---
ref: tool:instantly/add-leads-to-campaign
name: Add leads to a campaign
company: company:instantly
workflows: [workflow:referral-reply-leads, workflow:outbound-demo-engine]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:enroll-in-sequence, category:sales-engagement, has:api]
docs: https://developer.instantly.ai/api-reference/lead/add-leads-in-bulk-to-a-campaign-or-list
updated: 2026-10-11
---

# Add leads to a campaign

Adds up to 1,000 leads to one Instantly campaign or lead list, checking their emails against blocklists and existing leads.

Note: Leads added to an active campaign can start receiving its emails: confirm the campaign first. Pass `campaign_id` or `list_id`, not both; the key needs the `leads:create` scope.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.instantly.ai
- Endpoint: `POST /api/v2/leads/add`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Bearer $INSTANTLY_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://app.instantly.ai/app/settings/integrations
- Docs: https://developer.instantly.ai/getting-started/authorization

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.