# Create an auto-forward rule

Source: https://docs.emelia.io/docs/inbox-api/create-auto-forward-rule

Guide: [Inbox API](https://docs.emelia.io/docs/inbox-api.md)

`POST https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/auto-forward-rules`

Forwards every incoming email matching the condition to `forwardTo`. A rule makes email leave the workspace without human action. Combined with an AI label rule, this routes for example every interested reply to a sales address. Supports `Idempotency-Key`.

## Authentication

Send your API key in the `Authorization` header: `Authorization: <your API key>`.

## Request body

Content type: `application/json`, required.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `conditionField` | enum: `label`, `sender_contains`, `sender_equals`, `subject_contains`, `subject_equals` | no | `label`: exact, case insensitive match on the NAME of any label of the email. `sender_*`: compared to the sender address and name. `subject_*`: subject. Default: `"label"`. |
| `conditionValue` | string | yes | Min length 1. |
| `forwardTo` | string (email) | yes |  |
| `mode` | enum: `normal`, `invisible` | no | `normal`: `Fwd:` subject and quoted header. `invisible`: original subject and body, `Reply-To` set to the original sender. Default: `"normal"`. |
| `isActive` | boolean | no | Default: `true`. |

```json
{
  "conditionField": "label",
  "conditionValue": "Interested",
  "forwardTo": "sales@acme.com"
}
```

## Example request

**cURL**

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/auto-forward-rules" \
  -H "Authorization: $EMELIA_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "conditionField": "label",
  "conditionValue": "Interested",
  "forwardTo": "sales@acme.com"
}'
```

**JavaScript**

```js
const response = await fetch('https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/auto-forward-rules', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { Authorization: process.env.EMELIA_API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "conditionField": "label",
    "conditionValue": "Interested",
    "forwardTo": "sales@acme.com"
  }),
});
console.log(await response.json());
```

**Python**

```python
import os
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/auto-forward-rules",
    headers={"Authorization": os.environ["EMELIA_API_KEY"]},
    json={
        "conditionField": "label",
        "conditionValue": "Interested",
        "forwardTo": "sales@acme.com"
    },
)
print(response.json())
```

## Responses

### 201: Created.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `rule` | object | yes |  |
| `rule.id` | string | yes |  |
| `rule.conditionField` | enum: `label`, `sender_contains`, `sender_equals`, `subject_contains`, `subject_equals` | yes |  |
| `rule.conditionValue` | string | yes |  |
| `rule.forwardTo` | string (email) | yes |  |
| `rule.mode` | enum: `normal`, `invisible` | yes |  |
| `rule.isActive` | boolean | yes |  |
| `rule.createdAt` | string (date-time) | yes |  |
| `rule.updatedAt` | string (date-time) | yes |  |

```json
{
  "rule": {
    "id": "cmfwacme0000000000000001",
    "conditionField": "label",
    "conditionValue": "Interested",
    "forwardTo": "sales@acme.com",
    "mode": "normal",
    "isActive": true,
    "createdAt": "2026-10-01T13:00:00.000Z",
    "updatedAt": "2026-10-01T13:00:00.000Z"
  }
}
```

### 400: `VALIDATION_FAILED`: `forwardTo` not an email address, empty `conditionValue`, or unknown `conditionField` or `mode`.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 401: Missing, malformed, unknown or disabled key. No `X-RateLimit-*` headers.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 403: `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`: the Emelia subscription has expired.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 409: `CONFLICT`: Idempotency-Key reused with a different request, or the original call is still in progress.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 413: `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`: JSON body above 256 KB.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 429: `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`: per minute limit of the workspace (wait `Retry-After`). `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`: monthly quota exhausted until the 1st of next month UTC (in Emelia the plan cannot be upgraded).

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 500: `INTERNAL_ERROR`: unexpected failure. The message is generic in production.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```