Approval requirements · April 2026
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Credit Score Requirements
720+ FICO recommended, plus the 5/24 rule. Here’s every requirement, the current bonus, and what to do if you don’t qualify yet.
Recommended score
720+
FICO for most approvals
5/24 rule
<5
new personal cards in 24 months
Current bonus
75k pts
after $5k spend in 3 months
Independent·No issuer revenue·No sponsored rankings·Data sourced from Chase.com
Approval requirements at a glance
Quick answer
Recommended credit score: 720+ FICO. Chase also requires you to be under 5/24 — fewer than 5 personal credit cards opened in the past 24 months from any issuer. These are the two primary gatekeepers.| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Recommended credit score | 720+ FICO |
| Occasional approvals reported at | 700–719 FICO |
| Chase 5/24 rule | Under 5 new personal cards in 24 months (any issuer) |
| Annual fee | $95/year |
| Current signup bonus | 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months |
| Bonus value (cash) | $750 at 1 cpp; $937 via Chase Travel portal at 1.25x |
| Top earn rates | 5X Chase Travel; 3X dining/online groceries/streaming |
The 5/24 rule — the most common denial reason
More applicants are denied for the 5/24 rule than for credit score. If you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards — from Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, or anyone else — in the past 24 months, Chase will almost certainly decline you.
What counts toward 5/24
- Personal credit cards from any issuer — opened in the past 24 months
- Authorized user accounts — being added as an authorized user on someone else’s card may count (can be disputed)
- Store credit cards — these count if they appear on your personal credit report
What does NOT count toward 5/24
- Business credit cards from most issuers (Chase, Amex, Citi business cards don’t appear on personal reports)
- Personal cards opened more than 24 months ago
- Charge cards (Amex Green/Gold/Platinum) — debated but generally excluded
Check your 5/24 count: pull your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com and count every personal card account opened in the past 24 months. Credit Karma shows account open dates quickly.
If you don’t qualify yet — alternatives and a path forward
| Situation | Best alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Score 680–719 | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Lower bar, same Chase ecosystem, no annual fee, 1.5% flat + 3% dining |
| At 5/24 | Amex Gold Card | No 5/24 rule; 4X dining + groceries; $325 fee offset by credits |
| Want $0 fee now | Capital One Savor | 3% groceries + dining + entertainment, $0 fee, no 5/24 |
| Building credit | Chase Freedom Rise | Chase’s entry-level card; builds toward Sapphire eligibility |
If you’re at 5/24, the practical path is to stop applying for personal cards for the months needed to fall below 5, then apply for the Sapphire Preferred. You can still apply for business cards during this period — they typically don’t count toward 5/24.
Free rewards optimizer
See if the Sapphire Preferred outearns the alternatives on your spend
Enter your dining, travel, and grocery spend — the rewards calculator shows annual net value for the Sapphire Preferred vs. every major competitor after the $95 fee.
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