## Create Agent

**post** `/v1/agents`

Create Agent

### Header Parameters

- `"anthropic-beta": optional array of AnthropicBeta`

  Optional header to specify the beta version(s) you want to use.

  - `string`

  - `"message-batches-2024-09-24" or "prompt-caching-2024-07-31" or "computer-use-2024-10-22" or 25 more`

    - `"message-batches-2024-09-24"`

    - `"prompt-caching-2024-07-31"`

    - `"computer-use-2024-10-22"`

    - `"computer-use-2025-01-24"`

    - `"pdfs-2024-09-25"`

    - `"token-counting-2024-11-01"`

    - `"token-efficient-tools-2025-02-19"`

    - `"output-128k-2025-02-19"`

    - `"files-api-2025-04-14"`

    - `"mcp-client-2025-04-04"`

    - `"mcp-client-2025-11-20"`

    - `"dev-full-thinking-2025-05-14"`

    - `"interleaved-thinking-2025-05-14"`

    - `"code-execution-2025-05-22"`

    - `"extended-cache-ttl-2025-04-11"`

    - `"context-1m-2025-08-07"`

    - `"context-management-2025-06-27"`

    - `"model-context-window-exceeded-2025-08-26"`

    - `"skills-2025-10-02"`

    - `"fast-mode-2026-02-01"`

    - `"output-300k-2026-03-24"`

    - `"user-profiles-2026-03-24"`

    - `"advisor-tool-2026-03-01"`

    - `"managed-agents-2026-04-01"`

    - `"cache-diagnosis-2026-04-07"`

    - `"thinking-token-count-2026-05-13"`

    - `"server-side-fallback-2026-06-01"`

    - `"fallback-credit-2026-06-01"`

### Body Parameters

- `model: BetaManagedAgentsModel or BetaManagedAgentsModelConfigParams`

  Model identifier. Accepts the [model string](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/models/overview#latest-models-comparison), e.g. `claude-opus-4-6`, or a `model_config` object for additional configuration control

  - `BetaManagedAgentsModel = "claude-fable-5" or "claude-opus-4-8" or "claude-opus-4-7" or 8 more or string`

    The model that will power your agent.

    See [models](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/models-overview) for additional details and options.

    - `"claude-fable-5" or "claude-opus-4-8" or "claude-opus-4-7" or 8 more`

      The model that will power your agent.

      See [models](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/models-overview) for additional details and options.

      - `"claude-fable-5"`

        Next generation of intelligence for the hardest knowledge work and coding problems

      - `"claude-opus-4-8"`

        Frontier intelligence for long-running agents and coding

      - `"claude-opus-4-7"`

        Frontier intelligence for long-running agents and coding

      - `"claude-opus-4-6"`

        Most intelligent model for building agents and coding

      - `"claude-sonnet-4-6"`

        Best combination of speed and intelligence

      - `"claude-haiku-4-5"`

        Fastest model with near-frontier intelligence

      - `"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001"`

        Fastest model with near-frontier intelligence

      - `"claude-opus-4-5"`

        Premium model combining maximum intelligence with practical performance

      - `"claude-opus-4-5-20251101"`

        Premium model combining maximum intelligence with practical performance

      - `"claude-sonnet-4-5"`

        High-performance model for agents and coding

      - `"claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929"`

        High-performance model for agents and coding

    - `string`

  - `BetaManagedAgentsModelConfigParams object { id, speed }`

    An object that defines additional configuration control over model use

    - `id: BetaManagedAgentsModel`

      The model that will power your agent.

      See [models](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/models-overview) for additional details and options.

    - `speed: optional "standard" or "fast"`

      Inference speed mode. `fast` provides significantly faster output token generation at premium pricing. Not all models support `fast`; invalid combinations are rejected at create time.

      - `"standard"`

      - `"fast"`

- `name: string`

  Human-readable name for the agent.

- `description: optional string`

  Description of what the agent does.

- `mcp_servers: optional array of BetaManagedAgentsURLMCPServerParams`

  MCP servers this agent connects to. Maximum 20. Names must be unique within the array.

  - `name: string`

    Unique name for this server, referenced by mcp_toolset configurations. 1-255 characters.

