This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page. The information for all Chase cards has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of the most recommended travel cards. Both Chase cards are extremely popular with consumers because of their perks and the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points, which both cards earn. With the ability to transfer points to Chase’s major travel partners, it’s easy to see why these travel rewards cards are so popular.
And, side note, they are both metal credit cards that are free of foreign transaction fees, making them excellent companions that won’t get easily damaged.
However, Chase has implemented a couple of restrictive rules regarding their cards.
For the best chances of Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card approval, here are the Chase Sapphire application rules to look out for.
Chase Sapphire Application Rules Contents
- Why should you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- Why should you get the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
- Chase Sapphire Application Rules
- Chase 5/24 Rule
- One Bonus Per Sapphire Family of Credit Cards
- Chase 48-Month Rule
- Other Bank Application and Bonus Rules
- Q: Can You Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Again?
Why should you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a popular starter card. The Ultimate Rewards points it earns are some of the most coveted in the travel community.
Enjoy Chase Sapphire benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
You can book travel at 1.25 cents per point, or they can be cashed out at 1 cent per point. If you prefer to use points for travel, you can transfer to one of the airline and hotel transfer partners. This is a solid card with a $95 annual fee.
Bonus
New Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why should you get the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the big brother to the Sapphire Preferred card. The Reserve comes with a $300 annual travel credit. It earns 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when purchased through Chase Travel℠ (immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually). Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Points are 50% more valuable with the Reserve because they are worth 1.5 cents per point for Chase Travel℠. You can also cash out the points at 1 cent per point or transfer them to the same Chase travel partners as the Preferred.
The Reserve offers many other benefits to justify its $550 annual fee. This essentially reduces the net annual fee to $250. Cardholders also receive a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement every four years.
Other Benefits
If you reserve rental cars when you travel, you’ll appreciate the Primary Rental Car Insurance. Other benefits include Priority Pass Select lounge membership, trip cancellation & interruption insurance, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection.
You will need an excellent credit score for this card.
New Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
Related: Does it Make Sense to Go for the Chase Sapphire Reserve over the Sapphire Preferred?
Chase Sapphire Application Rules
A couple of years ago, Chase took a $300 million charge to its corporate earnings due to “credit card superusers” maximizing credit card rewards. When travel credit cards and our behaviors start impacting the bottom line of a bank, bank management will take notice.
Chase has taken a couple of steps to restrict applications for some of its credit cards. Thankfully, these application rules won’t affect most consumers.
Chase 5/24 Rule
A couple of years ago, Chase implemented the “5/24 Rule.” If you have more than five new credit cards on your credit report in the last two years, you will be declined for many of Chase’s most popular credit cards.
This rule is more restrictive than others because it includes any new credit cards you’ve opened from other banks. Unfortunately, if you are added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit cards, that also counts toward your five new cards. Most people don’t realize that Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) also count for this total.
I was over 5/24, so I couldn’t get the Chase Sapphire Reserve® until more than two years after it was released. Ok, part of the delay had to do with refinancing a couple of rental properties I own. But applying for a lot of credit cards over a short period of time also put me on the Chase 5/24 list. At long last, I finally have my own Sapphire Reserve credit card.
Which Cards are Exempt from Chase 5/24?
The Chase 5/24 policy has become stricter over the years, as data points confirm.
Previously, American Express charge cards without a preset spending limit didn’t penalize you. Going forward, apply for the Sapphire Reserve before The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card if you’re nearing the 5/24 threshold.
Credit Score Needed for the Chase Sapphire
Good or excellent credit (670 to 850 credit score) is needed for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
This card is easier to qualify for than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which commands excellent credit (740 FICO Score or higher).
The credit score requirements and the 5/24 policy are the two most important factors. Additional conditions apply if you’re an existing or previous Sapphire member.
One Bonus Per Sapphire Family of Credit Cards
With most Chase credit cards, you can receive the bonus even if you have had another version of the card. In 2017, Chase updated its application rules on the Chase Sapphire cards to be more like Citibank. Now, if you’ve received the signup bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred in the last two years, you cannot receive the bonus from the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (and vice versa).
Chase 48-Month Rule
Until recently, consumers were eligible to receive another bonus from the Chase Sapphire family of credit cards if they had not received that bonus in the last two years. The clock started ticking when the bonus was earned, not when a cardholder was approved for the credit card.
