Google has quietly refreshed its official Indexing API documentation, removing both the approval request form and the step-by-step guidance on how to request access.

While the official changelog notes that an outdated form was removed to reflect the current process, the documentation leaves several critical questions unanswered especially for job board owners and developers who have been stuck waiting months for quota increases.

Here is a breakdown of what changed, what limits still exist, and how this impacts your indexing workflow.

What Did Google Actually Remove?

Prior to this update, Google’s documentation explicitly treated the default Indexing API quota as a trial run. The quota page noted that projects received initial limits purely for testing purposes and required additional approval for full operational access and resource provisioning.

With the latest update, Google has scrubbed several sections across multiple pages:

• Approval Form and Quota Requests: The section titled “Request quota and approval” which directly linked to the application form has been removed entirely.

• Setup Requirements: The Quickstart setup guide no longer lists requesting approval as an onboarding step.
• Testing Labels: Notes across the usage guidelines stating that default limits are only for testing have been eliminated.
• Indexing vs. Sitemaps Comparison: The paragraph in the Quickstart guide comparing sitemaps to the Indexing API has been trimmed.

Interestingly, while the documentation edits span across the setup, usage, and quota pages, Google’s official changelog only highlighted the update made to the quota page itself.

What Stays the Same? (Current Quota Limits & Rules)

Even with the approval process taken offline, the core rules and daily throughput limits remain unchanged:

• Daily Publish Limits: 200 publish requests per project per day (covering both URL updates and deletions). This resets daily at midnight Pacific Time.
• Per-Minute Limits: 180 metadata requests per minute, capped at 380 requests across all API endpoints combined.
• Strict Schema Restrictions: The Indexing API is still officially supported only for URLs containing JobPosting structured data or BroadcastEvent embedded within a VideoObject.

• Spam Policy Enforcement: Standard Google Search spam guidelines continue to apply. Google explicitly warns against spinning up multiple Cloud projects or accounts to bypass the 200-request ceiling.

For standard content websites, maintaining high search visibility across web and AI platforms relies on core web optimization rather than API abuse whether you are tuning for traditional engines or following a broader Generative Engine Optimization strategy.

Why This Matters for Webmasters & SEOs

For publishers running high-volume job boards or broadcast platforms, this quiet documentation change raises practical challenges:

1. Pending Approvals in Limbo: Many platform owners have had quota applications sitting with Google for months without response. Google has not clarified whether existing submissions are being reviewed or discarded.

2. Path to Quota Expansion: Without a public-facing submission form or direct support path, it is unclear how enterprise sites with hundreds of new daily job postings can officially request an increase beyond the baseline 200 daily URLs.

3. Default Limit Usage: On a positive note, the removal of the phrase “for testing only” suggests that sites operating comfortably within the 200 requests/day limit can use the standard API project on live sites without needing explicit verification first.

Next Steps: Checking Your Project

If your site relies on the Indexing API:

• Log in directly to the Google API Console to review your current consumption, quota utilization, and error rates.
• Monitor Google’s Search Central changelog closely for any subsequent announcements regarding a new quota request interface.
• Verify your structured markup and ensure your page meets modern technical standards outlined in your technical SEO checklist to avoid automated flags or quota revocation.

VIKAS VERMA

Vikas Verma is an SEO specialist and web designer focused on SEO strategy, website design, and digital experiences.

@VikasVerma | vikas@digimastreys.com | LinkedIn

Vikas Verma

Vikas Verma is an SEO specialist and web designer focused on SEO strategy, website design, and digital experiences.