  - `type: "url"`

    - `"url"`

  - `url: string`

    Endpoint URL for the MCP server.

- `metadata: optional map[string]`

  Arbitrary key-value metadata. Maximum 16 pairs, keys up to 64 chars, values up to 512 chars.

- `multiagent: optional BetaManagedAgentsMultiagentParams`

  A coordinator topology: the session's primary thread orchestrates work by spawning session threads, each running an agent drawn from the `agents` roster.

  - `agents: array of BetaManagedAgentsMultiagentRosterEntryParams`

    Agents the coordinator may spawn as session threads. 1–20 entries. Each entry is an agent ID string, a versioned `{"type":"agent","id","version"}` reference, or `{"type":"self"}` to allow recursive self-invocation. Entries must reference distinct agents (after resolving `self` and string forms); at most one `self`. Referenced agents must exist, must not be archived, and must not themselves have `multiagent` set (depth limit 1).

    - `string`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsAgentParams object { id, type, version }`

      Specification for an Agent. Provide a specific `version` or use the short-form `agent="agent_id"` for the most recent version

      - `id: string`

        The `agent` ID.

      - `type: "agent"`

        - `"agent"`

      - `version: optional number`

        The specific `agent` version to use. Omit to use the latest version. Must be at least 1 if specified.

    - `BetaManagedAgentsMultiagentSelfParams object { type }`

      Sentinel roster entry meaning "the agent that owns this configuration". Resolved server-side to a concrete agent reference.

      - `type: "self"`

        - `"self"`

  - `type: "coordinator"`

    - `"coordinator"`

- `skills: optional array of BetaManagedAgentsSkillParams`

  Skills available to the agent.

  - `BetaManagedAgentsAnthropicSkillParams object { skill_id, type, version }`

    An Anthropic-managed skill.

    - `skill_id: string`

      Identifier of the Anthropic skill (e.g., "xlsx").

    - `type: "anthropic"`

      - `"anthropic"`

    - `version: optional string`

      Version to pin. Defaults to latest if omitted.

  - `BetaManagedAgentsCustomSkillParams object { skill_id, type, version }`

    A user-created custom skill.

    - `skill_id: string`

      Tagged ID of the custom skill (e.g., "skill_01XJ5...").

    - `type: "custom"`

      - `"custom"`

    - `version: optional string`

      Version to pin. Defaults to latest if omitted.

- `system: optional string`

  System prompt for the agent.

- `tools: optional array of BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params or BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParams or BetaManagedAgentsCustomToolParams`

  Tool configurations available to the agent. Maximum of 128 tools across all toolsets allowed.

  - `BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params object { type, configs, default_config }`

    Configuration for built-in agent tools. Use this to enable or disable groups of tools available to the agent.

    - `type: "agent_toolset_20260401"`

      - `"agent_toolset_20260401"`

    - `configs: optional array of BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParams`

      Per-tool configuration overrides.

      - `name: "bash" or "edit" or "read" or 5 more`

        Built-in agent tool identifier.

        - `"bash"`

        - `"edit"`

        - `"read"`

        - `"write"`

        - `"glob"`

        - `"grep"`

        - `"web_fetch"`

        - `"web_search"`

      - `enabled: optional boolean`

        Whether this tool is enabled and available to Claude. Overrides the default_config setting.

      - `permission_policy: optional BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

        Permission policy for tool execution.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

          - `type: "always_allow"`

            - `"always_allow"`

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

          - `type: "always_ask"`

            - `"always_ask"`

    - `default_config: optional BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams`

      Default configuration for all tools in a toolset.

      - `enabled: optional boolean`

        Whether tools are enabled and available to Claude by default. Defaults to true if not specified.

      - `permission_policy: optional BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

        Permission policy for tool execution.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

  - `BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParams object { mcp_server_name, type, configs, default_config }`

    Configuration for tools from an MCP server defined in `mcp_servers`.

    - `mcp_server_name: string`

      Name of the MCP server. Must match a server name from the mcp_servers array. 1-255 characters.

    - `type: "mcp_toolset"`

      - `"mcp_toolset"`

    - `configs: optional array of BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolConfigParams`

      Per-tool configuration overrides.

      - `name: string`

        Name of the MCP tool to configure. 1-128 characters.