In September 2018, the Chase Sapphire application rules became even more restrictive. The waiting period was increased to at least 48 months since the Sapphire credit card bonus was received.
Here is the official language from Chase Bank: “This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.”
If you’re a previous Sapphire cardmember, you can be eligible for a new Sapphire Reserve or Preferred when:
- You are not currently a primary or authorized user of a Chase Sapphire product
- Haven’t earned a Sapphire signup bonus within the most recent 48 months
Assuming you’re a current Sapphire card member, you must contact Chase to either upgrade or downgrade your account to the alternate product. While you won’t be able to earn a second Sapphire bonus, you get to keep your account open and keep enjoying Sapphire rewards.
Two Cards Every 30 Days
At most, Chase will approve two personal credit cards in a 30-day period or one business credit card within a rolling month.
Maximum Number of Chase Credit Cards
There are no publicized limits about how many Chase credit cards you can have at once, assuming you have a qualifying credit score and are not penalized by the 5/24 guidelines.
Digging deeper, a common rule of thumb is that your total credit limit between every Chase card is equal to half of your household income. For example, your combined credit limit can be up to $50,000 with an annual $100,000 income.
Depending on your current credit limits, you will need to make sure there’s room for adding a Chase Sapphire credit limit. The minimum limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is $5,000, and $10,000 for the Sapphire Reserve.
Other Bank Application and Bonus Rules
I won’t go into detail on these rules, but other banks also have rules that restrict the welcome bonuses on their credit cards. Here’s a quick summary:
- American Express – “once per lifetime” rule means that you cannot receive the bonus from the same credit card twice. Some cardholders have reported receiving another bonus after waiting seven years or more between applications. Your mileage may vary.
- Bank of America – “2/3/4” rule restricts cardholders from applying for no more than two BofA credit cards every two months, a total of three cards within a year, and four within two years.
- Capital One – One bonus per card per lifetime, but you can earn multiple bonuses with the same card family, such as two Venture family spending bonuses. Additionally, you can only have two personal cards open at once (co-brand cards can be exempt).
- Citibank – “one bonus every 48 months” rule limits you to only one bonus per credit card product every four years. For example, you must wait 48 months to receive a second bonus for the Citi Premier® Card after earning the first. The restriction currently isn’t linked to other credit cards that earn ThankYou points (although it used to be).
These are all important to consider when reviewing the Chase Sapphire application rules.
What To Do If You Can’t Get Either Card
If you aren’t currently eligible to get either of the Chase Sapphire credit cards, you have some options.
#1) Wait until you become eligible.
If you are having trouble with the Chase Sapphire application rules, there are alternatives. Try to see what you can possibly do to prepare for future applications. If you can wait and build up your credit score, you might have more success.
#2) Try for credit cards from other banks.
As great as Chase’s card lineup is, there are still plenty of other great credit cards out there from other banks. I’d suggest The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Citi Premier® Card.
#3) Focus on business credit cards.
Business credit cards are gaining in popularity. This is because most of them do not report to the credit bureaus as long as your account is in good standing. The inquiry will still show up on your credit report when you try for them, but most business cards do not. Plus, many business cards have great category bonuses for your business spending.
I really like the American Express® Business Gold Card or the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®.
Of course, before trying, make sure you have an eligible business.
Also, be careful because some business credit cards, like Capital One Spark and Discover credit cards, have been known to report to the credit bureaus. This is even when your account is in good standing.
Q: Can You Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Again?
A: Yes, but it depends.
I have received many emails from readers asking if they could get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card again if they’ve already held the card. According to Chase’s website, you can earn the bonus if you currently do not have a Sapphire card and you have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
This is good news for consumers who previously held the card and would like to get it again. For example, I had the Sapphire Preferred a few years ago but downgraded to a no-fee card because that best fit my needs at the time. However, it’s been over 24 months since I last received a bonus on the Sapphire Preferred. So, I would be eligible for the card and bonus again. Score.
If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and want to upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve (or vice versa), there are some rules to know. In regards to the bonus, Chase’s rules are as follows:
The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months. If you are an existing Sapphire customer and would like this product, please call the number on the back of your card to see if you are eligible for a product change. You will not receive the new cardmember bonus if you change products.
