Google Removes Indexing API Approval Form From Its Docs

Google has removed the Indexing API approval form and the related instructions from its documentation, according to Search Engine Journal. The update appeared on October 16, 2026, but the documentation changes do not clearly say whether Google has also changed the approval requirement itself.

This is a narrow update that mainly affects sites using the Indexing API for eligible content types. For most business websites, the bigger point is that Google changed the instructions without fully explaining what happens next.

What changed

Google removed the approval request form from the Indexing API quota page. It also removed text that had said the API starts with a default quota for testing and requires extra approval for broader usage and resource provisioning. A section called Request quota and approval is gone as well.

Other related pages changed on October 16, 2026. The quickstart no longer lists requesting approval and quota as an initial setup step. The usage page also removed repeated notes about the default quota being for testing, along with instructions for requesting approval and quota. Google’s changelog says the quota page was updated to reflect the current quota limits and process and to remove an outdated form, but it does not say if approval is still required.

What it means for your website

If your site does not use the Indexing API for job postings or livestream-related content, this change likely has no direct effect. The API is still limited to pages with JobPosting or BroadcastEvent embedded in a VideoObject, based on the documentation cited in the report.

If you do use the API, the main issue is uncertainty. The default limits are still published, and the quota page still directs users to check current quota in the Google API Console. But the docs do not explain how to ask for higher quota now, what happens to past approval requests, or whether projects that never received approval can use the default quota for live content.

What to do now

• Check whether your website actually uses the Google Indexing API. If not, no action is needed.
• If you publish job postings or eligible livestream pages, review your project’s current quota in the Google API Console.
• Stay within the documented limits, including the daily publish request limit and the per-minute request limits listed in the docs.
• Keep following Google’s spam policies for submissions, and do not try to work around limits by using multiple accounts.
• Monitor Google’s changelog and quota page for any new instructions about higher quota requests or approval changes.