Gemini API 403 PERMISSION_DENIED: Project denied access

Gemini API
1

Hello,

I’m requesting a review of Gemini API access for my project.

My application successfully reaches the Gemini streaming endpoint, but Google returns the following response:

{

“error”: {

“code”: 403,

“message”: “Your project has been denied access. Please contact support.”,

“status”: “PERMISSION_DENIED”

}

}

Project ID: [YOUR PROJECT ID]

Account type: Google Workspace account

Region: United States

Application: AquaHunter Intel AI Companion

SDK: Vercel AI SDK with @ai-sdk/google

Requested model: gemini-3.6-flash

I have verified that:

- The API key is loaded by the server.

- The request reaches the Gemini streamGenerateContent endpoint.

- The same request consistently returns HTTP 403.

- The error is marked as non-retryable.

- The application does not expose the API key to the browser.

- The project is being used for a legitimate AI companion development prototype.

- No bulk automation, scraping, or intentional policy-violating activity is involved.

Could you please confirm whether the project, account, or Workspace domain has been restricted and review it for reinstatement?

I can provide the project number and sanitized request details privately if required. I will not post the API key publicly.

Thank you.

2

Hello @Michael_Parriott_Sr ,

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:

If you’re on the free tier with no billing attached, please try the below steps:

  1. Check Model Availability & Rate Limits:

    • Ensure that the model you are requesting is available on your current plan. For example, not all models are available on the free tier. You can verify model availability, quotas, and limits on the AI Studio Rate Limit dashboard.

  2. Ensure you have completed age verification by navigating to Google Account Age Verification and verifying date of birth in Google Account Personal Info.

  3. Complete Phone Verification and turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV) on the Google Account associated with your project.

  4. Once age, phone and 2sv are configured, retry your request or create a new API key in Google AI Studio.

  5. If completing these steps still does not restore access (or if using a model requiring a paid tier), you might want to consider adding prepayment credits directly in Google AI Studio and/ or attaching a Google Cloud Billing account in the Google Cloud Console. Please note this will mean you lose your free tier quota.

If you are on a paid tier:

  1. 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.

  2. If your GCP project/ billing account is suspended, you must submit an appeal directly through the Google Cloud Console following the Project Suspension Guidelines (Help Center)