403 PERMISSION_DENIED: "Your project has been denied access" while models.list works

Gemini API
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1

Hello,

I am developing an application using the Gemini Developer API and am unable to use generateContent for my Google Cloud project.

Project ID: sniff-dev-challenge

The exact error is:

403 PERMISSION_DENIED
Your project has been denied access. Please contact support.

I have verified the following:

  • generativelanguage.googleapis.com is enabled
  • The Gemini API key is active and restricted to the Gemini API
  • The project is active and accessible in Google Cloud Console
  • GET /v1beta/models succeeds with HTTP 200 and returns 50 models
  • gemini-2.5-flash:generateContent returns the expected HTTP 404 indicating that model is unavailable to new users
  • gemini-3.6-flash:generateContent returns HTTP 403 with "Your project has been denied access"
  • The project does not appear as an importable project in Google AI Studio
  • I see no suspension, policy warning, or appeal notice in Cloud Console

I attempted to open a Google Cloud technical support case, but my Basic Support account does not have permission to file technical cases.

Could a Google team member please check whether there is a Gemini API project/account restriction or flag associated with sniff-dev-challenge and advise how I can request a review?

Thank you.

2

Hello @Sushyam_Nagallapati ,
Getting a 403 API error response and / or seeing “Unavailable” next to your project in AI audio indicates a flag has been placed on your account. To proceed:

  1. If you’re on the free tier with no billing attached, you should consider setting up billing. In most cases this is enough to clear any flag on your account. Please note this will mean you lose your free tier quota. You should also see a banner in AI studio prompting you to set up billing.

  2. If you are on a paid tier, check for banners / error callouts in the AI Studio Projects page & the Billing page. Mostly these flags cause visible banners or other errors on these pages with concrete next steps / appeal links. You can also check the email address associated with your project for information on next steps.

3

Hi,

I’m experiencing the same issue with a newly created Gemini API project.

Project name: All Is Well Journey
Project ID: gen-lang-client-04852132..

Google AI Studio currently shows the project as Restricted with Billing Tier: Unavailable.

When my Apps Script attempts to call the Gemini API, it returns:

403 PERMISSION_DENIED: Your project has been denied access.

The project was created today and I am trying to use the Gemini API on the Free Tier for a very low-volume internal application to organise practitioner reflection notes.

I have not enabled billing and would prefer to remain on the Free Tier if possible.

Could someone please review the restriction on this project and advise whether access can be restored?

Thank you.

4

Ensure that you’ve completed Phone Verification and turned on 2-Step Verification (2SV) on the Google Account associated with your project. Once verified, retry your request or create a new API key in Google AI Studio.

If verifying your account does not restore access (or if using a model requiring a paid tier), then as Mahesh suggested, you will need to unlock access by adding prepayment credits directly in Google AI Studio or attaching a Google Cloud Billing account in the Google Cloud Console.