---
ref: tool:instantly/verify-email
name: Verify an email address
company: company:instantly
workflows: [workflow:outbound-demo-engine]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:verify-emails, category:sales-engagement, has:api]
docs: https://developer.instantly.ai/api-reference/emailverification/create-email-verification
updated: 2026-10-11
---

# Verify an email address

Checks whether one email address is deliverable and returns verified, invalid or pending, whether its domain is catch-all, and the credits used.

Note: A check over 10 seconds returns `pending`: poll `GET /api/v2/email-verification/{email}` or pass a `webhook_url`. Read `verification_status`, not `status`. Needs an active paid plan and the `email_verifications:create` scope.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.instantly.ai
- Endpoint: `POST /api/v2/email-verification`
- 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.