WhatsApp virtual 555 and 711 numbers

Meta offers free virtual WhatsApp business numbers with +1 555 and +1 711 prefixes to eligible businesses during signup. Until Meta approves the display name, these numbers have a small daily sending limit. We recommend connecting a regular phone number for production traffic.

How the number works

Meta creates one when you choose Use a display name with a virtual number instead in the Phone number field on the Add your WhatsApp phone number screen of WhatsApp signup. Meta offers this option only to businesses it considers eligible. It does not publish the criteria. The number:

• Starts with +1 555 or +1 711.
• Is verified automatically, so no verification code is sent to it.
• Is limited to two for each business.
• Cannot move to another WhatsApp Business Account or be used outside the WhatsApp Business Platform.
• Otherwise works like any other business number. The same pricing applies. Its quality rating works the same way.

Meta describes this signup option as 555 business phone numbers in its documentation.

Display name review

An accepted display name can still be unreviewed. Open the number under WhatsApp > Numbers and check Display name on the Business profile tab. When no requested name is listed, the badge shows the current name's status:

• Not reviewed (available_without_review): Meta accepted the name without reviewing it. The virtual number still needs display name approval to lift its daily sending limit.
• In review (pending_review): Meta is reviewing the name.
• Approved (approved): Meta approved the name. The virtual number's pre-approval sending limit no longer applies; normal messaging limits still apply.

If a requested name is listed, the badge describes that request. The Limited to 5 messages/day notice still reflects the current name. An Approved rename can appear alongside that notice. A Not reviewed rename does not impose the pre-approval limit on a current name that is already approved.

If the request is Declined or Expired, you can edit the display name and select Save changes to submit another request.

WhatsApp Manager can show an unreviewed name as approved. If sends fail with 131037, check the display name status in Bird.

How to qualify for review

Meta Support gave us the following guidance on November 5, 2026:

• Verifying your business may make it eligible for display name review. Verification does not guarantee review or approval.
• Otherwise, your business must meet Meta's quality and scaling requirements: 2,000 delivered messages to unique WhatsApp users within 30 days, outside customer service windows.
• Meta counts qualifying traffic across phone numbers in the same Meta business portfolio (Business Manager). Meta says reaching the 2,000-message tier automatically triggers review of the virtual number's display name.

Meta recommends using a regular phone number in the same business portfolio to reach the required volume. Connect a number of your own to send while your virtual number awaits approval.

Review eligibility is separate from approval. We cannot promise a review completion date.

Sending before approval

Meta Support says virtual numbers without an approved display name can send five messages per day. Meta did not specify when that daily allowance resets. Use this allowance to try WhatsApp. Connect a regular number for production traffic.

Once the allowance is exhausted, WhatsApp refuses sends with error 131037: the WhatsApp-provided number needs display name approval before it can send. Each refused message shows as Failed on the Messages page. We do not retry it or resend it after approval.

Next steps

• Phone number setup: connecting a number of your own for production
• Message status events: how a failed message reports its error code
• Number quality and messaging limit: the allowance that applies once the number can send