Data API troubleshooting

Permission denied to create extension "pg_session_jwt"

Request failed: database CREATE permission is required for neon_superuser

Why this happens

You created your database with a direct SQL query (CREATE DATABASE foo;) instead of using the Console UI or Neon API. The Data API requires specific database permissions that aren't automatically granted when you create databases this way.

Fix

Grant neon_superuser permissions to the database you want to enable the Data API for.

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE your_database_name TO neon_superuser;

For future databases, create them using the Console UI or Neon API instead of direct SQL. Neon automatically sets up the required permissions when you use these methods.

Example

curl -X POST "https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/${projectId}/branches/${branchId}/databases" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "database": {
      "name": "your_database_name"
    }
  }'