Permission policies
Control when agent and MCP tools execute.
Permission policies control whether server-executed tools (the pre-built agent toolset and MCP toolset) run automatically or wait for your approval. Custom tools are executed by your application and controlled by you, so they are not governed by permission policies.
All Managed Agents API requests require the managed-agents-2026-04-01 beta header. The SDK sets the beta header automatically.
Permission policy types
| Policy | Behavior |
|---|---|
always_allow | The tool executes automatically with no confirmation. |
always_ask | The session pauses and waits for your approval before executing. See Respond to confirmation requests for the event flow. |
Set a policy for a toolset
Agent toolset permissions
When creating an agent, you may optionally apply a policy to every tool in agent_toolset_20260401 using default_config.permission_policy:
agent=$(curl -fsSL https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents \
-H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
-H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
-H "anthropic-beta: managed-agents-2026-04-01" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{
"name": "Coding Assistant",
"model": "claude-opus-4-7",
"tools": [
{
"type": "agent_toolset_20260401",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_ask"}
}
}
]
}')
ant beta:agents create <<'YAML'
name: Coding Assistant
model: claude-opus-4-7
tools:
- type: agent_toolset_20260401
default_config:
permission_policy:
type: always_ask
YAML
agent = client.beta.agents.create(
name="Coding Assistant",
model="claude-opus-4-7",
tools=[
{
"type": "agent_toolset_20260401",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_ask"},
},
},
],
)
const agent = await client.beta.agents.create({
name: "Coding Assistant",
model: "claude-opus-4-7",
tools: [
{
type: "agent_toolset_20260401",
default_config: {
permission_policy: { type: "always_ask" }
}
}
]
});
var agent = await client.Beta.Agents.Create(new()
{
Name = "Coding Assistant",
Model = new("claude-opus-4-7"),
Tools =
[
new BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params
{
Type = "agent_toolset_20260401",
DefaultConfig = new()
{
PermissionPolicy = new BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy { Type = "always_ask" },
},
},
],
});
agent, err := client.Beta.Agents.New(ctx, anthropic.BetaAgentNewParams{
Name: "Coding Assistant",
Model: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsModelConfigParams{
ID: "claude-opus-4-7",
},
Tools: []anthropic.BetaAgentNewParamsToolUnion{{
OfAgentToolset20260401: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401ParamsTypeAgentToolset20260401,
DefaultConfig: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams{
PermissionPolicy: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParamsPermissionPolicyUnion{
OfAlwaysAsk: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicyParam{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicyTypeAlwaysAsk,
},
},
},
},
}},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
_ = agent
var agent = client.beta().agents().create(
AgentCreateParams.builder()
.name("Coding Assistant")
.model(BetaManagedAgentsModel.CLAUDE_OPUS_4_7)
.addTool(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.Type.AGENT_TOOLSET_20260401)
.defaultConfig(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams.builder()
.permissionPolicy(
BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy.Type.ALWAYS_ASK)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.build()
);
$agent = $client->beta->agents->create(
name: 'Coding Assistant',
model: 'claude-opus-4-7',
tools: [
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params::with(
type: 'agent_toolset_20260401',
defaultConfig: BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams::with(
permissionPolicy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy::with(type: 'always_ask'),
),
),
],
);
agent = client.beta.agents.create(
name: "Coding Assistant",
model: "claude-opus-4-7",
tools: [
{
type: "agent_toolset_20260401",
default_config: {
permission_policy: {type: "always_ask"}
}
}
]
)
default_config is an optional setting. If you omit it, the agent toolset will be enabled with the default permission policy, always_allow.
MCP toolset permissions
MCP toolsets default to always_ask. This ensures that new tools that are added to an MCP server do not execute in your application without approval. To auto-approve tools from a trusted MCP server, set default_config.permission_policy on the mcp_toolset entry.
The mcp_server_name must match the name referenced in the mcp_servers array.
