Getting Meta API error code 138013 when sending a call permission template to a user

Question

I'm working with the Meta (WhatsApp Business Cloud API) and I'm trying to send a template message that asks for call permission from the user.

However, I'm getting the following error:

{
 "error": {
 "message": "(#138013) Business-initiated calling is not available",
 "type": "OAuthException",
 "code": 138013,
 "error_data": {
 "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
 "details": "Business initiated calls not available for for this account."
 },
 "fbtrace_id": "ATTrg5q8Xi1Yh8VkfYI482r"
 }
}

Here's the request I'm sending:

 const response = await fetch('https://graph.facebook.com/v20.0/<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages', {
 method: 'POST',
 headers: {
 Authorization: `Bearer ${config.token}`,
 'Content-Type': 'application/json',
 },
 body: JSON.stringify({
 messaging_product: 'whatsapp',
 recipient_type: 'individual',
 to: userGuest,
 type: 'interactive',
 interactive: {
 type: 'call_permission_request',
 action: {
 name: 'call_permission_request',
 },
 body: {
 text: 'We would like to call you.',
 },
 },
 }),
});

Has anyone encountered this error before? Is there a specific permission, account type, or configuration required to enable business-initiated calling on the WhatsApp Cloud API?

• C3roe: developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/calling/… says its not enabled by default, and also mentions some requirements.

Answer 1

I just found out the issue.
Business-initiated calling is not available for U.S. phone numbers in the Meta (WhatsApp Business Cloud API).

That’s why the API returns:

(#138013) Business-initiated calling is not available

So if you're testing with a U.S. WhatsApp number (starting with +1), you won’t be able to send call permission requests or start business-initiated calls.

Switching to a phone number from a supported country resolves the issue.