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Chase Sapphire Bonus Rules Just Changed: Here's What You Need to Know in 2026
July 1, 2025
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The Chase Sapphire bonus eligibility rules described in this article reflect changes announced on January 22, 2026, and are subject to modification without notice by Chase. Welcome bonus amounts, spending requirements, annual fees, and all card benefits mentioned are accurate as of the publication date but may change at any time.
If you've been eyeing a Chase Sapphire card but felt blocked by confusing eligibility rules, there's finally some good news. On January 22, 2026, Chase simplified its bonus eligibility requirements for the Sapphire family, opening up opportunities that didn't exist just weeks ago.
This marks the third major shift in Sapphire bonus policies since mid-2025, and understanding these changes could mean the difference between earning over 200,000 Ultimate Rewards points or walking away empty-handed. Here's everything you need to know about the new rules and how to maximize your rewards strategy.
What Changed on January 22, 2026
Chase has clarified that cardholders can now earn one welcome bonus per Sapphire card, once per card lifetime, regardless of whether they currently hold another Sapphire product. This might sound technical, but the practical implications are significant.
Previously, if you held a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and wanted to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you would be approved for the card but automatically disqualified from earning its welcome bonus. That restriction disappeared on January 22. Now, as long as you've never received a bonus on the Reserve specifically, you're eligible to earn it even while holding the Preferred.
The same applies in reverse. Current Reserve cardholders who have never had a Preferred card can now apply and earn the Preferred's welcome bonus without needing to downgrade or cancel their existing card first.
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Understanding the Timeline: How We Got Here
The Sapphire bonus landscape has shifted dramatically over the past year. Before June 2025, Chase operated under what many considered a generous 48-month rule. Cardholders could earn a new Sapphire bonus every four years on the same card, creating a predictable cycle for those who strategically managed their card portfolio.
Last summer's changes eliminated that 48-month window, implementing strict lifetime language on Sapphire bonuses. But Chase went further, also restricting bonus eligibility if you simply held a different Sapphire card, regardless of whether you'd received its bonus. That second restriction proved unpopular among both casual users and rewards enthusiasts, likely contributing to this latest reversal.
The January 22 update splits the difference. The 48-month rule is gone, meaning you can't repeatedly earn bonuses on the same card anymore. However, Chase has restored the ability to earn bonuses across different Sapphire products, even when holding multiple cards simultaneously.
Breaking Down Current Welcome Offers
Understanding eligibility only matters if the bonuses themselves are worth pursuing. Both Sapphire cards currently offer substantial welcome bonuses, though the specific amounts have fluctuated.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve's standard public offer provides 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first three months. Some cardholders have reported seeing targeted offers as high as 175,000 points, though these appear through Chase's pre-approval system and aren't universally available. The card carries a $550 annual fee, offset by various travel and dining credits.
The Sapphire Preferred typically offers 75,000 points with the same $6,000 spending requirement over three months. Its $95 annual fee makes it more accessible, though it lacks some of the premium perks that justify the Reserve's higher cost.
When you consider that Ultimate Rewards points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest, these bonuses represent substantial value. A conservative estimate puts 125,000 points at around $1,875 in travel value when transferred strategically, while 75,000 points could be worth approximately $1,125.
Who Benefits Most from These Changes
The new rules create distinct opportunities depending on your current card portfolio. Current Sapphire Preferred cardholders who earned that card's bonus represent the most obvious beneficiaries. They can now apply for the Reserve and earn its significantly larger welcome bonus without any downgrade gymnastics or waiting periods.
The same applies to Reserve cardholders who never held a Preferred. While the Preferred's bonus is smaller, adding it to your wallet costs relatively little after accounting for its $50 hotel credit, and that 75,000-point bonus still holds considerable value.
Those who previously upgraded from Preferred to Reserve face a grayer area. Chase's wording suggests bonus eligibility ties to whether you've received a bonus on that specific product. If you upgraded without receiving a Reserve bonus, you might be eligible after downgrading and reapplying, though data points on this scenario remain limited.
Important Restrictions That Still Apply
While Chase loosened one major restriction, several others remain firmly in place. The 5/24 rule continues to govern Sapphire applications. If you've opened five or more personal credit cards across any issuer within the past 24 months, Chase will automatically deny your application. This rule has survived multiple policy changes and shows no signs of disappearing.
Chase's pop-up system also persists, at least in some form. When applying, some users receive a notification stating they're ineligible for the welcome bonus, with options to either proceed without the bonus or withdraw their application. The exact triggers for these pop-ups remain somewhat mysterious, though they often correlate with recent account churning, low spending on existing Chase cards, or other patterns that suggest bonus hunting rather than genuine card usage.