This example connects a GitHub MCP server and allows its tools to run without confirmation:
agent=$(curl -fsSL https://api.anthropic.com/v1/agents \
-H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
-H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
-H "anthropic-beta: managed-agents-2026-04-01" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{
"name": "Dev Assistant",
"model": "claude-opus-4-7",
"mcp_servers": [
{"type": "url", "name": "github", "url": "https://mcp.example.com/github"}
],
"tools": [
{"type": "agent_toolset_20260401"},
{
"type": "mcp_toolset",
"mcp_server_name": "github",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_allow"}
}
}
]
}')
ant beta:agents create <<'YAML'
name: Dev Assistant
model: claude-opus-4-7
mcp_servers:
- type: url
name: github
url: https://mcp.example.com/github
tools:
- type: agent_toolset_20260401
- type: mcp_toolset
mcp_server_name: github
default_config:
permission_policy:
type: always_allow
YAML
agent = client.beta.agents.create(
name="Dev Assistant",
model="claude-opus-4-7",
mcp_servers=[
{"type": "url", "name": "github", "url": "https://mcp.example.com/github"},
],
tools=[
{"type": "agent_toolset_20260401"},
{
"type": "mcp_toolset",
"mcp_server_name": "github",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_allow"},
},
},
],
)
const agent = await client.beta.agents.create({
name: "Dev Assistant",
model: "claude-opus-4-7",
mcp_servers: [{ type: "url", name: "github", url: "https://mcp.example.com/github" }],
tools: [
{ type: "agent_toolset_20260401" },
{
type: "mcp_toolset",
mcp_server_name: "github",
default_config: {
permission_policy: { type: "always_allow" }
}
}
]
});
var agent = await client.Beta.Agents.Create(new()
{
Name = "Dev Assistant",
Model = new("claude-opus-4-7"),
McpServers =
[
new() { Type = "url", Name = "github", Url = "https://mcp.example.com/github" },
],
Tools =
[
new BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params
{
Type = "agent_toolset_20260401",
},
new BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams
{
Type = "mcp_toolset",
McpServerName = "github",
DefaultConfig = new()
{
PermissionPolicy = new BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy { Type = "always_allow" },
},
},
],
});
agent, err := client.Beta.Agents.New(ctx, anthropic.BetaAgentNewParams{
Name: "Dev Assistant",
Model: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsModelConfigParams{
ID: "claude-opus-4-7",
},
MCPServers: []anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsURLMCPServerParams{{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsURLMCPServerParamsTypeURL,
Name: "github",
URL: "https://mcp.example.com/github",
}},
Tools: []anthropic.BetaAgentNewParamsToolUnion{
{
OfAgentToolset20260401: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401ParamsTypeAgentToolset20260401,
},
},
{
OfMCPToolset: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParams{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParamsTypeMCPToolset,
MCPServerName: "github",
DefaultConfig: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfigParams{
PermissionPolicy: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfigParamsPermissionPolicyUnion{
OfAlwaysAllow: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicyParam{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicyTypeAlwaysAllow,
},
},
},
},
},
},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
_ = agent
var agent = client.beta().agents().create(
AgentCreateParams.builder()
.name("Dev Assistant")
.model(BetaManagedAgentsModel.CLAUDE_OPUS_4_7)
.addMcpServer(
BetaManagedAgentsUrlMcpServerParams.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsUrlMcpServerParams.Type.URL)
.name("github")
.url("https://mcp.example.com/github")
.build()
)
.addTool(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.Type.AGENT_TOOLSET_20260401)
.build()
)
.addTool(
BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetParams.Type.MCP_TOOLSET)
.mcpServerName("github")
.defaultConfig(
BetaManagedAgentsMcpToolsetDefaultConfigParams.builder()
.permissionPolicy(
BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy.Type.ALWAYS_ALLOW)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.build()
);
use Anthropic\Beta\Agents\BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfigParams;
use Anthropic\Beta\Agents\BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParams;
use Anthropic\Beta\Agents\BetaManagedAgentsURLMCPServerParams;
$agent = $client->beta->agents->create(
name: 'Dev Assistant',
model: 'claude-opus-4-7',
mcpServers: [
BetaManagedAgentsURLMCPServerParams::with(
type: 'url',
name: 'github',
url: 'https://mcp.example.com/github',
),
],
tools: [
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params::with(
type: 'agent_toolset_20260401',
),
BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetParams::with(
type: 'mcp_toolset',
mcpServerName: 'github',
defaultConfig: BetaManagedAgentsMCPToolsetDefaultConfigParams::with(
permissionPolicy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy::with(type: 'always_allow'),
),
),
],
);
agent = client.beta.agents.create(
name: "Dev Assistant",
model: "claude-opus-4-7",
mcp_servers: [
{type: "url", name: "github", url: "https://mcp.example.com/github"}
],
tools: [
{type: "agent_toolset_20260401"},
{
type: "mcp_toolset",
mcp_server_name: "github",
default_config: {
permission_policy: {type: "always_allow"}
}
}
