> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.openfi.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a mandate

> Establish the standing authorization behind a recurring, agent-initiated debit relationship.

A mandate is the top of the three-call agentic flow (mandate → session key → debit pull). It defines *who* can eventually be pulled from, the ceiling amount, cadence, and purpose, but does not itself move money or authorize any single agent to act.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Mandates support USD and GBP. For CAD, use [`POST /v1/payments`](https://docs.openfi.co/api-reference/payments/create-payment). See [Supported Rails](https://docs.openfi.co/essentials/supported-rails.md).

### Body Parameters

**payer\_account\_id** `string` *required*

The linked bank account or wallet the mandate authorizes pulls from.

**max\_amount** `number` *required*

Ceiling amount per interval, in the mandate's currency.

**currency** `string` *required*

`USD` or `GBP`.

**interval** `string` *required*

One of `daily`, `weekly`, `monthly`.

**purpose** `string`

Free-text description, surfaced in audit logs (e.g. `"AI agent operational expenses"`).

**requires\_identity\_credential** `boolean` (default: false)

If `true`, session keys issued under this mandate can only be granted to subjects holding a valid [Verifiable Credential](https://docs.openfi.co/api-reference/identity/overview.md).

### Response

**id** `string`

Mandate ID, prefixed `man_`.

**status** `string`

`active`, `paused`, or `revoked`.

```bash cURL theme={null}
curl https://api.openfi.co/v1/mandates \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENFI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "payer_account_id": "acc_123",
    "max_amount": 50,
    "currency": "USD",
    "interval": "daily",
    "purpose": "AI agent operational expenses"
  }'
```

```json 200 theme={null}
{
  "id": "man_01HZY...",
  "status": "active",
  "max_amount": 50,
  "currency": "USD",
  "interval": "daily",
  "created_at": "2026-08-27T14:05:00Z"
}
```


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