      - `enabled: optional boolean`

        Whether this tool is enabled. Overrides the `default_config` setting.

      - `permission_policy: optional BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

        Permission policy for tool execution.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

    - `default_config: optional BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfigParams`

      Default configuration for all tools from an MCP server.

      - `enabled: optional boolean`

        Whether tools are enabled by default. Defaults to true if not specified.

      - `permission_policy: optional BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

        Permission policy for tool execution.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

        - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

          Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

  - `BetaManagedAgentsCustomToolParams object { description, input_schema, name, type }`

    A custom tool that is executed by the API client rather than the agent. When the agent calls this tool, an `agent.custom_tool_use` event is emitted and the session goes idle, waiting for the client to provide the result via a `user.custom_tool_result` event.

    - `description: string`

      Description of what the tool does, shown to the agent to help it decide when to use the tool. 1-1024 characters.

    - `input_schema: BetaManagedAgentsCustomToolInputSchema`

      JSON Schema for custom tool input parameters.

      - `type: "object"`

        - `"object"`

      - `properties: optional map[unknown]`

      - `required: optional array of string`

    - `name: string`

      Unique name for the tool. 1-128 characters; letters, digits, underscores, and hyphens.

    - `type: "custom"`

      - `"custom"`

### Returns

- `BetaManagedAgentsAgent object { id, archived_at, created_at, 12 more }`

  A Managed Agents `agent`.

  - `id: string`

  - `archived_at: string`

    A timestamp in RFC 3339 format

  - `created_at: string`

    A timestamp in RFC 3339 format

  - `description: string`

  - `mcp_servers: array of BetaManagedAgentsMCPServerURLDefinition`

    - `name: string`

    - `type: "url"`

      - `"url"`

    - `url: string`

  - `metadata: map[string]`

  - `model: BetaManagedAgentsModelConfig`

    Model identifier and configuration.

    - `id: BetaManagedAgentsModel`

      The model that will power your agent.

      See [models](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/models-overview) for additional details and options.

      - `"claude-fable-5" or "claude-opus-4-8" or "claude-opus-4-7" or 8 more`

        The model that will power your agent.

        See [models](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/models-overview) for additional details and options.

        - `"claude-fable-5"`

          Next generation of intelligence for the hardest knowledge work and coding problems

        - `"claude-opus-4-8"`

          Frontier intelligence for long-running agents and coding

        - `"claude-opus-4-7"`

          Frontier intelligence for long-running agents and coding

        - `"claude-opus-4-6"`

          Most intelligent model for building agents and coding

        - `"claude-sonnet-4-6"`

          Best combination of speed and intelligence

        - `"claude-haiku-4-5"`

          Fastest model with near-frontier intelligence

        - `"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001"`

          Fastest model with near-frontier intelligence

        - `"claude-opus-4-5"`

          Premium model combining maximum intelligence with practical performance

        - `"claude-opus-4-5-20251101"`

          Premium model combining maximum intelligence with practical performance

        - `"claude-sonnet-4-5"`

          High-performance model for agents and coding

        - `"claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929"`

          High-performance model for agents and coding

      - `string`

    - `speed: optional "standard" or "fast"`

      Inference speed mode. `fast` provides significantly faster output token generation at premium pricing. Not all models support `fast`; invalid combinations are rejected at create time.

      - `"standard"`

      - `"fast"`

  - `multiagent: BetaManagedAgentsMultiagent`

    Resolved coordinator topology with a concrete agent roster.

    - `agents: array of BetaManagedAgentsAgentReference`

      Agents the coordinator may spawn as session threads, each resolved to a specific version.

      - `id: string`

      - `type: "agent"`

        - `"agent"`

      - `version: number`

    - `type: "coordinator"`

      - `"coordinator"`

  - `name: string`

  - `skills: array of BetaManagedAgentsAnthropicSkill or BetaManagedAgentsCustomSkill`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsAnthropicSkill object { skill_id, type, version }`

      A resolved Anthropic-managed skill.

      - `skill_id: string`

      - `type: "anthropic"`

        - `"anthropic"`

      - `version: string`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsCustomSkill object { skill_id, type, version }`

      A resolved user-created custom skill.