If you’ve read the blog before, then you know that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best personal rewards credit cards out there (I think it’s the best).
Related Posts:
I just downgraded my CSP to the Freedom, but when I applied for the Reserve, Chase said I still had a Sapphire card and auto-rejected(no Hard check on the credit)…How long do I need to wait before applying for the CSR???
There have been conflicting reports, but you should at least wait a week. Hope this helps!
I currntly have a chase preferred for about 3 yrs and want to get the reserve. Can I close the preferred and not lose the points and apply for a reserve?
Hi Clarissa, you would need to transfer your points out to a travel partner or combine to them another UR earning account to keep your points.
Hi, I have had the CSR card since Jan. 2017. If I wait out the 4 years, could I cancel and immediately apply for the CSR card again for the sign up bonus? What is the waiting period to sign up for the bonus after closing the card?
Yes, you should be good to go as long as you meet all the criteria.
If I am an authorized user CSP, would the 48 month rule still apply to me if I were to apply for the CSR?
Good question. You should remove yourself as an authorized user on the CSP before applying for the CSR.
Chase is telling me I need to cancel my Reserve before applying for the Preferred but with no guarantee I will be approved. (I have a very high credit score….) Is there any other way to do this, to ensure I dont end up without a Chase credit card and to not hurt my credit score by closing the account?
As long as it’s not your oldest credit card canceling a credit card shouldn’t have a major negative impact on your credit score, as long as your credit utilization isn’t significantly changed.
We have had a Chase Sapphire Preferred card for at least 9 years. We are tired of paying the $95 annual fee, which Chase will not waive (I tried talking to several reps and supervisors about waiving the fee but got nowhere). We have recently used up all of our Ultimate Rewards points on travel and are thinking about downgrading to the no fee Chase Freedom, which is currently offering 3% Ultimate rewards on up to $20,000 ($600) the first year. I have two questions: first, if we reapplied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred in a year or so, would we be eligible for the signup bonus; and second, would the Ultimate Rewards points we accumulate with the Freedom card be eligible for the extra 25% value if we switched back to the Sapphire Preferred?
Yes, once you have a CSP, CSR, or Ink P you can then combine your Freedom points with those accounts. Yes, you would be able to get the CSP again in the future as long as you met the criteria, 5/24 rule, etc.
Pretty sure that your info is wrong. If you already have one Sapphire card open, you cannot open another one. Might want to doublecheck that.
If I apply for a CSR and I am not eligible, will I be able to apply for the Preferred?
It depends on why you weren’t eligible. Did they give you a reason? Most likely applying for the Sapphire Prefered would be the same results though.
I have a sapphire reserve that I opened I believe over 2 years ago, and I HAD a sapphire preferred that I believe I closed over 2 years ago. Can I open a preferred card now and get the 60k points?
No. The current rules for the CSR and CSP state that you will not be approved for those cards if you’ve received the bonus within the last 48 months. If you click on the “Offer Details” link on the application page for either product, you will find these terms in bold in one of the first paragraphs.
I currently have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card that was opened back in 2016. Can I downgrade that card to a Chase Freedom Unlimited card, and then apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve and get a sign up bonus for the Reserve? Would I lose the points I currently have? It seems like I should be able to get the sign up bonus since I haven’t gotten one since 2016.
You won’t lose your points if you downgrade to either Freedom card, but you will lose the ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners or receive 1.25 cents in value per point when booking travel.
The current rules state that you will not be approved for the CSR or CSP if you’ve received a Sapphire signup bonus in the last 48 months. Check your records to see when the bonus hit your account. If you applied in 2016, it seems that you are really close to being eligible again.
Keep in mind that you won’t be approved for the CSR if you hold the CSP, so you will either need to close that account or downgrade it to one of the Freedoms.
Does the on-line approval screen tell you if you are eligible for the bonus? I do not remember seeing it.
I had a Chase Slate and Freedom a few years back and hope it doesn’t impact the bonus.
If you’re approved for the card you’re eligible for the bonus. The Slate and Freedom won’t have an impact on your Sapphire application.
Can u close some of the 5 cards opened in past 24mo to qualify for the chase sapphire or do those closed cards still get counted?
Closing cards won’t have an impact. It will depend on when you applied for the credit card. Hope this helps!