---
updatedAt: 2026-10-19T13:54:43.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://developers.youtrust.com/llms.txt
---

# Set up your account

Learn how to set up your account to be ready to make your first API call.

To set up your account and be ready to make your first API request, please follow these steps :

# Step 1: Create your Youtrust account

<HTMLBlock>{`
<style type="text/css">
  .yousign-signup-button {
    padding: 15px 30px;
    display: inline-block;
    margin: auto;
    border-radius: 4px;
    border-width: 1px;
    border-style: solid;
    font-size: 0.75rem;
    font-weight: 650;
    line-height: 1.333;
    outline: none;
    cursor: pointer;
    -webkit-transition: all .15s;
    transition: all .15s;
    background-color: #ceff8f;
    border-color: #ceff8f;
    color: #191e1e;
    padding: 8px 16px;
    min-width: 80px; 
  }
  .yousign-signup-button:hover {
    background-color: #b5f360;
    border-color: #b5f360;
  }
</style>

    <form action="https://yousign.app/welcome?product=api&source=documentation">
      <button 
              type="submit" 
              class="yousign-signup-button">
        CREATE AN ACCOUNT
      </button>
    </form>
`}</HTMLBlock>

***

# Step 2: Start the free API trial

In the right panel, go to the *API* section >> *API keys* page. Then start your API trial period.

<Image src="https://files.readme.io/b482f598cbd7373ae8029fc0f75a0e8903b4f1d904a93daaae541991ebcbdc9a-image.png" align="center" width="80% " />

<br />

### The free API trial

The free API trial provides **40-day access** to a Youtrust application and a **dedicated sandbox environment** (the production environment is not available at this point), allowing you to **test and integrate Youtrust’s API** without impacting a live production system. This environment is isolated, designed specifically for development and testing purposes, and supports most core functionalities of the API. Lear more about environments [here](https://developers.youtrust.com/docs/environments-new).

***

# Step 3: Create an API key

1. Add a description.
2. Select the [environment](https://developers.youtrust.com/docs/environments-new) (`Sandbox`). You will be limited to the Sandbox environment during the API trial period.
3. Select a scope:
   * `organization` → access data across the entire organization. Recommended for a first test.
   * `workspace` → access data scoped to authorised workspaces only. Only possible after you created your first API key.
4. Select Permissions:
   * `Read-Only` → the API key can only read existing resources.
   * `Full-Access` → the API key can read, create, update and delete resources.

| **Permissions** | **Description**                                                                                            |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Full-Access     | If you want to create resources (Signature Request, Documents, etc) you need to use a full-access API key. |
| Read-Only       | If you only want to read existing resources you can use a read-only API key.                               |

<Image src="https://files.readme.io/06a6467be8151a7ef699b243957f99588777b586779b493d38e12f9b2caf9aa7-image.png" align="center" width="80% " />

<br />

The API key serves as a unique identifier to authenticate your requests and grant access to the Youtrust API, it must be included in each API request.

Only users with an Admin or Owner role can create API keys.

To learn more about how Youtrust API keys work, [see API keys](https://developers.youtrust.com/docs/api-keys).

***

# Step 4: Choose the right base URL

The **base URL** is the entry point for all API requests. It specifies the environment being accessed: **sandbox** for testing or **production** for live operations.

| **Environment** | **Base URL**                         |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Sandbox         | <https://api-sandbox.yousign.app/v3> |
| Production      | <https://api.yousign.app/v3>         |

During the 40-day free API trial, you'll only have access to the Sandbox environment and base URL. The production environment becomes available once you've subscribed to a paid plan..

