I can’t find emoji keyboard to add help new iPhone 12

Nola523 wrote:

There is NO option for “emoji” on adding a keyboard on my phone

?

Settings > General and tap Keyboard. Tap Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Tap Emoji.

Use emoji on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

If you currently have Emoji appearing under Keyboard, then you already have the emoji added. That is all you need to do. Then to access it from the iPhone keyboard, tap the little emoji in the bottom left corner of the keyboard. Use emoji on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

I'm not sure what you mean by "it only appears for messaging"?