How to fix API Gateway 403 errors for new API keys?

DVA-C02 By islever Editorial Last updated Aug 31, 2026

Short answer

D The createUsagePlanKey method must be called to associate the newly created API key with the correct usage plan.

Question

A company maintains a REST service using Amazon API Gateway and the API Gateway native API key validation. The company recently launched a new registration page, which allows users to sign up for the service. The registration page creates a new API key using CreateApiKey and sends the new key to the user. When the user attempts to call the API using this key, the user receives a 403 Forbidden error. Existing users are unaffected and can still call the API. What code updates will grant these new users access to the API?

The createDeployment method must be called so the API can be redeployed to include the newly created API key.
The updateAuthorizer method must be called to update the API's authorizer to include the newly created API key.
The importApiKeys method must be called to import all newly created API keys into the current stage of the API.
The createUsagePlanKey method must be called to associate the newly created API key with the correct usage plan. Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

The exam tests the understanding that API keys require association with a usage plan to function, trapping those who assume key creation alone grants access.

When creating API keys dynamically in AWS API Gateway, simply generating the key is insufficient for access. The community consensus confirms that the key must be explicitly associated with a usage plan using createUsagePlanKey to resolve 403 Forbidden errors.

Common mistake: Selecting createDeployment (Option A) is a common mistake because developers often assume any configuration change requires a deployment, but usage plan associations are runtime changes that do not require a redeployment.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Option D is correct because API Gateway API keys must be linked to a usage plan to be valid for a specific API stage. The CreateApiKey method generates the key string and ID, but without calling createUsagePlanKey to bind it to a plan, the API Gateway rejects requests with a 403 error because the key has no associated throttling or quota configuration for that stage.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option A is incorrect because createDeployment updates the API configuration itself (routes, integrations), not the runtime usage plan associations. Option B is incorrect because updateAuthorizer applies to IAM or Lambda authorizers, not the native API key validation mechanism. Option C is incorrect because importApiKeys is a bulk operation for loading keys, not for granting them access to a specific API stage.

Community Comment Notes

The community comments unanimously support Option D, providing a code snippet demonstrating the workflow: create the key, retrieve the ID, and then immediately call createUsagePlanKey to link the key ID with the usage plan ID. This confirms the missing step in the user's workflow is the association logic.

Official Reference

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/apigateway/latest/developerguide/api-gateway-create-usage-plans-with-rest-api.html

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Remember the 'Create-Associate' pattern for API Gateway keys: creating the key is just step one. Always look for the method that links the resource (key) to the policy (usage plan) to ensure access is granted.

Community Votes

100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

albert_kuo 👍 1 Answered D

import boto3 client = boto3.client('apigateway') # Create API Key response = client.create_api_key( name='NewUserKey', enabled=True ) api_key_id = response['id'] # Associate API Key and usage plan client.create_usage_plan_key( usagePlanId='YOUR_USAGE_PLAN_ID', keyId=api_key_id, keyType='API_KEY' )
aws_god 👍 1 Answered D

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/apigateway/latest/developerguide/api-gateway-create-usage-plans-with-rest-api.html
rdiaz 👍 1 Answered D

D chatgpt

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