---
title: "Create Identity Endpoint"
method: POST
path: "/api/v1/identities"
tags: ["identities"]
---

# Create Identity Endpoint

`POST /api/v1/identities`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.withverifa.com` (the document declares no server; this is the origin it was published from)
- URL: `https://api.withverifa.com/api/v1/identities`
- Auth: none declared

Reserve an ``external_ref`` by creating a placeholder identity.

The placeholder is tagged ``source='api_stub'`` and contains no PII.  The
record is enriched with real verification data when a session completes
for the same ``external_ref``.  Most callers should not need this — just
create a verification session with the desired ``external_ref`` and the
identity will be created automatically when the session reaches a final
state.  Use this endpoint only when you need the ``external_ref`` to be
claimed before the user starts verification.

Set ``upsert=true`` to return the existing identity (201) instead of 409
when the ``external_ref`` already exists.

## Request body

- CreateIdentityRequest
  - `external_ref` string, required
  - `upsert` boolean

## Response `201`

Successful Response

- unknown

## Other responses

- `422`: Validation Error

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/withverifa/apis/verifa.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/withverifa/apis/verifa/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/withverifa/apis/verifa/revisions/7288c82c9e33?raw)