Create contact export

Stores a copy of the contacts that match the filters (names, numbers, emails) for 24 hours, ready when the call returns; read the rows with get_contact_export. Sends nothing and changes no contact. Needs an Idempotency-Key header.

POST /v1/contact-exports

Permission	`contacts:read` (all permissions)
Risk	Write (no outside effect)
Idempotency-Key	Required (how it works)
Safe to repeat	Safe to repeat with the same Idempotency-Key: the first answer comes back and nothing is done twice.
Rate limit class	`bulk` (120 requests per minute per key)
Confirmation	None
MCP tool	`export_contacts`
Since version	2026-10-25

#What it does

Changes data in your account. It does not send messages to contacts.
Safe to repeat with the same Idempotency-Key.

#Request

Header

Name	Required	Description
`Authorization`	yes	`Bearer <key>`
`Idempotency-Key`	yes	A unique value for this operation, for example a UUID (1 to 255 visible ASCII characters).

Body (JSON)

Name	Type	Required	Description
`query`	string	no	Name, phone number or email, or part of it. Case does not matter. up to 100 characters
`tag`	string	no	Only contacts with this tag. Case does not matter. up to 60 characters
`optin_whatsapp`	string	no	Only contacts with this WhatsApp opt-in status. one of: `none`, `pending`, `confirmed`, `opted_out`
`created_after`	string	no	Only contacts created after this time (ISO 8601). up to 40 characters; format date-time
`created_before`	string	no	Only contacts created before this time (ISO 8601). up to 40 characters; format date-time

#Examples

curlPythonTypeScript

curl -X POST "https://api.smartchat.marketing/v1/contact-exports" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SMARTCHAT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "tag": "vip"
}'

import os
import uuid
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.smartchat.marketing/v1/contact-exports",
    headers={
        "Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["SMARTCHAT_API_KEY"],
        "Idempotency-Key": str(uuid.uuid4()),
    },
    json={
        "tag": "vip",
    },
)
response.raise_for_status()
print(response.json())

const response = await fetch("https://api.smartchat.marketing/v1/contact-exports", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.SMARTCHAT_API_KEY}`,
    "Idempotency-Key": crypto.randomUUID(),
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "tag": "vip"
  }),
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await response.text());
console.log(await response.json());

Response (201):

{
  "object": "contact_export",
  "id": "exp_4d5e6f7a8b9c40d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9",
  "status": "completed",
  "row_count": 1,
  "truncated": false,
  "columns": [
    "id",
    "name",
    "phone",
    "email",
    "status",
    "tags",
    "created_at"
  ],
  "created_at": "2026-10-25T09:41:07Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-10-26T09:41:07Z"
}

#Response

Status 201. Every response has the headers Request-Id, SmartChat-Version and X-RateLimit-*.

Name	Type	Description
`object`	string	Always "contact_export". always `contact_export`
`id`	string	Export ID.
`status`	string	State of the export. Exports are ready when the call returns. one of: `completed`
`row_count`	integer	Number of contacts in the export. 0 to 1000000
`truncated`	boolean	True if more contacts matched than one export holds (50,000). Narrow the filters and export again.
`columns`	array of string	Fields of each row. up to 20 items
`created_at`	string	When the export was created. up to 40 characters; format date-time
`expires_at`	string	When the export is removed (24 hours after creation). up to 40 characters; format date-time

#Errors

Code	Status	When
`bad_request`	400	The request could not be read.
`idempotency_key_invalid`	400	The 'Idempotency-Key' header must be 1 to 255 visible ASCII characters.
`idempotency_key_required`	400	This call needs an 'Idempotency-Key' header.
`missing_parameter`	400	A required field is missing.
`unknown_parameter`	400	A field is not known.
`api_key_expired`	401	This API key has expired.
`api_key_invalid`	401	This API key is not valid.
`api_key_revoked`	401	This API key was revoked.
`authentication_required`	401	No API key was sent. Send 'Authorization: Bearer <key>'.
`account_blocked`	403	This account is blocked.
`insufficient_scope`	403	This key lacks a required permission.
`ip_not_allowed`	403	This IP address is not allowed for this key.
`idempotency_in_progress`	409	A request with this idempotency key is still running.
`idempotency_key_reused`	422	This idempotency key was already used with a different request.
`validation_failed`	422	A field is not valid.
`rate_limited`	429	Too many requests. Wait and try again.
`internal_error`	500	Something went wrong on our side.
`service_unavailable`	503	The service is temporarily unavailable.

All errors use one format.