> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tavus.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start Deployment Conversation

> Creates a conversation for a deployment. Returns the same fields as [Create Conversation](/api-reference/conversations/create-conversation).

No API key required in the browser. Password, Turnstile, and call-limit checks apply for public callers.


<Info>
  For AI agents, use `https://docs.tavus.io/openapi.yaml` for the full HTTP API contract.
</Info>


## OpenAPI

````yaml post /v2/deployments/{deployment_id}/start
openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: Tavus Developer API Collection
  version: 1.0.0
  contact: {}
servers:
  - url: https://tavusapi.com
security:
  - apiKey: []
tags:
  - name: Videos
  - name: Faces
  - name: Voices
  - name: Conversations
  - name: Deployments
  - name: PALs
  - name: Tools
  - name: PAL Tools
  - name: Pronunciation Dictionaries
  - name: Replacements
  - name: Transcriptions
  - name: Documents
paths:
  /v2/deployments/{deployment_id}/start:
    post:
      tags:
        - Deployments
      summary: Start Deployment Conversation
      description: >
        Creates a conversation for a deployment. Returns the same fields as
        [Create Conversation](/api-reference/conversations/create-conversation).


        No API key required in the browser. Password, Turnstile, and call-limit
        checks apply for public callers.
      operationId: startDeploymentConversation
      parameters:
        - name: deployment_id
          in: path
          required: true
          schema:
            type: string
      requestBody:
        required: false
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/deploymentStartRequest'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Conversation created
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/deploymentConversationStart'
        '400':
          description: Bad Request
        '401':
          description: Authentication required (auth-gated landing pages)
        '404':
          description: Deployment not found or inactive
        '429':
          description: Rate limited or call limit reached
      security: []
components:
  schemas:
    deploymentStartRequest:
      type: object
      properties:
        password:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        conversational_context:
          type: string
          description: Per-call context forwarded to the PAL.
        custom_greeting:
          type: string
        pal_id:
          type: string
          description: Preview-only PAL override for portal testing.
        memory_stores:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        captcha_token:
          type: string
          description: Cloudflare Turnstile token when captcha is enabled.
    deploymentConversationStart:
      type: object
      description: Same shape as Create Conversation.
      properties:
        conversation_id:
          type: string
        conversation_name:
          type: string
        conversation_url:
          type: string
        status:
          type: string
        callback_url:
          type: string
        created_at:
          type: string
        meeting_token:
          type: string
          description: Present when `require_auth` is true on the created conversation.
  securitySchemes:
    apiKey:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: x-api-key

````