Can I invite email contacts to WhatsApp ?
No, not just like that: You may only message contacts on WhatsApp who have explicitly agreed beforehand. To do that, invite them to a sign-up page.
The short answer.
No, not just like that: You may only message contacts from your email list on WhatsApp if they have explicitly agreed beforehand to receive messages via WhatsApp. § 7 para. 2 no. 2 UWG requires this for advertising by electronic mail, and Meta also requires consent to receive messages. The safe way is to invite the contacts by email to a sign-up page where they sign up for WhatsApp themselves. As of: 02.11.2026, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance.
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| § 7 para. 2 no. 2 UWG | Advertising by electronic mail without prior explicit consent is always an unreasonable nuisance | gesetze-im-internet.de |
| § 7 para. 3 UWG | Exception without consent, expressly for email advertising, with four conditions | gesetze-im-internet.de |
| Art. 7 GDPR | You must be able to prove the consent. Withdrawing it must be as easy as giving it | dejure.org |
| Art. 21 para. 2 and 3 GDPR | If someone objects to direct advertising, their data may no longer be processed for it | dejure.org |
| Meta Business Messaging Policy | You may only contact people if they have given their number and agreed to receive further messages. You determine the opt-in method yourself and bear the responsibility | whatsappbusiness.com |
Sources: § 7 UWG, Art. 7 GDPR, Art. 21 GDPR, WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, accessed on 02.11.2026.
Can I message contacts from my email list on WhatsApp without consent ??
No, a mere email address in your list is not enough for that. Meta allows you to contact people only if they have given their mobile number or username and agreed to receive further messages. An email list doesn't necessarily contain numbers, and consent to emails is not yet consent to WhatsApp. For advertising, § 7 para. 2 no. 2 UWG also names prior explicit consent as a requirement.
Is the consent for my email newsletter also enough for WhatsApp?
That depends on the wording the contact saw back then. If they only agreed to receive emails, WhatsApp is not expressly named in it. Art. 7 para. 1 GDPR requires that you can prove what they consented to. Our recommendation: Don't rely on an old email consent, but get a new one for WhatsApp. Whether an old consent is enough in an individual case can only be judged by a lawyer.
Does the existing-customer exception also apply to an invitation to WhatsApp?
According to its wording, the exception in § 7 para. 3 UWG applies only to email advertising. It names four conditions: You got the address when selling a product or service, you advertise your own similar products or services, the customer has not objected, and they were clearly informed of their right to object when the address was collected and with every use. WhatsApp is not mentioned there. Whether an invitation by email is itself already advertising is not stated in the text of the law. Clarify this with a lawyer before sending.
How do I invite my email contacts properly to WhatsApp?
You invite them to a sign-up page where everyone enters their own number and agrees to the WhatsApp message. The consent then comes from the contact, not from you. Meta makes the opt-in method your responsibility. It must comply with applicable laws. For the process, these steps apply, which are based on our experience and recommendation:
| step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check beforehand whether the invitation by email is permitted for your contacts |
| 2 | Link to a page where the contact enters their number and consent themselves |
| 3 | Say clearly what kind of messages will come and how to unsubscribe |
| 4 | Have the registration confirmed and record the date, time and method |
| 5 | Only message those who have confirmed |
Confirming and recording is explained on the page What is double opt-in on WhatsApp?. The legal situation for advertising is described in Is advertising to customers via WhatsApp allowed?
What applies when a contact no longer wants to be messaged ?
Then you must respect that immediately, on WhatsApp and outside of it. The Meta policy requires that requests to block or opt out are honored, even if they don't come through WhatsApp. Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR says that the data subject can withdraw their consent at any time and that withdrawing must be as easy as giving consent. After an objection to direct advertising, the data may no longer be processed for it (Art. 21 para. 3 GDPR).
How does SmartChat help you with this?
In SmartChat, contacts sign up through a landing page or website popup and confirm with double opt-in. Date, time and method of consent are available per contact as a PDF. Newsletters and follow-ups go only to confirmed contacts, and unsubscribing works via STOP. This is included in every plan, including free plan. It does not replace legal advice.
Frequently asked questions about the invitation.
Can I import an email list into WhatsApp and message them right away?
No. Meta requires that contacts have given their number and agreed to receive messages. An email list alone doesn't prove that.
Do I need the mobile number to invite someone?
Not for an invitation by email. For WhatsApp messages you need the number, and the contact must have given it themselves and agreed.
Can I send an email with the invitation to WhatsApp?
That depends on whether the email is permitted for you, for example under § 7 para. 3 UWG. The text of the law doesn't say whether the invitation itself counts as advertising. Ask a lawyer about this.
Who is responsible for the opt-in?
You are. According to Meta, your business alone determines the opt-in method and must make sure it complies with applicable laws.
Do I have to be able to prove that someone agreed?
Yes. Art. 7 para. 1 GDPR requires that you can prove the consent.
What do I do with contacts who don't reply?
Don't message them on WhatsApp. Without consent, there is no basis for WhatsApp advertising.
What do WhatsApp messages cost at Meta?
The prices are on one page, see Meta fees in the Trust Center.
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Last updated: By SmartChat Team