# Getting Started

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**Updated 25 October 2023** We have stopped onboarding new agencies to the Gov.sg WhatsApp channel
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### **Step 1: Request for access**

As Gov.sg WhatsApp channel is currently available on an invite-only basis, you have to send in a request via [this form](https://go.gov.sg/sgc-interest-form). Please also tell us about your use-case so we can make the appropriate templates available for your account.

Make sure that your account has been whitelisted for this channel before using it. An easy way to check this by logging into the [Postman platform](https://postman.gov.sg) and see if you can create a Gov.sg WhatsApp campaign.

### **Step 2: Generate API Key on Postman.gov.sg**

Log in to Postman.gov.sg using the whitelisted email address identified in **Step 1** and generate the API Key. This API key will be used to authenticate your requests. You may follow the steps outlined [here](/email-api-guide/api-key-management/generate-your-api-key.md).

### **Step 3: Start sendng test messages and integration**

Retrieve ID of the message template that you need using [this endpoint](/email-api-guide/programmatic-govsg-api/get-templates-api.md) and send out test messages using [the sending endpoint](/email-api-guide/programmatic-govsg-api/send-message-api.md).

### **Step 4: Communicate go-live date to the Postman team**

If you have any feature requests or need additional support, please let us know with an expected go-live date.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://postman-v1.guides.gov.sg/email-api-guide/programmatic-govsg-api/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.