Fresh 2026

SOP: Make Your First API Call

Procedure to go from zero to a successful Merge Unified API response in under 10 minutes.

Prerequisites

• A Merge account (sign up at app.merge.dev).
• Your API key from the Merge dashboard keys page.

Procedure

1. Get your API key. Copy it from the dashboard. Keep it server-side only.
2. Create a test Linked Account. In the dashboard, open Test Linked Accounts, press Create test Linked Account, and pick an integration (for example BambooHR under HRIS). A test Linked Account simulates an end user connection without touching production data.
3. Copy the test account token. The test Linked Account gives you an X-Account-Token to use in requests.
4. Make a GET request. Call a list endpoint for the category, sending both headers:

   curl https://api.merge.dev/api/hris/v1/employees \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>" \
     -H "X-Account-Token: <ACCOUNT_TOKEN>"

5. Confirm the response. You should receive normalized Common Model data with cursor-based pagination.

Verification

• Response status is 200.
• The body contains a results array and a next pagination cursor.

Related

• Quickstart
• Authentication
• Pagination