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M365 Developer Program Application Denied > Need Sandbox for Microsoft Graph API Development

Justin Green 0 Reputation points
2025-08-07T20:57:23.61+00:00

I’m an independent IT consultant building automation solutions for clients, many of which rely on Microsoft 365 and Azure technologies. In previous roles, I had access to a Microsoft 365 work account for development. Now, as I grow my own business, access to the M365 Developer Program is essential for testing and developing solutions that integrate with Microsoft 365 services, particularly through the Microsoft Graph API.

I’m currently developing a Python-based automation script that uses Graph API functionality, and I applied for the Developer Program to create a proper sandbox for this work. Unfortunately, my application was denied, which I believe was most likely due to my initial Product/Technologies selections because I did not realize there was an approval process and I rushed the initial account setup process. I have updated my selections to reflect my current development needs and future interest.

Given that my consulting work depends on building and testing Microsoft 365 integrations, I believe my use case strongly aligns with the goals of the Developer Program. Could you please advise on how I might get my application reviewed or reconsidered?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Development | Microsoft 365 Developer Program
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  1. Flora-T 2,165 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-08T00:50:20.3066667+00:00

    Dear Justin Green

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum. Thanks for reaching out and sharing your situation in such detail.

    It seems like you are facing hurdles recently due to changes in the Microsoft 365 Developer Program.

    According to this Microsoft 365 Developer Program blog:

    As of February 2024, Microsoft has tightened eligibility requirements for access to the free Microsoft 365 E5 developer sandbox. Currently, only developers with an active Visual Studio Enterprise subscription or those participating in the specific Microsoft partner programs (such as ISV Success, AI Cloud Partner Program, Azure Expert MSP, or organizations with Premier/Unified Support Plans) are eligible. It's important to note that accounts ending in *.onmicrosoft.com or those registered via phone number only are not eligible for the sandbox environment. 

    If you do not currently meet the eligibility criteria, one alternative you might consider is purchasing a paid Microsoft 365 plan for development, it is often a good starting point for testing Graph API. Please visit Microsoft 365 Business Plans

    I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Hope the details provided will assist you effectively.

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