]
)
Override an individual tool policy
Use the configs array to override the default for individual tools. This example allows the full agent toolset by default but requires confirmation before any bash command runs:
tools='[
{
"type": "agent_toolset_20260401",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_allow"}
},
"configs": [
{
"name": "bash",
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_ask"}
}
]
}
]'
tools=$(cat <<'YAML'
- type: agent_toolset_20260401
default_config:
permission_policy:
type: always_allow
configs:
- name: bash
permission_policy:
type: always_ask
YAML
)
tools = [
{
"type": "agent_toolset_20260401",
"default_config": {
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_allow"},
},
"configs": [
{
"name": "bash",
"permission_policy": {"type": "always_ask"},
},
],
},
]
const tools = [
{
type: "agent_toolset_20260401",
default_config: {
permission_policy: { type: "always_allow" }
},
configs: [
{
name: "bash",
permission_policy: { type: "always_ask" }
}
]
}
] satisfies Anthropic.Beta.AgentCreateParams["tools"];
Tool[] tools =
[
new BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params
{
Type = "agent_toolset_20260401",
DefaultConfig = new()
{
PermissionPolicy = new BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy { Type = "always_allow" },
},
Configs =
[
new()
{
Name = "bash",
PermissionPolicy = new BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy { Type = "always_ask" },
},
],
},
];
tools := []anthropic.BetaAgentNewParamsToolUnion{{
OfAgentToolset20260401: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401ParamsTypeAgentToolset20260401,
DefaultConfig: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams{
PermissionPolicy: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParamsPermissionPolicyUnion{
OfAlwaysAllow: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicyParam{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicyTypeAlwaysAllow,
},
},
},
Configs: []anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParams{{
Name: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParamsNameBash,
PermissionPolicy: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParamsPermissionPolicyUnion{
OfAlwaysAsk: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicyParam{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicyTypeAlwaysAsk,
},
},
}},
},
}}
var tools = List.of(
AgentCreateParams.Tool.ofAgentToolset20260401(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params.Type.AGENT_TOOLSET_20260401)
.defaultConfig(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams.builder()
.permissionPolicy(
BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy.Type.ALWAYS_ALLOW)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.addConfig(
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParams.builder()
.name(BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParams.Name.BASH)
.permissionPolicy(
BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy.Type.ALWAYS_ASK)
.build()
)
.build()
)
.build()
)
);
use Anthropic\Beta\Agents\BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy;
$tools = [
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolset20260401Params::with(
type: 'agent_toolset_20260401',
defaultConfig: BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolsetDefaultConfigParams::with(
permissionPolicy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAllowPolicy::with(type: 'always_allow'),
),
configs: [
BetaManagedAgentsAgentToolConfigParams::with(
name: 'bash',
permissionPolicy: BetaManagedAgentsAlwaysAskPolicy::with(type: 'always_ask'),
),
],
),
];
tools = [
{
type: "agent_toolset_20260401",
default_config: {
permission_policy: {type: "always_allow"}
},
configs: [
{
name: "bash",
permission_policy: {type: "always_ask"}
}
]
}
]
Respond to confirmation requests
When the agent invokes a tool with an always_ask policy:
- The session emits an
agent.tool_useoragent.mcp_tool_useevent. - The session pauses with a
session.status_idleevent containingstop_reason: requires_action. The blocking event IDs are in thestop_reason.event_idsarray. - Send a
user.tool_confirmationevent for each, passing the event ID in thetool_use_idparameter. Setresultto"allow"or"deny". Usedeny_messageto explain a denial. - Once all blocking events are resolved, the session transitions back to
running.
Learn more about event handling in the Session event stream guide.
# Allow the tool to execute
curl -fsSL "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/sessions/$SESSION_ID/events" \
-H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
-H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
-H "anthropic-beta: managed-agents-2026-04-01" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{
"events": [
{
"type": "user.tool_confirmation",
"tool_use_id": "'$AGENT_TOOL_USE_EVENT_ID'",
"result": "allow"
}
]
}'
# Or deny it with an explanation
curl -fsSL "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/sessions/$SESSION_ID/events" \
-H "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
-H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
-H "anthropic-beta: managed-agents-2026-04-01" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{
"events": [
{
"type": "user.tool_confirmation",
"tool_use_id": "'$MCP_TOOL_USE_EVENT_ID'",
"result": "deny",
"deny_message": "Don'\''t create issues in the production project. Use the staging project."
