---
title: "Issue a credential directly (management)"
method: POST
path: "/v1/credentials/issue"
tags: ["Credentials"]
---

# Issue a credential directly (management)

`POST /v1/credentials/issue`

Issue an SD-JWT VC (Selective-Disclosure JWT Verifiable Credential) to a holder. You provide a template UUID, the holder public JWK (JSON Web Key), and claim values. The API returns the issued credential identifier and serialized credential.

## Request body

- object
  - `template_id` string, uuid, required — UUID of the credential template to issue from.
  - `holder_jwk` object, required — Holder public key as a JWK (JSON Web Key). The credential is bound to this key.
    - `kty` string — JWK (JSON Web Key) key type.
    - `crv` string — Elliptic curve name in the JWK (JSON Web Key).
    - `x` string — X coordinate of the public key.
    - `y` string — Y coordinate of the public key.
  - `claims` object, required — Credential claim values keyed by schema attribute name.
    - `given_name` string — Claim value for the holder's given name.
    - `tier` string — Claim value for the holder's membership tier.

## Response `201`

The credential was issued.

- object
  - `credential_id` string, uuid — Unique identifier of the issued credential.
  - `vct` string — VCT (Verifiable Credential Type) value of the issued credential.
  - `sd_jwt` string — Serialized SD-JWT VC (Selective-Disclosure JWT Verifiable Credential). The captured value was redacted.
  - `status_idx` integer — Status-list index assigned to the issued credential.

## Changes

- **2026-07-03** `9addd64b04b1` — 1 breaking, 1 warning, 6 info
  - removed the success response with the status `200`
  - removed the request property `source_session_id`
  - added the new optional request property `claims/given_name`
  - added the new optional request property `claims/tier`
  - …4 more
- **2026-06-30** `1ee4908e9af4` — 1 breaking
  - request body became required

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/didit-protocol/apis/didit-credentials-api/changes/v1/credentials/issue/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/didit-protocol/apis/didit-credentials-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/didit-protocol/apis/didit-credentials-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/didit-protocol/didit-credentials-api/revisions/e4eddba66557/schema)