Chase Credit Card Rules

Chase will not approve you if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts (with any issuer) in the past 24 months.

Affected cards

Nearly all Chase personal and business cards

Workaround

Some Chase business cards (Ink) may be approved slightly above 5/24 in rare cases, but this is not reliable. The only real workaround is waiting until older cards age out of the 24-month window.

Chase will generally not approve more than 2 Chase cards within a 30-day period.

Affected cards

All Chase cards

Workaround

Apply for Chase cards with at least 30 days between applications. Many cardholders prefer 91+ days to avoid scrutiny.

You cannot receive a new cardmember bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve if you have received a Sapphire bonus in the past 48 months, or if you currently hold either Sapphire card.

Affected cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve

Workaround

Close the existing Sapphire card and wait for the 48-month clock on your last bonus to expire before applying.

You cannot receive a new cardmember bonus on a Chase Freedom card if you have received a Freedom bonus in the past 24 months.

Affected cards

Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited

Workaround

Wait until 24 months after your last Freedom bonus before applying again.

Chase typically approves only one business card per 30-day period, and sometimes requires 90+ days between business card applications.

Affected cards

Chase Ink Business cards

Workaround

Space business card applications at least 90 days apart for the best approval odds.