Send PDF Files over Telegram from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate Telegram document sharing using the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API

Posted on June 20, 2022   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: February 4, 2026  

Automate Telegram Document Sharing with Shell Scripts

Looking to automate PDF delivery, document notifications, or file sharing directly from your terminal? This guide walks you through sending PDF files to Telegram users using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway REST API. Perfect for system administrators, developers, and automation enthusiasts who want to integrate document delivery into their workflows.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate Telegram Gateway account - Required for API access
  2. Recipient registration - Each recipient must register with the Gateway first
  3. Basic shell scripting knowledge - Familiarity with terminal commands
  4. PDF file ready - Have the document you want to send available locally
  5. Base64 utility - The base64 command must be available on your system

⚠️ Important: Recipients must register with the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway before they can receive messages. Unregistered users will not receive any messages from the Gateway. Registration instructions are available on the official WhatsMate site.

🎥 Video Walkthrough

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first PDF document to a Telegram user from a shell script:

1. Copy the Script Template

Start by copying the following source code into your script file:

2. Configure a few Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the script:

  • Line 13: Replace YOUR_OWN_INSTANCE_ID_HERE with your Telegram gateway instance ID
  • Lines 14-15: Update YOUR_OWN_CLIENT_ID_HERE and YOUR_OWN_SECRET_HERE with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 18: Replace 12025550108 with the target phone number (including the country code)
  • Line 19: Replace ../assets/subwaymap.pdf with the path to your PDF file
  • Line 20: Replace map.pdf with the desired filename for the document
  • Line 21: Replace Check this out with an optional caption for your PDF

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 send-telegram-pdf.sh

4. Send Your PDF Document

Run the script to deliver your PDF to Telegram:

./send-telegram-pdf.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • Automated report delivery - Send daily/weekly PDF reports to Telegram
  • Document sharing automation - Deliver invoices, receipts, or contracts via Telegram
  • System documentation - Share configuration files or logs as PDF documents
  • Educational content - Distribute learning materials or tutorials through Telegram
  • Integration with document generation - Combine with scripts that create PDFs for Telegram delivery

🚀 Get Started Today

Ready to automate your document sharing over Telegram? You’ll need a trial account to access the API. Sign up for a 2-week trial and start sending PDF files within minutes!

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered basic PDF sending, explore advanced features like sending images, audio files, or group messages through the WhatsMate Telegram Gateway API documentation.