Overview

Access Grants are a single API for granting access to any physical space. Whether you’re working with standalone smart locks, enterprise access control systems, or both — one call handles it all.

One integration for smart locks (August, Yale, Schlage, TTLock, igloohome, and more) and access control systems (Salto, ASSA ABLOY Visionline, dormakaba, Brivo, and more).
Every access method — PIN codes, mobile keys, Instant Keys, key cards, and cloud keys — through the same requested_access_methods parameter.
Automatic lifecycle management — Seam propagates credentials to devices, re-materializes them as hardware comes online, and cleans up when access expires.

await seam.accessGrants.create({
  user_identity: {
    full_name: 'Jane Doe',
    email_address: 'jane@example.com',
  },
  device_ids: ['6ba7b811-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8'],
  requested_access_methods: [{ mode: 'code' }],
  starts_at: '2025-07-13T15:00:00.000Z',
  ends_at: '2025-07-16T11:00:00.000Z',
})

seam.access_grants.create(
    user_identity={
        "full_name": "Jane Doe",
        "email_address": "jane@example.com",
    },
    device_ids=["6ba7b811-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8"],
    requested_access_methods=[{"mode": "code"}],
    starts_at="2025-07-13T15:00:00.000Z",
    ends_at="2025-07-16T11:00:00.000Z",
)

seam.access_grants.create(
  user_identity: {
    full_name: "Jane Doe",
    email_address: "jane@example.com",
  },
  device_ids: %w[6ba7b811-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8],
  requested_access_methods: [{ mode: "code" }],
  starts_at: "2025-07-13T15:00:00.000Z",
  ends_at: "2025-07-16T11:00:00.000Z",
)

$seam->access_grants->create(
    user_identity: [
        "full_name" => "Jane Doe",
        "email_address" => "jane@example.com",
    ],
    device_ids: ["6ba7b811-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8"],
    requested_access_methods: [
        ["mode" => "code"],
    ],
    starts_at: "2025-07-13T15:00:00.000Z",
    ends_at: "2025-07-16T11:00:00.000Z",
);

// Coming Soon!

curl --include --request POST "https://connect.getseam.com/access_grants/create" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $SEAM_API_KEY" \
  --json @- <<EOF
{
  "user_identity": {
    "full_name": "Jane Doe",
    "email_address": "jane@example.com"
  },
  "device_ids": ["6ba7b811-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8"],
  "requested_access_methods": [{"mode": "code"}],
  "starts_at": "2025-07-13T15:00:00.000Z",
  "ends_at": "2025-07-16T11:00:00.000Z"
}
EOF

You specify where to grant access using device_ids (smart locks), acs_entrance_ids (ACS entrances), or space_ids (groups of access points). You can combine them in a single grant.

Access Methods

Each Access Grant can issue one or more access methods — the credentials your user actually uses to get through a door. Request them via the requested_access_methods parameter.

Mode	What it is	Best for
`code`	A PIN code programmed on the lock.	Simple keypad entry — share a code via text, email, or your app.
`mobile_key`	A BLE credential delivered through the Seam mobile SDK.	Building a custom app with native mobile unlock.
`card`	A credential on a physical plastic card — either encoded fresh or assigned from an existing card.	Hotels and offices with existing card infrastructure.
`cloud_key`	An API endpoint for unlocking the door on behalf of a user, with access logs.	Building a web app that unlocks doors for users.

When you request mobile_key, Seam also generates an Instant Key — a shareable URL that gives your user mobile access without downloading an app. Useful for quick delivery via text or email. You can request multiple modes in one call — for example, a PIN code and a mobile key — and Seam issues all of them under the same Access Grant.

Hotel and Offline Lock Systems

Some hotel access systems (Dormakaba Ambiance, Dormakaba Community, Visionline, Salto Space, and Vostio) require a reservation_key when creating an Access Grant so Seam can coordinate credential sequencing across grants. Without it, credentials can conflict. See Reservation Access Grants for the full guide.

Next Steps

Creating an Access Grant — step-by-step guide
Access Grants API Reference
Access Methods API Reference

Getting Started

Use Cases

Core Concepts

Capability Guides

UI Components

Developer Tools

Industry Guides

Device Manufacturer Guidance

Low-Level APIs

Access Methods

Hotel and Offline Lock Systems

Next Steps

​Access Methods

​Hotel and Offline Lock Systems

​Next Steps

Access Methods

Hotel and Offline Lock Systems

Next Steps