---
name: telnyx-whatsapp-python
description: >-
  Send WhatsApp messages, manage templates, WABAs, and phone numbers via the
  Telnyx WhatsApp Business API.
metadata:
  author: telnyx
  product: whatsapp
  language: python
---

# Telnyx WhatsApp Business API - Python

## Installation

```bash
pip install telnyx
```

## Setup

```python
import os
from telnyx import Telnyx

client = Telnyx(
    api_key=os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY"),
)
```

All examples below assume `client` is already initialized as shown above.

## Error Handling

All API calls can fail with network errors, rate limits (429), validation errors (422),
or authentication errors (401). Always handle errors in production code:

```python
import telnyx

try:
    response = client.messages.send_whatsapp(
        from_="+19452940762",
        to="+18005551234",
        type_="WHATSAPP",
        whatsapp_message={
            "type": "text",
            "text": {"body": "Hello from Telnyx!"}
        },
    )
except telnyx.APIError as e:
    print(f"API error: {e.status_code} - {e.message}")
except telnyx.AuthenticationError:
    print("Invalid API key")
except telnyx.RateLimitError:
    print("Rate limited - retry with backoff")
```

Common error codes: `401` invalid API key, `403` insufficient permissions,
`404` resource not found, `422` validation error (check field formats),
`429` rate limited (retry with exponential backoff).

### WhatsApp-Specific Errors

- **40008** — Meta catch-all error. Check template parameters, phone number formatting, and 24-hour window rules.
- **131047** — Message failed to send during the 24-hour window. The customer hasn't messaged you first (for non-template messages).
- **131026** — Recipient phone number is not a WhatsApp user.
- **132000** — Template parameter count mismatch. Ensure the number of parameters matches the template definition.
- **132015** — Template paused or disabled by Meta due to quality issues.

## Important Notes

- **Phone numbers** must be in E.164 format (e.g., `+13125550001`). Include the `+` prefix and country code.
- **Template messages** can be sent anytime. Free-form (session) messages can only be sent within a 24-hour window after the customer last messaged you.
- **Template IDs**: You can reference templates by Telnyx UUID (`template_id`) instead of `name` + `language`. When `template_id` is provided, name and language are resolved automatically.
- **Pagination:** List endpoints return paginated results. Use the auto-iterator pattern: `for item in response.auto_paging_iter()`.

## Operational Caveats

- The sending phone number must be registered with a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and associated with a messaging profile.
- Templates must be in `APPROVED` status before they can be used for sending.
- Template names must be lowercase with underscores only (e.g., `order_confirmation`). No spaces, hyphens, or uppercase.
- When creating templates, provide realistic sample values for body parameters — Meta reviewers check these during approval.
- Category selection matters for billing: `AUTHENTICATION` templates get special pricing but must contain an OTP. `UTILITY` is for transactional messages. `MARKETING` for promotional content.
- Meta may reclassify your template category (e.g., UTILITY to MARKETING) which affects billing.

## Reference Use Rules

Do not invent Telnyx parameters, enums, response fields, or webhook fields.

- If the parameter, enum, or response field you need is not shown inline in this skill, read [references/api-details.md](references/api-details.md) before writing code.
- Before using any operation in `## Additional Operations`, read [the optional-parameters section](references/api-details.md#optional-parameters) and [the response-schemas section](references/api-details.md#response-schemas).
- Before reading or matching webhook fields beyond the inline examples, read [the webhook payload reference](references/api-details.md#webhook-payload-fields).

## Core Tasks

### Send a WhatsApp template message

Send a pre-approved template message. Templates can be sent anytime — no 24-hour window restriction.

