# `bird verify verifications create`

## Usage

```bash
bird verify verifications create [flags]
```

## Description

Start a verification and send a one-time passcode to a recipient.

Provide the recipient with --phone-number (SMS), --email-address (email), or both.
Starting a verification for a recipient who already has one in progress re-sends the
code after the resend cooldown rather than opening a second — this command is also
the resend. The passcode is never returned; submit the recipient's entry with
"bird verify verifications check".

Build the request from flags, a JSON VerificationCreateRequest body via --body-file ("-" reads
stdin), or both — a flag overrides the matching body field. Run --example to
print a ready-to-edit body, or --dry-run to print the resolved request without
sending it.

## Procedure

Step 1 of 2 of "Verify a recipient with a one-time passcode". Next: bird verify verifications check.

## Examples

```bash
# print the body shape (no credentials needed)
bird verify verifications create --example

# the body it prints:
```

```json
{
  "metadata": {
    "correlation_id": "signup-7f3a"
  },
  "to": {
    "phone_number": "+15551234567"
  }
}
```

```bash
# start over SMS
bird verify verifications create --phone-number +15551234567

# force channel order and a 6-digit code
bird verify verifications create --email-address user@example.com --channels email,sms --code-length 6

# attach metadata via a body file
bird verify verifications create --phone-number +15551234567 --body-file body.json
```

## Options

#### Recipient

| Name              | Description                                                                   |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--email-address` | Recipient email address (verified over email)                                 |
| `--phone-number`  | Recipient phone number in E.164 format, e.g. +15551234567 (verified over SMS) |

#### Request

| Name                | Description                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--body-file`       | Read the JSON request body from this file; "-" reads stdin   |
| `--example`         | Print a complete example request body, then exit             |
| `--dry-run`         | Print the resolved request without sending it, then exit     |
| `--idempotency-key` | Deduplication key; a retry with the same key won't act twice |

#### Options

| Name                   | Description                                                                        |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--code-length <n>`    | Passcode length for this verification (4–8), overriding the configured length      |
| `--channels <v1,v2,…>` | Delivery channels to try, in order (e.g. sms,email); omit for the configured order |
| `--response-schema`    | Print the fields this command returns, then exit                                   |

## Related

| Name                                                                                | Description                                                    |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`bird verify verifications check`](/docs/cli/reference/verify-verifications-check) | Check a passcode a recipient submitted for their verification. |