I'm using AWS Activate startup credits, and Claude Opus 4.6 works normally for me through Amazon Bedrock. However, both the API and the web playground reject requests for Opus 4.8 with: `AccessDeniedException: anthropic.claude-opus-4-8 is not available for this account.`
I'm trying to determine whether this is an account-specific issue, a temporary rollout limitation, or a restriction on newer Opus models for Activate credit accounts. Has anyone using AWS Activate credits successfully enabled Opus 4.7 or 4.8 on Bedrock? If so, did you need to request access or complete any additional setup?
3 Answers
This probably isn't a problem with your API configuration. Model availability can vary by account and may depend on factors such as account history, usage, customer type, and whether the model has been enabled for that account. The most practical step is to open an AWS Support case or ask your account contact to escalate it internally and confirm whether Activate accounts are currently eligible.
Some users with substantial startup credit balances are still limited to older Opus versions, so having unused credits doesn't necessarily grant access to every Bedrock model. If you need the newer model immediately, you may have to use another supported provider temporarily, but AWS Support is still the right route for a definitive answer.
You're not the only one. Several people using startup credits appear to be blocked from the newer Opus releases while older versions remain available. That could be an intentional eligibility or rollout restriction rather than a local bug, but support would need to confirm it or manually enable access.
I opened a ticket, but the response has been slow. It may be worth explicitly asking whether the restriction applies to Activate credits and whether paid billing would change model eligibility.
Has AWS enabled it for your account since then? I'm seeing the same restriction and haven't been able to get a clear answer.