***

# Step 5: Make your first API request

With the **API key** and **base URL** configured, the first API request can be made. The example below retrieves a list of Signature Requests (see [List Signature Requests endpoint](https://developers.youtrust.com/reference/get-signature_requests-1)):

```curl Request
curl --location --request GET '{baseUrl}/signature_requests' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer {apiKey}'
```
```json Response example
 "meta": {
        "next_cursor": "MTcyNTg3ODcyOC40OTY0NTIgZDNmMmIwZmQtZjIzYS00MWZmLWFlY2UtODU1ZjYyZTkyZDgw"
    },
    "data": [
        {
            "approvers": [],
            "labels": [],
            "id": "2a6f9f6a-18a4-4e14-8bee-b734369f3cf6",
            "source": "app",
            "status": "draft",
            "name": "My signature request",
            "created_at": "2025-01-09T09:37:45+00:00",
            "email_custom_note": null,
            "ordered_signers": false,
            "timezone": "Europe/Paris",
            "reminder_settings": {
                "interval_in_days": 1,
                "max_occurrences": 9
            },
            "expiration_date": "2025-03-13T22:59:59+00:00",
            "delivery_mode": "email",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "a64742c7-3c2f-434a-86b2-9a6881106d6f",
                    "nature": "signable_document"
                }
            ],
            "signers": [
                {
                    "id": "2e964215-fe7b-4933-9892-6879170c6068",
                    "status": "initiated",
                    "delivery_mode": null
                }
            ],
            "external_id": null,
            "branding_id": "2ad32d78-09b0-43bb-8735-d8fa9e02e248",
            "custom_experience_id": "2ad32d78-09b0-43bb-8735-d8fa9e02e248",
            "sender": null,
            "workspace_id": "814aac47-2e91-477a-bfc2-3f05a9b29824",
            "audit_trail_locale": "en",
            "signers_allowed_to_decline": true,
            "bulk_send_batch_id": null,
            "email_notification": {
                "sender": {
                    "type": "organization",
                    "custom_name": null
                },
                "custom_note": null
            }
        },
        {
            "approvers": [],
            "labels": [],
            "id": "c4538cd4-b0fc-46e9-bf77-8a38df29b2cc",
            "source": "app",
            "status": "done",
            "name": "My contract",
            "created_at": "2025-01-06T15:36:33+00:00",
            "email_custom_note": null,
            "ordered_signers": false,
            "timezone": "Europe/Paris",
            "reminder_settings": {
                "interval_in_days": 1,
                "max_occurrences": 9
            },
            "expiration_date": "2025-03-12T22:59:59+00:00",
            "delivery_mode": "email",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "c13a72c5-7965-4f22-86b6-b1c48e892fc8",
                    "nature": "signable_document"
                }
            ],
            "signers": [
                {
                    "id": "1a176304-5f78-4134-8d14-eb1552fa1053",
                    "status": "signed",
                    "delivery_mode": null
                }
            ],
            "external_id": null,
            "branding_id": "1a1eec62-137f-4c92-a386-e5a18a2fec7e",
            "custom_experience_id": "1a1eec62-137f-4c92-a386-e5a18a2fec7e",
            "sender": {
                "id": "da21b0a8-fa67-4c08-819f-0ff1c47e62c7",
                "email": "kelly.smith@email.com"
            },
            "workspace_id": "814aac47-2e91-477a-bfc2-3f05a9b29824",
            "audit_trail_locale": "en",
            "signers_allowed_to_decline": true,
            "bulk_send_batch_id": null,
            "email_notification": {
                "sender": {
                    "type": "user",
                    "custom_name": null
                },
                "custom_note": null
            }
        }
    ]
}
```

* `{baseUrl}`: Replace with the appropriate base URL from Step 4.
* `{apiKey}`: Replace with the API key from Step 3.

Use our **Postman collection** to easily test, explore, and integrate with the **Youtrust API.**<br />Get started with Postman [here](https://developers.youtrust.com/docs/postman-collection).

***

<SuggestedQuestions questions={["How do I get a production API key?","What are the limitations of the sandbox during the free trial?"]} />

<StillStuck heading="Still having trouble getting set up?" subtext="Ask AI to walk you through it." question="" />

***

# Step 6: Make your first call from your AI tool

If you work in an AI-powered editor such as Claude Code, Cursor, or VS Code, connect the [Developer MCP](https://developers.youtrust.com/docs/mcp) and run the same call in natural language.

Once connected, ask your assistant:

```text Prompt
List my Signature Requests in sandbox.
```

The assistant finds the right endpoint, builds the request, runs it with your API key, and can then generate the integration code for your own stack.

<Callout icon="💡" theme="default">
  The MCP uses the same API key and base URL you configured in Step 3 and Step 4.
</Callout>