> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://whatsapp-docs.kap.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Calling
# Cloud API Calling
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
## Overview
The WhatsApp Business Calling API enables you to initiate and receive calls with users on WhatsApp using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
### Architecture
( *Right click image and choose “Open in new tab” for enlarged image*)
## Get started
### Step 1: Prerequisites
Before you get started with the Calling API, ensure that:
[Your business number is in use with Cloud API](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/business-phone-numbers/phone-numbers) (not the WhatsApp Business app)
Subscribe your app to the `calls` webhook field (unless you plan to use [SIP](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/sip))
The same app should also be [subscribed to the WhatsApp Business Account](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/webhooks/create-webhook-endpoint#configure-webhooks) of your business phone number.
This app should have messaging permissions (`whatsapp_business_messaging`) for the business number
The business must have a messaging limit of at least [2000 business-initiated conversations](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/messaging-limits) in a rolling 24-hour period. More details on [scaling your account capabilities](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/595597942906808).
[Enable Calling features on your business phone number](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings)
### Step 2: Configure optional calling features
The WhatsApp Business Calling API offers a number of features that affect when and how calling features appear to users on your WhatsApp profile
Inbound call control allows you to prevent users from placing calls from your business profile
Business call hours allows you to avoid missed calls and direct users to message when your call center is closed
Callback requests offer users the option to request a callback when you don’t pick up a call or if your call center is closed
[Learn more about call control settings](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings#parameter-details)
### Step 3: Make and receive calls
You can test your WhatsApp Calling integration using public test numbers and Sandbox WhatsApp Business Account.
[Learn more about testing your WhatsApp Calling API integration](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling#testing-and-sandbox-accounts)
Cloud API Calling offers two call initiation paths:
**User-initiated calls:** Calls that are made from a WhatsApp user to your business
**Business-initiated calls:** Calls that are made from your business to a WhatsApp user
## Testing and Sandbox accounts
Sandbox accounts are only available to Tech Partners.
[Sandbox accounts](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/sandbox) and public test numbers enable you to test you WhatsApp Calling API integration with relaxed calling limitations.
Specifically business initiated calling limits are relaxed for Sandbox accounts and public test numbers to help integration and testing efforts.
#### Limits (Per business + WhatsApp user pair)
Sandbox accounts can make **100 connected calls every 24 hours** (vs 10 connected calls every 24 hours for prod accounts)
Sandbox accounts can send **25 call permissions per day** and **100 per week** (vs 1 per day and 2 per week for prod accounts)
When business-initiated calls go unanswered or are rejected
**5 consecutive unanswered calls** result in system message to reconsider an approved permission (vs 2 consecutive unanswered calls for prod accounts)
**10 consecutive unanswered calls** result in an approved permission being automatically revoked. (vs 4 consecutive unanswered calls for prod accounts)
You obtain a public test number after completing the [Get Started flow.](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/get-started)
You are also not required to have a messaging limit of at least [2000 business-initiated conversations](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/messaging-limits) in a rolling 24-hour period to test Calling API features when using public test numbers and Sandbox accounts.
Calling is disabled by default on test numbers. You must [configure calling features in phone number call settings](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings#configure-call-settings) before using the Calling API on a test number.
[Learn more about Sandbox Accounts for Calling](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/embedded-signup/overview#sandbox-accounts)
## Availability
#### User-initiated calling
User-initiated calling is available in [every location Cloud API is available](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support#country-restrictions)
#### Business-initiated calling
Business-initiated calling is currently available in [every location Cloud API is available](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support#country-restrictions), **except the following countries:**
USA
Canada
Turkey
Egypt
Vietnam
Nigeria
**Note:** The business phone number’s country code must be in this supported list. The consumer phone number can be from any [country where Cloud API is available.](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support#country-restrictions)
## Next steps
Use our guides below to help you get started with integrating and using calling features in your application:
[Learn how to receive user-initiated calls](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/user-initiated-calls)
[Learn how to place business-initiated calls](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/business-initiated-calls)
[Learn how to drive consumer awareness of calling availability in your business](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-button-messages-deep-links)
## Changelog
Use this table as a centralized place to keep track of feature updates related to WhatsApp Business Calling APIs
| Date | Title | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dec 10 2025 | Introduced `restrict_to_user_countries` for call icon settings | Now you can control in which countries the call icon should be visible. Learn more [here.](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings#call-icons) |
| Oct 13 2025 | Update in business initiated call limit
Added “Testing and Sandbox” section to documentation | The number of business-initiated calls per user has been increased to 10 per day from 5 per day.
[Learn more about business-initiated call limits](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/user-call-permissions#limits--per-business---whatsapp-user-pair-)
A [Testing and Sandbox accounts](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling#testing-and-sandbox-accounts) has been added to the documentation |
| Sep 29 2025 | Asterisk integration guide | New guide to [integrate with Asterisk](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/integration-examples#asterisk-using-sip) |
| September 24, 2025 | Context propagation from call buttons and deep links | Specify an opaque string in call buttons or call deep links to help with tracking the origin of user-initiated calls. [Learn more](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-button-messages-deep-links) |
| September 8, 2025 | Health status API calling update | [Health Status API](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/support/health-status) is now extended to include a new `can_receive_call_sip` field to help you self-diagnose issues related to [SIP](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/sip) setup |
| September 5, 2025 | Introduced new low call pickup calling restrictions | Low call pickup rate restrictions are now in effect. Learn more at [Calling Restriction for Low Call Pickup Rates](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings#calling-restrictions-for-low-call-pickup-rates) |
| July 21, 2025 | Account settings update webhooks | Get webhooks when settings are updated. [Learn more](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/business-messaging/whatsapp/calling/call-settings#settings-update-webhooks). |
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ON THIS PAGE
Overview
Architecture
Get started
Step 1: Prerequisites
Step 2: Configure optional calling features
Step 3: Make and receive calls
Testing and Sandbox accounts
Limits (Per business + WhatsApp user pair)
Availability
User-initiated calling
Business-initiated calling
Next steps
Changelog
***