Send WhatsApp Messages

Send an approved WhatsApp template message to any phone number.


POST /v1/whatsapp/send

The public API also supports customer-service-window messages:

Endpoint	Purpose
`POST /v1/whatsapp/send/text`	Send text with URL preview and optional reply-to ID
`POST /v1/whatsapp/send/media`	Send an image, video, audio, or document URL

Free-form text and media can only be sent within the open 24-hour WhatsApp customer-service window. Use an approved template to start or reopen a conversation.

Request body

Field	Type	Required	Description
`to`	string	✓	Recipient phone number in E.164 format (e.g. `+254700000000`)
`phone_number_id`	string	✓	Your sending phone number `id` from `/v1/whatsapp/phone_numbers`
`template_name`	string	✓	The template `name` from the templates endpoint
`language_code`	string	✓	The template `language` from the templates endpoint (e.g. `en_US`)
`variables`	object	—	Template placeholder values. See Template Variables.
`media_url`	string	—	Public URL of media to use as template header. Alternative to `media_id`. See Sending with Media.
`media_id`	string	—	`media_id` from the upload endpoint. Alternative to `media_url`. See Sending with Media.
`catalog_id`	string	—	Meta catalog ID the products in `variables.cards` belong to. Required for Product Carousels.
`location`	object	For location templates	Latitude, longitude, name, and address for a template with a location header. See Location Templates.

The variables object holds one entry per template section:

Field	Type	Description
`variables.header`	object	Header placeholder values, keyed by `param_name`
`variables.body`	object	Body placeholder values, keyed by `param_name`
`variables.buttons`	object	Dynamic URL button values, keyed by button position. See Button Variables.
`variables.cards`	object	Carousel cards, keyed by card position starting at `"1"`. See Carousels.

Use the exact template_name and language_code as returned by the templates endpoint. Phone numbers are identified by their phone number ID (id field), not the phone number itself.

Sending a message template

If the template has no placeholders, omit the variables field entirely.

cURL


curl -X POST https://api.bahasha.app/v1/whatsapp/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bh_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "+254700000000",
    "phone_number_id": "123456789",
    "template_name": "hello_world",
    "language_code": "en_US"
  }'

JavaScript


const response = await fetch("https://api.bahasha.app/v1/whatsapp/send", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": "Bearer bh_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    to: "+254700000000",
    phone_number_id: "123456789",
    template_name: "hello_world",
    language_code: "en_US",
    // No variables field — template has no placeholders
  }),
});
const { message_id } = await response.json();

Python


import requests
 
response = requests.post(
    "https://api.bahasha.app/v1/whatsapp/send",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer bh_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx"},
    json={
        "to": "+254700000000",
        "phone_number_id": "123456789",
        "template_name": "hello_world",
        "language_code": "en_US",
        # No variables — template has no placeholders
    },
)
print(response.json()["message_id"])

Response


{
  "success": true,
  "message_id": "wamid.HBgNMjU0NzAwMDAwMDAwFQIAERgSNDQ1...",
  "to": "+254700000000",
  "template": "order_confirmation"
}

A successful response means the request was accepted — it does not guarantee delivery. Use webhooks to track delivery status (sent, delivered, read, failed).

Send free-form text


curl -X POST https://api.bahasha.app/v1/whatsapp/send/text \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bh_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "+254700000000",
    "phone_number_id": "123456789",
    "text": "Your order is ready for collection.",
    "preview_url": true,
    "reply_to_message_id": "wamid.optional"
  }'

Send session media


curl -X POST https://api.bahasha.app/v1/whatsapp/send/media \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bh_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "+254700000000",
    "phone_number_id": "123456789",
    "media_type": "document",
    "media_url": "https://example.com/invoice.pdf",
    "caption": "Your invoice",
    "filename": "invoice.pdf"
  }'

Choose your scenario

Everything else you can send is a variation on the request above.

Fill named and positional placeholders in the header and body.

Template Variables

Send one-time passcodes with authentication templates.

Authentication (OTP)

Append dynamic values to URL buttons, including two-button templates.

Button Variables

Override the template’s header image, video, or document per send.

Sending with Media

Send an approved template with a place in its header.

Location Templates

Send multi-card carousels and fill each card’s own variables.

Carousels

Show 2–10 products from your Meta catalog, chosen at send time.

Product Carousels