Request review: Gemini API project denied access (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)

Gemini API
1

Hello Google AI Developers team,

Please review Gemini API access for my Google AI Studio project. In Vercel production, every Gemini request returns:

HTTP 403 PERMISSION_DENIED: “Your project has been denied access. Please contact support.”

Project name: My First Project

Project ID: wide-decoder-459915-a..

Model: gemini-3.8-flash

API: Interactions API

The project currently appears as Free tier in AI Studio. The API key is configured as a Vercel secret and is not included in this post. I have also tested after migrating the application to the current Interactions API; the same project-level 403 remains. This is a small application for low-volume development and testing.

Could you please review the project/account restriction and advise whether Gemini API access can be restored, or what action is needed? I am not requesting a paid-tier upgrade.

Thank you.

2

Hello @MD_IFTIUR_HOSSEN_RIY,
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, please try the below steps:

  2. 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.

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

  4. Once age verification is 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.

  6. 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)