Resolving 403 Forbidden error for Vercel AI Gateway API keys

[hazlettmcdonalds459 (Hazlettmcdonalds459 5089)]

I have an open support case (Case 929589) about an AI Gateway API Key returning a 403 Forbidden error that was created on 1/19/2026. It has been several days since the case was created and last updated on 1/21/2026, but I have not received any response from the support team. I need assistance with this issue and would like human support to help resolve it.

[pawlean (Pauline P. Narvas)]

Hey, @hazlettmcdonalds459! Happy to help you out here whilst you wait for support.

For the 403 Forbidden error with AI Gateway API Key specifically, this could be related to:

• API key permissions or scope issues
• Rate limiting
• Incorrect endpoint configuration
• Authentication header formatting

If you can share more details about how you’re implementing the AI Gateway API calls, the community might be able to help troubleshoot.

Thanks!

[ypzhuang]

I got the same error:

curl -v -X POST “https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1/chat/completions” -H “Authorization: Bearer mygateway_key” -H “Content-Type: application/json” -d ‘{“model”: “alibaba/qwen-3-14b”, “messages”: [{“role”: “user”, “content”: “Hi”}]}’

Here is the error msg: {“error”:{“message”:“Forbidden.”,“type”:“access_denied”}}

I ‘m sure the key is right, And I regenerated a new key, still same error.

[goodxico (Francisco Sousa)]

Exact same issues. Can’t use AI on hobby accounts even with a valid credit card on file and enough credits to spare.

[ypzhuang]

But Hobby and Pro have no difference on AI Gateway

[haiooiah (next)]

I ran into the same issue—starting yesterday I’ve been getting a 403 error.

[pawlean (Pauline P. Narvas)]

Hey, everyone!

Thank you for your patience, flagging with the right team internally to help out.

In the meantime it’s worth verifying your AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY, checking if a billing method is attached to your account, ensuring teamId is included for team projects, and checking for incorrect authorization scopes.

The 403 error indicates insufficient permissions, invalid/missing authentication, or billing issues.

[jonothanhunt]

Getting error above when using playground and 403 when using AI gateway; responseBody: ‘{“error”:{“message”:“Forbidden.”,“type”:“access_denied”}}’

I have (and have had for some time) a valid card which is used for billing and even adding credit to the AI gateway.

This has only happened recently, was working previously.

Project works great on another Pro account I have.

[pawlean (Pauline P. Narvas)]

Hi, everyone! Thanks for your patience

We had some credit card validation issues for the free tier

You shouldn’t see the 403 error now - let me know if you’re still seeing it

[ypzhuang]

Still seeing it.

{“error”:{“message”:“Forbidden.”,“type”:“access_denied”}}

[justinian (JT)]

This is still happening even for PRO users on the AI playground:

[Error] Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 403 () (generate, line 0) on https://ai-sdk.dev/api/generate

Has nothing to do with card validation though.

AI Playground | Compare top AI models side-by-side

[haiooiah (next)]

Still same error
{“error”:{“message”:“Forbidden.”,“type”:“access_denied”}}%

[pawlean (Pauline P. Narvas)]

Thank you folks! I’ve shared again with the team.

[gowthamprakaash]

I am also facing this in hobby account.

[angelmitrov]

I’m seeing the exact same error, and it’s directly impacting our product and customers.
This isn’t just a technical inconvenience, it’s affecting the experience of real users in production.

We urgently need clarification or a fix from the Vercel team, because this issue is causing customer-facing problems.

[gold-1333 (Xam)]

Still happening.

{
    "error": {
        "message": "Forbidden.",
        "type": "access_denied"
    }
}

I can confirm that I have a valid payment method on file, and it was previously working.

[jacobparis]

Support team is saying they don’t see any of your teams in the list, are you seeing this on a different account than you’re logged in here with?

[alperen-ozdemir (Alperen Özdemir)]

I’m experiencing same consistent 403 Forbidden / access_denied errors when using Vercel AI Gateway for my project, despite having a Pro plan with valid billing and available AI Gateway credits.

I have verified:

• Created multiple fresh AI Gateway API keys from the team-level AI Gateway API Keys page

• API keys are active and have not been revoked

• Correct request format with Bearer token authorization and proper model naming (provider/model-name format)

• Tested with direct curl requests bypassing my application entirely

• Same 403 error occurs from both deployed Next.js application and direct API calls

The error occurs consistently:

• HTTP status: 403
• Error type: access_denied
• Error message: “Forbidden.”
• Endpoint: https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1/chat/completions

This is reproducible across multiple fresh API keys and occurs at the gateway level, indicating this is not a client-side configuration issue but rather an account- or project-level AI Gateway access issue. I suspect there may be an entitlement flag, internal restriction, or configuration preventing access despite my Pro plan status and available credits.

[gowthamprakaash]

Hi Jacob, I am facing the issue in the same account from which I am messaging here.

[justinian (JT)]

No, I am seeing it on this email address. See the screenshot.
Also this used to work, just broken about 3 weeks ago and never recovered. See the screenshot.

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