Find a contact by external ID

Resolve one canonical contact by its integration external_id within the authenticated company.

Returns 404 contact_not_found when the reference is unknown.

Pin the API version (YYYY-MM-DD, Stripe-style date versioning) for this request; omit to use the key's pinned version, or the latest if none. Unsupported version → 400 unsupported_api_version; malformed → 400 parameter_invalid_format. The effective version is echoed in the Factuarea-Version response header. See the Versioning guide.

Formatdate

X-Active-Profile?string

Operate on behalf of a child company (gestoría master key): pass its public id (UUID v7) and the request runs against that child's data without changing the key's scope, tier or environment (omit to use the key's own company). Invalid UUID → 400 parameter_invalid_uuid; unknown or non-owned id → 404 profile_not_found. See the Acting on behalf guide.

Formatuuid

Request Body

application/json

TypeScript Definitions

Use the request body type in TypeScript.

external_id*string

Lengthlength <= 100

Response Body

`application/json`

Request example

const apiKey = process.env.FACTUAREA_API_KEY;if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FACTUAREA_API_KEY");const response = await fetch("https://api.factuarea.com/v1/contacts/find-by-external-id", {  method: "POST",  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${apiKey}`, ...{"Accept":"application/json","Content-Type":"application/json"} },  body: JSON.stringify({  "external_id": "01931b3e-7c4a-7f2e-9a8b-3c5d6e7f8a01"}),});if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await response.text());if (response.status !== 204) console.log(await response.json());

Response example

{
  "data": {
    "id": "0198f4d1-a492-7e05-9a35-000000000001",
    "object": "contact",
    "kind": "company",
    "name": "Distribuciones Ejemplo SL",
    "business_name": "Distribuciones Ejemplo SL",
    "commercial_name": "Ejemplo",
    "tax_id": "B12345674",
    "vat_id": null,
    "alternative_id": null,
    "address": {
      "line1": "Calle Mayor",
      "line2": null,
      "number": "10",
      "floor": null,
      "door": null,
      "staircase": null,
      "city": "Madrid",
      "province": "Madrid",
      "postal_code": "28013",
      "country": "ES"
    },
    "contact_person": "Ana García",
    "email": "administracion@example.com",
    "phone": "+34910000000",
    "mobile": null,
    "fax": null,
    "website": "https://example.com",
    "billing_emails": [
      "facturas@example.com"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "distribuidor"
    ],
    "coordinates": null,
    "notes": null,
    "metadata": {
      "erp_id": "CONTACT-42"
    },
    "accumulate_347": true,
    "external_id": "CONTACT-42",
    "roles": [
      {
        "role": "customer",
        "status": "active",
        "assigned_at": "2026-08-29T10:00:00+00:00",
        "deactivated_at": null
      },
      {
        "role": "supplier",
        "status": "active",
        "assigned_at": "2026-08-29T10:00:00+00:00",
        "deactivated_at": null
      }
    ],
    "bank_accounts": [],
    "customer_profile": {
      "default_price_list_uuid": null,
      "default_discount": null,
      "default_vat_rate": null,
      "default_retention_rate": null,
      "is_surcharge_subject": false,
      "preferred_operation_regime": null,
      "payment_method": null,
      "payment_terms_days": null,
      "dir3_accounting_office": null,
      "dir3_managing_body": null,
      "dir3_processing_unit": null
    },
    "supplier_profile": {
      "default_taxes_uuid": null,
      "default_discount": null,
      "default_vat_rate": null,
      "default_retention_rate": null,
      "is_surcharge_subject": false,
      "preferred_operation_regime": null,
      "payment_method": null,
      "payment_terms_days": null
    },
    "financial_summary": {
      "sales": {
        "invoiced_amount": 1210,
        "collected_amount": 800,
        "receivable_amount": 410,
        "currency": "EUR"
      },
      "purchases": {
        "purchased_amount": 605,
        "paid_amount": 400,
        "payable_amount": 205,
        "currency": "EUR"
      }
    },
    "latest_activity": null,
    "is_archived": false,
    "archived_at": null,
    "created_at": "2026-08-29T10:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-08-29T10:00:00+00:00"
  }
}

Unknown query parameter

{
  "error": {
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "parameter_unknown",
    "message": "El parámetro 'per_page' no está reconocido por este endpoint.",
    "param": "per_page",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#parameter_unknown",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5N7UR6PWJ8K2T5BWPMZ9"
  }
}

Parameter has invalid format

{
  "error": {
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "parameter_invalid_format",
    "message": "El parámetro 'created' debe seguir el formato ISO-8601 (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ssZ).",
    "param": "created",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#parameter_invalid_format",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5N7UR6PWJ8K2T5BWPMZA"
  }
}

Parameter value is out of range

{
  "error": {
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "parameter_invalid_range",
    "message": "El parámetro 'limit' debe estar entre 1 y 100, recibido: 500.",
    "param": "limit",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#parameter_invalid_range",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5N7UR6PWJ8K2T5BWPMZB"
  }
}

Missing API key

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authentication_error",
    "code": "missing_api_key",
    "message": "No se ha proporcionado una API key válida en el header Authorization.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#missing_api_key",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5N8VR7QXJ9K3T6BWPMZA"
  }
}

Invalid API key format

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authentication_error",
    "code": "invalid_api_key",
    "message": "La API key no tiene el formato esperado (debe empezar por fact_live_ o fact_test_).",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#invalid_api_key",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5N9JTQM7HVTQP3FBN5XB"
  }
}