Credit limit exposure represents another consideration. Chase typically caps total credit extended to any individual at around 50 percent of their stated income, though exceptions exist for high-net-worth clients with substantial deposits or investment accounts. Adding a second Sapphire card could push you over this threshold, potentially requiring you to reallocate credit from existing cards during the application process.
Strategic Considerations for Maximizing Value
The optimal approach depends heavily on your current situation and spending patterns. If you hold only a Preferred and have never touched the Reserve, applying for the Reserve makes sense in most scenarios. The larger bonus and more comprehensive benefits typically justify the higher annual fee for at least one year, after which you can evaluate whether to keep both cards or downgrade the Reserve.
Timing matters when applying for multiple Chase cards. While you can now hold both Sapphire cards simultaneously, space out applications by at least several months. Applying for multiple cards in rapid succession increases scrutiny and could trigger denials or pop-up jail, even if you technically meet eligibility requirements.
Consider your existing Chase relationship when planning applications. Strong banking relationships, significant deposit balances, or substantial spending on current Chase cards can improve approval odds and may influence credit limit decisions. Some users report better outcomes when applying in-branch with a banker who can advocate for their application, though this advantage varies.
Meeting Spending Requirements Efficiently
Both Sapphire cards require $6,000 in spending within three months to earn their welcome bonuses. For some, this represents normal spending that happens organically. For others, it requires more deliberate planning.
Prepaying bills often provides an easy path to minimum spending. Insurance premiums, property taxes, and estimated tax payments can quickly accumulate charges without requiring you to change your actual spending habits. Just ensure these payments code correctly and don't trigger cash advance fees, which varies by biller.
Major planned purchases make ideal timing anchors for new card applications. If you're shopping for a new appliance, planning a vacation, or facing other significant expenses in the coming months, align your application timing so these purchases count toward your spending requirement.
Business expenses present another avenue if you own a business or freelance. The Sapphire cards are personal products, but nothing prevents you from using them for legitimate business expenses and reimbursing yourself, as long as you're genuinely running a business and not manufacturing spending solely for bonus purposes.
How Kudos Helps You Navigate This Complexity
Managing multiple credit cards and tracking their various benefits becomes increasingly complex as your wallet grows. This is where tools like Kudos provide genuine value, particularly when executing strategies that involve multiple Sapphire cards or broader credit card portfolios.
Kudos automatically identifies which card in your wallet earns the most rewards at each merchant. When you're working toward a minimum spending requirement on a new Sapphire card, Kudos can help ensure you're putting the right purchases on that card while still maximizing category bonuses on your other cards for purchases that don't count toward your goal.
The platform's browser extension works across thousands of merchants, providing real-time recommendations as you shop online. If you're three months into owning both a Sapphire Preferred and Reserve, Kudos helps you decide which to use for each purchase based on category bonuses, remaining annual credits, and other factors that influence optimal card selection.
Beyond card optimization, Kudos tracks various promotional offers and cashback opportunities that can stack with your credit card rewards. When you're strategically accumulating Ultimate Rewards points across multiple Sapphire cards, every additional percentage point of savings or cashback contributes to your overall return.
What to Watch for in Coming Months
Chase's pattern of reversing and re-reversing policies suggests these rules could evolve further. The elimination of the 48-month rule disappointed many long-term Chase customers, and the company may face continued pressure to restore some form of recurring bonus eligibility.
Welcome bonus amounts fluctuate regularly, sometimes dramatically. The Reserve's offer has ranged from 60,000 points at launch to as high as 200,000 points during limited promotions. If you're on the fence about applying, waiting for an elevated offer could make sense, though there's no guarantee when or if such offers will appear.
Monitor your eligibility carefully if you're planning to eventually apply for both Sapphire cards. The lifetime language means you have essentially one shot at each bonus. Make sure you're applying when offers are strong and your spending patterns align with efficiently meeting minimum requirements.
Making Your Decision
The January 22 rule changes remove a significant barrier that prevented many cardholders from maximizing Ultimate Rewards earnings across the Sapphire family. For those who've wanted to experience both the Preferred and Reserve without sacrificing either welcome bonus, the path forward is now clear.
That said, carefully evaluate whether holding both cards simultaneously makes sense for your situation. The combined annual fees total $645, and while various credits offset some of that cost, you need to genuinely use the cards' benefits to justify keeping both long-term.
For most users, the strategic play involves earning both bonuses and then reassessing their needs. You might keep the Reserve for its premium travel benefits and downgrade the Preferred to a no-annual-fee Freedom card to preserve your Ultimate Rewards ecosystem. Or you might prefer the Preferred's lower fee structure and better return on everyday spending categories, downgrading the Reserve after your first year.
Whatever you decide, understanding these new eligibility rules ensures you're making informed choices rather than discovering restrictions only after applying. And tools like Kudos help you execute whatever strategy you choose, ensuring every purchase lands on the optimal card while you work toward those valuable welcome bonuses.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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