---
ref: tool:intercom/create-contact
name: Create a contact
company: company:intercom
workflows: []
access: [api]
tags: [capability:manage-crm, category:support, has:api]
docs: https://developers.intercom.com/docs/references/rest-api/api.intercom.io/contacts/createcontact
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Create a contact

Creates a user or lead from an email, an external ID or a role, with optional name, phone, owner and custom attributes, and returns the contact.

Set `role` to `user` or `lead` and pass at least an `email`, an `external_id`
or a `role`. To change a contact that already exists, use
`PUT /contacts/{contact_id}` instead.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.intercom.io
- Endpoint: `POST /contacts`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Bearer $INTERCOM_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://app.intercom.io/a/apps/_/developer-hub/app-packages
- Docs: https://developers.intercom.com/docs/references/rest-api/api.intercom.io

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
- Never print API keys.