
- Choose the right category. Offers and discounts are always marketing.
- Use your own working website links.
- Upload a clear, relevant header picture or file.