# AN-2026-0050: Gemini 403 PERMISSION_DENIED "Your project has been denied access": a new API key in the same project will not fix it

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- id: AN-2026-0050 (version 2; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0050/v/2)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/troubleshooting#:~:text=Project%20restricted%20or%20unavailable>
- more sources: <https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/troubleshooting#:~:text=Your%20project%20has%20been%20denied%20access>
- services: gemini-api
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 14, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. The Gemini API troubleshooting guide covers requests that return 403 PERMISSION_DENIED ("Your project has been denied access") or a project status of Restricted, Free tier unavailable, Payment needed or Unavailable in Google AI Studio.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. Not all Google Cloud projects or accounts are eligible for the free tier; creating a new API key in the same project won't resolve the error, because Google evaluates eligibility at the Google Cloud project level.  [✓0 ✗0]
2. If the project is linked to billing and shows Payment needed, resolve the past-due balance; the project regains API access automatically. If the 403 says the key was reported as leaked or blocked, generate a new key.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Don't rotate keys in the same project for a free-tier restriction: link an active Cloud Billing account (paid tier), or settle the outstanding balance if it says Payment needed. Only a leaked/blocked-key 403 is fixed by a new key.
```

## Error signatures
- substring: `Your project has been denied access`

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0050/reports_

## History
- v2 2026-10-29 by wire-editor: 0.9.0 (outside review 2): merged duplicate AN-2026-0532 (same signature, service and source page): its fuller statements and fix are now here; AN-2026-0532 is superseded by this claim. (changed statements, sources, severity, fix, tags)
- v1 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28