}
]
}'
# Allow the tool to execute
ant beta:sessions:events send \
--session-id "$SESSION_ID" \
--event "{type: user.tool_confirmation, tool_use_id: $AGENT_TOOL_USE_EVENT_ID, result: allow}"
# Or deny it with an explanation
ant beta:sessions:events send \
--session-id "$SESSION_ID" \
--event "{type: user.tool_confirmation, tool_use_id: $MCP_TOOL_USE_EVENT_ID, result: deny,
deny_message: Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project.}"
# Allow the tool to execute
client.beta.sessions.events.send(
session.id,
events=[
{
"type": "user.tool_confirmation",
"tool_use_id": agent_tool_use_event.id,
"result": "allow",
},
],
)
# Or deny it with an explanation
client.beta.sessions.events.send(
session.id,
events=[
{
"type": "user.tool_confirmation",
"tool_use_id": mcp_tool_use_event.id,
"result": "deny",
"deny_message": "Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project.",
},
],
)
// Allow the tool to execute
await client.beta.sessions.events.send(session.id, {
events: [
{
type: "user.tool_confirmation",
tool_use_id: agent_tool_use_event.id,
result: "allow"
}
]
});
// Or deny it with an explanation
await client.beta.sessions.events.send(session.id, {
events: [
{
type: "user.tool_confirmation",
tool_use_id: mcp_tool_use_event.id,
result: "deny",
deny_message: "Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project."
}
]
});
// Allow the tool to execute
await client.Beta.Sessions.Events.Send(session.ID, new()
{
Events =
[
new BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams
{
Type = "user.tool_confirmation",
ToolUseID = agentToolUseEvent.ID,
Result = "allow",
},
],
});
// Or deny it with an explanation
await client.Beta.Sessions.Events.Send(session.ID, new()
{
Events =
[
new BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams
{
Type = "user.tool_confirmation",
ToolUseID = mcpToolUseEvent.ID,
Result = "deny",
DenyMessage = "Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project.",
},
],
});
// Allow the tool to execute
_, err = client.Beta.Sessions.Events.Send(ctx, session.ID, anthropic.BetaSessionEventSendParams{
Events: []anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsEventParamsUnion{{
OfUserToolConfirmation: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParamsTypeUserToolConfirmation,
ToolUseID: agentToolUseEvent.ID,
Result: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParamsResultAllow,
},
}},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
// Or deny it with an explanation
_, err = client.Beta.Sessions.Events.Send(ctx, session.ID, anthropic.BetaSessionEventSendParams{
Events: []anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsEventParamsUnion{{
OfUserToolConfirmation: &anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams{
Type: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParamsTypeUserToolConfirmation,
ToolUseID: mcpToolUseEvent.ID,
Result: anthropic.BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParamsResultDeny,
DenyMessage: anthropic.String("Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project."),
},
}},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
// Allow the tool to execute
client.beta().sessions().events().send(
session.id(),
EventSendParams.builder()
.addEvent(
BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.Type.USER_TOOL_CONFIRMATION)
.toolUseId(agentToolUseEvent.id())
.result(BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.Result.ALLOW)
.build()
)
.build()
);
// Or deny it with an explanation
client.beta().sessions().events().send(
session.id(),
EventSendParams.builder()
.addEvent(
BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.builder()
.type(BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.Type.USER_TOOL_CONFIRMATION)
.toolUseId(mcpToolUseEvent.id())
.result(BetaManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams.Result.DENY)
.denyMessage("Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project.")
.build()
)
.build()
);
use Anthropic\Beta\Sessions\Events\ManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams;
// Allow the tool to execute
$client->beta->sessions->events->send(
$session->id,
events: [
ManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams::with(
type: 'user.tool_confirmation',
toolUseID: $agentToolUseEvent->id,
result: 'allow',
),
],
);
// Or deny it with an explanation
$client->beta->sessions->events->send(
$session->id,
events: [
ManagedAgentsUserToolConfirmationEventParams::with(
type: 'user.tool_confirmation',
toolUseID: $mcpToolUseEvent->id,
result: 'deny',
denyMessage: "Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project.",
),
],
);
# Allow the tool to execute
client.beta.sessions.events.send_(
session.id,
events: [
{
type: "user.tool_confirmation",
tool_use_id: agent_tool_use_event.id,
result: "allow"
}
]
)
# Or deny it with an explanation
client.beta.sessions.events.send_(
session.id,
events: [
{
type: "user.tool_confirmation",
tool_use_id: mcp_tool_use_event.id,
result: "deny",
deny_message: "Don't create issues in the production project. Use the staging project."
}
]
)
Custom tools
Permission policies do not apply to custom tools. When the agent invokes a custom tool, your application receives an agent.custom_tool_use event and is responsible for deciding whether to execute it before sending back a user.custom_tool_result. See Session event stream for the full flow.