Revoked API key

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authentication_error",
    "code": "api_key_revoked",
    "message": "Esta API key ha sido revocada y ya no es válida.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#api_key_revoked",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NA8K7E2V9YDZWMT6RJC"
  }
}

API key lacks required scope

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authorization_error",
    "code": "insufficient_scope",
    "message": "Esta API key no tiene el scope requerido para esta operación.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#insufficient_scope",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NBC3P8M1KX4V7SLNHQD"
  }
}

Plan upgrade required

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authorization_error",
    "code": "feature_not_available_in_plan",
    "message": "Esta funcionalidad requiere el plan empresario o superior. Actualiza tu suscripción para acceder.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#feature_not_available_in_plan",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NCK4V9N2L7Y8X3WPMRE"
  }
}

Plan without public API access

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authorization_error",
    "code": "addon_not_active",
    "message": "Tu plan actual no incluye acceso a la API pública. Contrata o renueva un plan de Factuarea para usar la API.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#addon_not_active",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NDP5W0Q3M8Z9A4BVSNF"
  }
}

Idempotency key reused with different body

{
  "error": {
    "type": "idempotency_error",
    "code": "idempotency_key_reused",
    "message": "La cabecera `Idempotency-Key` ya se usó con un body distinto. Usa una clave nueva o reenvía exactamente el mismo body.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#idempotency_key_reused",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NHT9A4U7R2E3F8GZWTJ"
  }
}

Resource already exists (with subcode)

{
  "error": {
    "type": "conflict_error",
    "code": "resource_already_exists",
    "subcode": "tax_id_already_exists",
    "message": "Ya existe un cliente con ese CIF/NIF.",
    "param": "tax_id",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#resource_already_exists",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NKW1C6W9T4G5HAIBZVM"
  }
}

Generic resource conflict

{
  "error": {
    "type": "conflict_error",
    "code": "resource_conflict",
    "message": "El recurso está en un estado que no permite esta operación.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#resource_conflict",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NKW1C6W9T4G5HAIBZVL"
  }
}

Parameter failed validation

{
  "error": {
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "parameter_invalid",
    "message": "El campo `name` es obligatorio y no puede estar vacío.",
    "param": "name",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#parameter_invalid",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NGS8Z3T6Q1D2E7FYVSI"
  }
}

Invalid Idempotency-Key format

{
  "error": {
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "invalid_param_format",
    "message": "La Idempotency-Key debe tener entre 1 y 64 caracteres ASCII printable.",
    "param": "Idempotency-Key",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#invalid_param_format",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NIDEMPKEYFORMAT0007"
  }
}

Rate limit exceeded

{
  "error": {
    "type": "rate_limit_error",
    "code": "rate_limit_exceeded",
    "message": "Has excedido el rate limit de 60 peticiones por minuto. Reintenta tras 30 segundos.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#rate_limit_exceeded",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NKW1C6W9T4G5H0JBZVL"
  }
}

Too many authentication failures (temporary lockout)

{
  "error": {
    "type": "authentication_error",
    "code": "too_many_auth_failures",
    "message": "Has alcanzado el número máximo de intentos de autenticación fallidos. La API key queda bloqueada temporalmente. Reintenta tras el tiempo indicado en `Retry-After`.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#too_many_auth_failures",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NKW1C6W9T4G5H0JBZVM"
  }
}

Too many concurrent uploads in flight

{
  "error": {
    "type": "rate_limit_error",
    "code": "upload_in_flight_budget_exceeded",
    "message": "Tu empresa tiene demasiadas subidas en curso a la vez: este archivo ocupa 10 MB y el margen simultáneo es de 120 MB. Espera a que terminen las subidas en marcha y vuelve a intentarlo dentro de 45 segundos.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#upload_in_flight_budget_exceeded",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NUPLOADINFLIGHT005"
  }
}

Company-wide rate limit exceeded (all keys combined)

{
  "error": {
    "type": "rate_limit_error",
    "code": "company_rate_limit_exceeded",
    "message": "Tu empresa ha superado su límite conjunto de 900 peticiones por minuto, contando a la vez todas sus credenciales. Es un techo de la empresa, así que repartir el tráfico no lo eleva. Reintenta en 12 segundos, o solicita una ampliación de plan si necesitas más capacidad.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#company_rate_limit_exceeded",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NCOMPANYRATELIMIT06"
  }
}

Company-wide monthly quota exhausted (all keys combined)

{
  "error": {
    "type": "rate_limit_error",
    "code": "company_monthly_quota_exceeded",
    "message": "Tu empresa ha agotado su cuota conjunta de 150000 peticiones de este mes, contando a la vez todas sus credenciales. Es un techo de la empresa, así que repartir el tráfico no lo eleva. El contador se reinicia el día 1 del mes siguiente; solicita una ampliación de plan si necesitas más volumen antes.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#company_monthly_quota_exceeded",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NCOMPANYMONTHLY0007"
  }
}

{
  "error": {
    "type": "api_error",
    "code": "internal_error",
    "message": "Ha ocurrido un error inesperado. Si persiste, contacta con soporte adjuntando el request_id.",
    "param": null,
    "doc_url": "https://docs.factuarea.com/guides/errors#internal_error",
    "request_id": "req_01HKQS5NLX2D7X0U5H6J1KCAWM"
  }
}

Find a contact by external ID

Authorization

Headers

Request Body

Response Body

200application/json

400application/json

401application/json

403application/json

409application/json

422application/json

429application/json

500application/json

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`

`application/json`