American Express Credit Card Rules: What to Know Before You Apply

Before you apply for an American Express card, it’s crucial to understand the rules that can affect your approval chances and welcome bonus eligibility. From hard limits like “1 in 5” and “once-in-a-lifetime” language, to lesser-known internal policies like “popup jail,” this guide breaks down everything you need to know—based on both official terms and real-world experience.

While certain guidelines may apply to a broad range of individuals, there may also be exceptions to these rules that could impact your personal experience.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select  American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Rule 1: You Must Be 18+ and a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident

To be eligible for an Amex U.S. card, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal resident. In practice, American Express looks for several U.S.-based credentials:

• U.S. home address
• U.S. phone number
• U.S. bank account
• SSN or ITIN
• Employment details 
   

Foreign applicants may qualify under programs like Amex Global Transfer, which allows cardholders from other countries to apply for U.S. cards based on their existing history. Additionally, residency for tax purposes may help fulfill Amex's internal eligibility checks.

Rule 2: Aim for a 700+ Credit Score

There is no formal minimum score, but a credit score of 700 or higher is generally recommended for American Express credit card applications. Some applicants have been approved with scores in the 670–680 range, but approval also depends on:

• Credit utilization
• Recent inquiries
• Existing Amex relationship
   

Tip: Reducing your credit card balances before applying may increase your approval odds.

Rule 3: Once-in-a-Lifetime Welcome Offer Rule

American Express generally allows one welcome offer per card per lifetime. If you've had a particular Amex card before, even years ago, you may not be eligible for a new intro offer on the same card.

Exceptions:

• Some targeted offers may lack lifetime language (NLL), most commonly found on business cards.
• Anecdotally, "lifetime" may reset after 7+ years, but this is not guaranteed.
   

To avoid missing out on intro offers, be cautious about product downgrades or upgrades. It is recommended to apply for cards during elevated offers or use tools like CardMatch to determine if you are targeted for an elevated offer rather than solely relying on exceptions. 

Rule 4: 4, 5, or 6 Credit Card Limit

In the past, this was referred to as the Five Card Rule, as American Express historically limited customers to five credit cards. This means that if you already have five personal credit cards and attempt to apply for a business credit card, your application will likely be rejected. If you only have four personal credit cards, you can only be approved for one business credit card, which means that you are limited to a total of five credit cards between your personal and business accounts.

There are also several distinctions between credit cards and hybrid cards. Hybrid cards are those that do not have a specific spending limit, including:

• American Express® Green Card
• American Express® Gold Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express (Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley)
• American Express® Green Business Card
• American Express® Gold Business Card
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Plum Card

When you log in to view these cards, they typically state that there is no set spending limit. However, there is a limit based on risk assessment, which can change frequently.

All other cards are considered credit cards:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Credit Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Business® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue Business Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card from American Express
• Amazon Prime card from American Express
• Amazon Business Prime card from American Express
• American Express® Blue Cash Everyday® Card
• American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• American Express  Everyday® Cards
• American Express Everyday Preferred® Card
• American Express Blue Business® Plus Card
• American Express Blue Business® Cash Card
• Lowe's Business cards from American Express 

If you have five credit cards, you can still be approved for the American Express® Gold Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and other non-credit-card products. The American Express® Gold Card and Platinum cards do not count towards the five-card limit. However, there is some variability in this rule, as some people may be limited to only four cards, while others may be allowed up to six.

Rule 5: 1-in-5 Rule

You can be approved for only one American Express credit card every 5 days. This rule applies specifically to credit cards and not to hybrid cards.
 

This does not prevent you from applying for other types of Amex cards or products in the same window. However, make sure you can meet spending requirements before stacking applications.

Rule 6: 2-in-90 Rule

You can only be approved for two Amex credit cards within a 90-day period. A third application within this timeframe will be automatically denied.
 

Again, this rule does not apply to hybrid cards like The Platinum Card or the Amex Gold Card.

Rule 7: "Popup Jail"

If you apply for an Amex card and see a message saying you're not eligible for the welcome offer, you’re in what many call Popup Jail. You can still get the card, but without the bonus.

Common triggers include:

• Closing previous cards too soon
• Minimal spend on existing Amex cards
• High spend in bonus categories without baseline activity
• Self-referrals or suspicious behavior
   

To stay out of Popup Jail, engage consistently with your cards and avoid cycling through products quickly.

Rule 8: One Platinum Bonus Rule

You can only earn one welcome offer across the various versions of The Platinum Card® from American Express. This includes:

•  The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab 
• The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
   

Choose carefully based on which version aligns best with your financial goals and partner relationships.

Rule 9: 90-Day Platinum Rule

Amex's system may block multiple Platinum Card approvals within a 90-day window. If you're looking to earn intro bonuses on more than one version, wait at least 3 months between applications.

Rule 10: "Little Brother Rule"

One of the most impactful new rules is what I like to call the "Little Brother Rule." This rule is about prioritizing certain cards in your application strategy to ensure eligibility for welcome offers.

Specifically, with the Delta SkyMiles card lineup:

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card from American Express

Your eligibility for a welcome offer on a lower-tier card may be affected if you already have or have had a higher-tier card.

With Delta SkyMiles Amex cards, having a higher-tier card can disqualify you from bonuses on lower-tier versions.
 

Example: If you’ve had the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card, you may not be eligible for the bonus on the Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card.
 

However, starting from the bottom (e.g., Delta Blue → Gold → Platinum → Reserve) may allow you to earn multiple bonuses.

Amex Application Rules – At a Glance