I highly recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) to a wide range of travelers. With solid earning rates, excellent travel protections and a lucrative welcome offer, there’s plenty to like about this mid-tier card.
Speaking of that welcome offer: New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Using TPG’s March 2026 valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece, this bonus is worth $1,538. That’s stellar value for the $95 annual fee you’ll pay on the card.
With such a high-value bonus on the line, you’ll want to be sure that you’re eligible to earn it.
Chase updated its Sapphire bonus rules in January, making it easier for cardholders to earn both Sapphire welcome bonuses. Cardholders can now earn one bonus per Sapphire card — the Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) — even if they currently hold the other.
Here’s what you need to know about Chase’s application rules and eligibility requirements for the Sapphire Preferred.
Who is eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s welcome bonus?
To be approved for and earn the bonus on the Sapphire Preferred:
- You generally can’t earn the bonus if you’ve previously received a welcome bonus on the Sapphire Preferred.
- You may still be eligible even if you currently hold another Sapphire card, such as the Sapphire Reserve.
- Chase may also consider factors like your overall card history and the number of cards opened or closed recently.
As with any Chase credit card, a top consideration should be the issuer’s 5/24 rule, which states that potential cardholders who have opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months are likely to have their card application denied. An important note here is that Chase doesn’t typically include business cards in its 5/24 calculation.
So, as long as you’re under 5/24 and haven’t previously earned the welcome bonus on the Sapphire Preferred, you’re in a good position to qualify for the offer.
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As always, there are general eligibility requirements to consider. If you have a poor credit score or flaws in your credit profile, you may still be denied for the card.
Related: What credit score do you need to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Can I hold both the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve at the same time?
Yes. If you already have (or have had) the Sapphire Reserve, you’re still eligible to add the Sapphire Preferred to your wallet — assuming you meet all the other application requirements.
Having the Sapphire Reserve and previously earning its bonus will not keep you from doing the same on the Sapphire Preferred, even though they’re in the same family.
Bottom line
The Sapphire Preferred’s 75,000-point offer can unlock a trove of fantastic trips, whether you’re seeking out a luxury all-inclusive vacation or multiple domestic flights across the U.S.
With a bonus this valuable, eligibility is important. As long as you’re under 5/24 and haven’t previously earned the welcome bonus on the Sapphire Preferred, you should be in a good position to qualify — even if you hold its sibling, the Sapphire Reserve.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