`client.messages.send_whatsapp()` — `POST /messages/whatsapp`

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| `from_` | string (E.164) | Yes | WhatsApp-enabled phone number in +E.164 format |
| `to` | string (E.164) | Yes | Recipient phone number in +E.164 format |
| `type_` | string | No | Must be `WHATSAPP` |
| `whatsapp_message` | object | Yes | WhatsApp message object |
| `messaging_profile_id` | string (UUID) | No | Messaging profile to use |
| `webhook_url` | string (URL) | No | Callback URL for delivery status updates |

```python
# Send by template name + language
response = client.messages.send_whatsapp(
    from_="+19452940762",
    to="+18005551234",
    type_="WHATSAPP",
    whatsapp_message={
        "type": "template",
        "template": {
            "name": "order_confirmation",
            "language": {"code": "en_US"},
            "components": [
                {
                    "type": "body",
                    "parameters": [
                        {"type": "text", "text": "ORD-12345"},
                        {"type": "text", "text": "March 15, 2026"},
                    ],
                }
            ],
        },
    },
)
print(response.data.id)
```

```python
# Send by Telnyx template_id (no name/language needed)
response = client.messages.send_whatsapp(
    from_="+19452940762",
    to="+18005551234",
    type_="WHATSAPP",
    whatsapp_message={
        "type": "template",
        "template": {
            "template_id": "019cd44b-3a1c-781b-956e-bd33e9fd2ac6",
            "components": [
                {
                    "type": "body",
                    "parameters": [{"type": "text", "text": "483291"}],
                }
            ],
        },
    },
)
```

Primary response fields:
- `response.data.id` — Message UUID
- `response.data.to[0].status` — `queued`, `sent`, `delivered`, `failed`
- `response.data.from_.phone_number`
- `response.data.type` — `WHATSAPP`

### Send a free-form WhatsApp text message

Send a text message within the 24-hour customer service window.

`client.messages.send_whatsapp()` — `POST /messages/whatsapp`

```python
response = client.messages.send_whatsapp(
    from_="+19452940762",
    to="+18005551234",
    type_="WHATSAPP",
    whatsapp_message={
        "type": "text",
        "text": {"body": "Your order has shipped!"},
    },
)
```

### List WhatsApp Business Accounts

`client.whatsapp.business_accounts.list()` — `GET /v2/whatsapp/business_accounts`

```python
response = client.whatsapp.business_accounts.list()
for waba in response.data:
    print(f"{waba.id}: {waba.name} ({waba.status})")
```

Primary response fields:
- `waba.id` — Telnyx WABA UUID
- `waba.waba_id` — Meta WABA ID
- `waba.name` — Business name
- `waba.status` — Account status
- `waba.country` — WABA country

### List templates

`client.whatsapp.templates.list()` — `GET /v2/whatsapp/message_templates`

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| `waba_id` | string (UUID) | No | Filter by Telnyx WABA UUID (query parameter) |
| `category` | string | No | Filter: `AUTHENTICATION`, `MARKETING`, `UTILITY` |
| `status` | string | No | Filter: `APPROVED`, `PENDING`, `REJECTED`, `DISABLED` |

```python
response = client.whatsapp.templates.list(
    waba_id="019c1ff0-5c30-7f36-8436-730b1d0b0e56",
    status="APPROVED",
)
for tmpl in response.data:
    print(f"{tmpl.id}: {tmpl.name} ({tmpl.category}) - {tmpl.status}")
```

Primary response fields:
- `tmpl.id` — Telnyx template UUID (use as `template_id` when sending)
- `tmpl.name` — Template name
- `tmpl.category` — `AUTHENTICATION`, `MARKETING`, or `UTILITY`
- `tmpl.language` — Language code
- `tmpl.status` — `APPROVED`, `PENDING`, `REJECTED`, `DISABLED`
- `tmpl.components` — Template components

### Create a message template

`client.whatsapp.templates.create()` — `POST /v2/whatsapp/message_templates`

```python
response = client.whatsapp.templates.create(
    waba_id="019c1ff0-5c30-7f36-8436-730b1d0b0e56",
    name="order_shipped",
    category="UTILITY",
    language="en_US",
    components=[
        {
            "type": "BODY",
            "text": "Your order {{1}} has been shipped and will arrive by {{2}}.",
            "example": {
                "body_text": [["ORD-12345", "March 20, 2026"]]
            },
        }
    ],
)
print(f"Template created: {response.data.id} (status: {response.data.status})")
```