      - `skill_id: string`

      - `type: "custom"`

        - `"custom"`

      - `version: string`

  - `system: string`

  - `tools: array of BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401 or BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolset or BetaManagedAgentsCustomTool`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401 object { configs, default_config, type }`

      - `configs: array of BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfig`

        - `enabled: boolean`

        - `name: "bash" or "edit" or "read" or 5 more`

          Built-in agent tool identifier.

          - `"bash"`

          - `"edit"`

          - `"read"`

          - `"write"`

          - `"glob"`

          - `"grep"`

          - `"web_fetch"`

          - `"web_search"`

        - `permission_policy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

          Permission policy for tool execution.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

            - `type: "always_allow"`

              - `"always_allow"`

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

            - `type: "always_ask"`

              - `"always_ask"`

      - `default_config: BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfig`

        Resolved default configuration for agent tools.

        - `enabled: boolean`

        - `permission_policy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

          Permission policy for tool execution.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

      - `type: "agent_toolset_20260401"`

        - `"agent_toolset_20260401"`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolset object { configs, default_config, mcp_server_name, type }`

      - `configs: array of BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolConfig`

        - `enabled: boolean`

        - `name: string`

        - `permission_policy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

          Permission policy for tool execution.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

      - `default_config: BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfig`

        Resolved default configuration for all tools from an MCP server.

        - `enabled: boolean`

        - `permission_policy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy or BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy`

          Permission policy for tool execution.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls are automatically approved without user confirmation.

          - `BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy object { type }`

            Tool calls require user confirmation before execution.

      - `mcp_server_name: string`

      - `type: "mcp_toolset"`

        - `"mcp_toolset"`

    - `BetaManagedAgentsCustomTool object { description, input_schema, name, type }`

      A custom tool as returned in API responses.

      - `description: string`

      - `input_schema: BetaManagedAgentsCustomToolInputSchema`

        JSON Schema for custom tool input parameters.

        - `type: "object"`

          - `"object"`

        - `properties: optional map[unknown]`

        - `required: optional array of string`

      - `name: string`

      - `type: "custom"`

        - `"custom"`

  - `type: "agent"`

    - `"agent"`

  - `updated_at: string`

    A timestamp in RFC 3339 format

  - `version: number`

    The agent's current version. Starts at 1 and increments when the agent is modified.

### Example

```http
curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents \
    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
    -H 'anthropic-version: 2023-06-01' \
    -H 'anthropic-beta: managed-agents-2026-04-01' \
    -H "X-Api-Key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
    -d "{
          \"model\": \"claude-sonnet-4-6\",
          \"name\": \"My First Agent\",
          \"description\": \"A general-purpose starter agent.\",
          \"metadata\": {
            \"foo\": \"bar\"
          },
          \"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\"
            }
          ]
        }"
```

#### Response

```json
{
  "id": "agent_011CZkYpogX7uDKUyvBTophP",
  "archived_at": null,
  "created_at": "2026-03-15T10:00:00Z",
  "description": "A general-purpose starter agent.",
  "mcp_servers": [
    {
      "name": "example-mcp",
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://example-server.modelcontextprotocol.io/sse"
    }
  ],
  "metadata": {
    "foo": "bar"
  },
  "model": {
    "id": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "speed": "standard"
  },
  "multiagent": {
    "agents": [
      {
        "id": "agent_011CZkYqphY8vELVzwCUpqiQ",
        "type": "agent",
        "version": 1
      }
    ],
    "type": "coordinator"
  },
  "name": "My First Agent",
  "skills": [
    {
      "skill_id": "xlsx",
      "type": "anthropic",
      "version": "1"
    },
    {
      "skill_id": "skill_011CZkZFNu9hAbo3jZPRgTlx",
      "type": "custom",
      "version": "2"
    }
  ],
  "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": [
    {
      "configs": [
        {
          "enabled": true,
          "name": "bash",
          "permission_policy": {
            "type": "always_allow"
          }
        }
      ],
      "default_config": {
        "enabled": true,
        "permission_policy": {
          "type": "always_ask"
        }
      },
      "type": "agent_toolset_20260401"
    }
  ],
  "type": "agent",
  "updated_at": "2026-03-15T10:00:00Z",
  "version": 1
}
```
