Free Tier access review: existing and new projects Restricted, API returns 403

Gemini API
1

Hello Google AI Studio / Gemini API team,

I would like to request a review of Free Tier API access for these projects:

  • hermes-gemini-507016 — existing project, previously used for personal reference-video analysis.
  • xigua-video-analysis-test — a new test project created to check whether the restriction was specific to the existing project.

AI Studio shows both projects as Restricted, with the billing tier Unavailable and a prompt to set up billing.

My Google Account’s age-verification page says my age has been verified. Two-step verification is enabled, and the phone entry shows a green check.

Using the existing project’s configured API key, I tested on September 11, 2026:

  1. GET /v1beta/models: HTTP 200.
  2. A minimal gemini-3.1-flash-lite:generateContent request: HTTP 403 / PERMISSION_DENIED, with the message Your project has been denied access. Please contact support.
  3. Starting a Files API upload for a synthetic technical video: access denied with the same project-denial message.

The new project has an API key and shows the same Restricted status in AI Studio; its key has not yet been tested directly. Historical local tool logs show successful Gemini 3.6 Flash video analysis on August 30, 2026.

I want to remain on the eligible Free Tier and have not enabled paid billing during this troubleshooting. Could you please explain the access restriction and review whether Free Tier access can be restored, or identify the specific eligibility requirement I still need to meet?

Thank you.