### List phone numbers

`client.whatsapp.phone_numbers.list()` — `GET /v2/whatsapp/phone_numbers`

```python
response = client.whatsapp.phone_numbers.list(
    waba_id="019c1ff0-5c30-7f36-8436-730b1d0b0e56",
)
for pn in response.data:
    print(f"{pn.phone_number} - quality: {pn.quality_rating}")
```

---

### Webhook Verification

Telnyx signs webhooks with Ed25519. Always verify signatures in production:

```python
from telnyx.webhooks import Webhook

event = Webhook.construct_event(
    payload=request.body,
    sig_header=request.headers["telnyx-signature-ed25519"],
    timestamp=request.headers["telnyx-timestamp"],
    public_key=TELNYX_PUBLIC_KEY,
)
```

## Webhooks

These webhook payload fields are inline because they are part of the primary integration path.

### Message Delivery Update

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `data.event_type` | enum: message.sent, message.finalized | Delivery status event |
| `data.payload.id` | uuid | Message ID |
| `data.payload.to[0].status` | string | `queued`, `sent`, `delivered`, `read`, `failed` |
| `data.payload.template_id` | string | Telnyx template UUID (if template message) |
| `data.payload.template_name` | string | Template name (if template message) |

### Template Status Change

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `event_type` | string | `whatsapp.template.approved`, `whatsapp.template.rejected`, `whatsapp.template.disabled` |
| `payload.template_id` | string | Telnyx template UUID |
| `payload.template_name` | string | Template name |
| `payload.status` | string | New template status |
| `payload.reason` | string | Rejection/disable reason |

## Template Best Practices

- **Naming**: Use lowercase with underscores. Be descriptive (e.g., `appointment_reminder`, not `msg1`).
- **Sample values**: Provide realistic examples in the `example` field — Meta reviewers check these.
- **Category selection**:
  - `AUTHENTICATION` — OTP/verification codes only. Gets special pricing.
  - `UTILITY` — Transactional (order updates, shipping, account alerts).
  - `MARKETING` — Promotional content, offers, newsletters.
- **Keep it concise**: Meta prefers shorter templates. Avoid unnecessary formatting.
- **Parameters**: Use `{{1}}`, `{{2}}`, etc. for variable content. Always provide the correct number of parameters when sending.

## Important Supporting Operations

| Operation | SDK Method | Use Case |
|-----------|-----------|----------|
| Get template details | `client.whatsapp_message_templates.retrieve()` | Check template status |
| Get business profile | `client.whatsapp.phone_numbers.profile.retrieve()` | View business profile |
| Update WABA settings | `client.whatsapp.business_accounts.settings.update()` | Configure webhook URL and events |

## Additional Operations

| Operation | SDK Method | Endpoint | Required Params |
|-----------|-----------|----------|-----------------|
| Send WhatsApp message | `client.messages.send_whatsapp()` | `POST /messages/whatsapp` | `from_`, `to`, `whatsapp_message` |
| List WABAs | `client.whatsapp.business_accounts.list()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp/business_accounts` | — |
| Get WABA | `client.whatsapp.business_accounts.retrieve()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp/business_accounts/{id}` | `waba_id` |
| List templates | `client.whatsapp.templates.list()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp/message_templates` | — |
| Get template | `client.whatsapp_message_templates.retrieve()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp_message_templates/{id}` | `template_id` |
| Create template | `client.whatsapp.templates.create()` | `POST /v2/whatsapp/message_templates` | `waba_id`, `name`, `category`, `language`, `components` |
| List phone numbers | `client.whatsapp.phone_numbers.list()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp/phone_numbers` | — |
| Get WABA settings | `client.whatsapp.business_accounts.settings.retrieve()` | `GET /v2/whatsapp/business_accounts/{id}/settings` | `waba_id` |
| Update WABA settings | `client.whatsapp.business_accounts.settings.update()` | `PATCH /v2/whatsapp/business_accounts/{id}/settings` | `waba_id` |