Upwork API key

Upwork reviews every request by hand. Its request article lists what the account needs: a real name, a valid address, a profile picture, an active verified payment method, completed identity verification, good standing with no active suspension, at least $25,000 in lifetime earnings, spend or both, and a Job Success Score of at least 90% for freelancers and agencies. Agency earnings can count when the request is made on behalf of that agency.

The application must describe the use case, say whether the app is internal or public, state the applicant's role, and confirm two things: the app stays within 40,000 API requests a day, and it does not use Upwork's name, logo or brand colors. Upwork says it emails a decision within approximately one week, offers no sandbox or test accounts, and states that "Commercial use isn't supported."

Ownership. A key is assigned to the account of the person who requested it and cannot be transferred. If that person leaves the company, Upwork suggests requesting a new key. Agencies can split a development key from a production key, and the API Key Manager role can create and rotate keys for the organization.

Scope. Using a key outside its approved use case, or sharing it across users without authorization, can get API access suspended or terminated and the account flagged, according to Upwork's automation article. The key is permission for the use you described, not for automation in general.

How Upsight uses it. Upwork offers no shared app for third parties, so each Upsight workspace that wants the API lane requests its own key and connects it. A connected key files only that workspace's proposals; a workspace without one keeps the other submission method.