curl -X POST 'https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents?beta=true' \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H 'anthropic-version: 2023-06-01' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "name": "example-name",
  "model": "example-model"
}'

# POST /v1/agents?beta=true (Claude API)
Base URL: https://api.anthropic.com
Auth: x-api-key; Anthropic API key; required.
Status: Beta.
Request formats: application/json.
Last verified: 2026-10-20

> Create Agent

## Critical Gotchas
* Authentication uses the `x-api-key` header and requests also require an `anthropic-version` header.
* The official OpenAPI URL is discovered from the SDK repository manifest and must remain under Anthropic's trusted Stainless storage prefix.

## cURL
curl -X POST 'https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents?beta=true' \
  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  -H 'anthropic-version: 2023-06-01' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "name": "example-name",
  "model": "example-model"
}'

## Parameters
| Name | In | Type | Required | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| name | body | string | Yes | Human-readable name for the agent. |
| model | body | string | Yes | Model identifier. Accepts the [model string](https://platform.claude.com/docs... |
| description | body | string | No | Description of what the agent does. |
| system | body | string | No | System prompt for the agent. |
| tools | body | object[] | No | Tool configurations available to the agent. Maximum of 128 tools across all t... |
| mcp_servers | body | object[] | No | MCP servers this agent connects to. Maximum 20. Names must be unique within t... |
| skills | body | object[] | No | Skills available to the agent. |
| metadata | body | object | No | Arbitrary key-value metadata. Maximum 16 pairs, keys up to 64 chars, values u... |
Other params: multiagent

## Response example
{"type":"agent","id":"agent_011CZkYpogX7uDKUyvBTophP"}

---
Need an API key? Get one at https://console.anthropic.com/settings/keys

POST

POST /v1/agents?beta=true — Claude API

Beta

Anthropic API key (required); https://api.anthropic.com

Claude API

Create Agent

Base URL: https://api.anthropic.com
Auth: x-api-key: <ANTHROPIC_API_KEY>
Last verified: 2026-10-20 · upstream hash matched

Actions Try in browser→

Agents: curl -H "Accept: text/markdown" this URL
→ 358 tokens · Vary: Accept

Critical gotchas

Authentication uses the x-api-key header and requests also require an anthropic-version header.

The official OpenAPI URL is discovered from the SDK repository manifest and must remain under Anthropic's trusted Stainless storage prefix.

cURL

curl -X POST 'https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents?beta=true' \  -H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \  -H 'anthropic-version: 2023-06-01' \  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \  -d '{  "name": "example-name",  "model": "example-model"}'

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
name	body	string	Yes	Human-readable name for the agent.
model	body	string	Yes	Model identifier. Accepts the [model string](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/models/overview#latest-models-comparison), e.g. `claude-opus-5`, or a `model_config` object for additional configuration control
description	body	string	No	Description of what the agent does.
system	body	string	No	System prompt for the agent.
tools	body	object[]	No	Tool configurations available to the agent. Maximum of 128 tools across all toolsets allowed.
mcp_servers	body	object[]	No	MCP servers this agent connects to. Maximum 20. Names must be unique within the array. Every server must be referenced by an `mcp_toolset` in `tools`; unreferenced servers are rejected. See the [MCP connector guide](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/managed-agents/mcp-connector).
skills	body	object[]	No	Skills available to the agent.
metadata	body	object	No	Arbitrary key-value metadata. Maximum 16 pairs, keys up to 64 chars, values up to 512 chars.
multiagent	body	object	No	Multiagent orchestration configuration. Currently supports the `coordinator` topology with a roster of 1-20 agents.

Response 200 OK

{
  "type": "agent",
  "id": "agent_011CZkYpogX7uDKUyvBTophP",
  "version": 1,
  "name": "My First Agent",
  "description": "A general-purpose starter agent.",
  "model": {
    "id": "claude-opus-5",
    "speed": "standard"
  },
  "system": "You are a general-purpose agent that can research, write code, run commands, and use connected tools to complete the user's task end to end.",
  "tools": [
    {
      "type": "agent_toolset_20260401",
      "default_config": {
        "enabled": true,
        "permission_policy": {
          "type": "always_ask"
        }
      },
      "configs": []
    }
  ],
  "mcp_servers": [
    {
      "type": "url",
      "name": "example-mcp",
      "url": "https://example-server.modelcontextprotocol.io/sse"
    }
  ],
  "skills": [
    {
      "type": "anthropic",
      "skill_id": "xlsx",
      "version": "1"
    },
    {
      "type": "custom",
      "skill_id": "skill_011CZkZFNu9hAbo3jZPRgTlx",
      "version": "2"
    }
  ],
  "multiagent": null,
  "metadata": {
    "foo": "bar"
  },
  "created_at": "2026-03-15T10:00:00Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-03-15T10:00:00Z",
  "archived_at": null
}

Get a free Claude API key → sponsored

Affiliate link - we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.