Getting 429 Quota Exceeded Error on Gemini API Even After Upgrading to Paid Tier 1

Gemini API
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I’m experiencing a 429: You exceeded your current quota error while using the Gemini API, even after upgrading my Google Cloud account to Paid Tier 1.

Context

  • I recently upgraded from the free tier to a paid Tier 1 billing account

  • Billing is active and verified

  • API authentication is configured correctly

  • The error occurs when I make 2 requests within a minute

  • According to the console limits, I am still well within the allowed quota

Issue

Despite being within the documented limits, the API starts returning 429 errors almost immediately. This makes the service unusable for normal production workloads.

Questions

  1. Is there a delay or propagation time after upgrading to a paid Tier 1 account before higher quotas take effect?

  2. Are rate limits enforced per API key, per project, or per IP?

  3. Do I need to create a new API key after upgrading billing, or will the existing key automatically inherit the paid-tier limits?

  4. Would using multiple API keys simultaneously actually help, or is the quota enforced at the project level (making this ineffective)?

  5. Are there any hidden per-minute or per-model limits that are not clearly visible in the Google Cloud Console?

What I’m Looking For

I want to understand:

  • Why I’m still getting 429 errors on a paid plan

  • Whether I need to reconfigure keys, projects, or quotas

  • The correct way to handle higher request frequency without violating limits

Any guidance from someone who has faced this issue or from the Google Cloud team would be greatly appreciated.