The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) regularly offer some of the most valuable welcome bonuses available on a travel credit card — but not every applicant will qualify to earn them.
Chase has several rules that can affect your eligibility for a Sapphire welcome bonus, including its 5/24 policy, restrictions on previously earning Sapphire bonuses and general approval requirements.
Use this checklist to determine whether you’re eligible for a Chase Sapphire welcome bonus before you apply.
Current welcome bonus offers on Chase Sapphire cards
| Card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | Welcome offer value* |
|---|---|---|---|
$95 | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $1,538 | |
$795 | Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $3,075 | |
$795 | Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | $3,075 |
*Welcome offer value is an estimated value based on TPG’s May 2026 valuations and is not provided by the issuer.
Are you under Chase’s 5/24 rule?
The first major hurdle to clear for Sapphire applicants is Chase’s well-known 5/24 rule.
In general, Chase may automatically deny your application if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all issuers within the past 24 months.
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Most business cards do not count toward your 5/24 total, though authorized user accounts can sometimes appear on your credit report and affect your count.
If you are over 5/24, you’ll want to wait to apply for a Sapphire card as you likely won’t qualify for the welcome bonus, and Chase may still perform a hard inquiry on your credit report.
How to check your 5/24 status
The easiest way to calculate your 5/24 standing is by reviewing your credit report.
You can create a free Experian account or request free reports from each credit bureau to see which credit cards you’ve opened, when they were opened and whether they fall within the past 24 months.
If you’ve opened four or fewer cards within that time frame, you can move on to the next eligibility requirement.
Related: The best ways to use your Chase 5/24 slots
Have you earned this Sapphire welcome bonus before?
Another important factor is whether you’ve previously earned a welcome bonus on the specific Sapphire card you’re applying for.
In general, Chase restricts applicants from earning the same Sapphire welcome bonus more than once. That means:
However, earning a bonus on one Sapphire card does not necessarily prevent you from earning the bonus on a different Sapphire product.
For example, a Sapphire Preferred cardholder who has never earned the Sapphire Reserve bonus may still qualify for the Sapphire Reserve welcome offer. Similarly, applicants who have earned a consumer Sapphire bonus may still be eligible for the Sapphire Reserve for Business bonus (if they otherwise qualify).
Chase may also display a pop-up message during the application process, confirming whether you’re eligible for a Sapphire welcome bonus before performing a hard inquiry on your credit report. If you’re not eligible, you’ll typically have the option to withdraw your application before submitting it.
Before applying, it’s worth reviewing your Chase account history or past statements to confirm whether you’ve previously received the bonus on that specific Sapphire card.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Which card is right for you?
Should you downgrade your current Sapphire card?
In many cases, you may not need to downgrade your current Sapphire card before applying for another Sapphire product.
However, downgrading could still make sense if:
Popular downgrade options include the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).
Before making any product change, compare the value of your current Sapphire benefits, annual fee and rewards structure against the card you’re considering instead.
The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: When should you downgrade a credit card?
Do you have the recommended credit score for a Sapphire card?
Meeting Chase’s bonus eligibility rules doesn’t guarantee approval.
All three Sapphire cards are considered premium travel rewards cards, and approval odds are generally best for applicants with:
- Good to excellent credit
- Low credit utilization
- Strong payment history
- Manageable debt-to-income ratios
Based on crowdsourced approval data, the Sapphire Preferred often requires a credit score of around 670 or higher, and the Sapphire Reserve typically favors applicants with scores closer to 740 or above.
Because the Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, approved applicants generally need to qualify for a credit line of at least $10,000.
If you have limited credit history or a lower credit score, it may make sense to start with a more beginner-friendly card and build your credit profile before applying for a Sapphire card.
Related: The biggest factors that affect your credit score
Bottom line
Before applying for a Chase Sapphire card, it’s worth checking your 5/24 status, your previous Sapphire bonus history and your overall credit profile.
Reviewing these requirements beforehand can help you avoid wasting a hard inquiry on your credit report and improve your chances of earning a valuable Sapphire welcome bonus.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
