Chase Sapphire Reserve 100K Bonus Eligibility: New 2025 Rules Explained (Flowchart Inside)

Why This Matters: Major Rule Changes to Chase Sapphire Bonuses

Chase has overhauled the bonus rules for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The old 48-month bonus restriction is gone, and a new eligibility rule has taken its place.

That means many people who were previously ineligible may now qualify, while others could be permanently locked out of future Sapphire bonuses.
 

To help make sense of it, we built a flowchart and guide to walk you through your eligibility.

🔄 What Changed? Chase’s New Sapphire Bonus Rules (2025)

• Old Rule (Retired):
  • You could earn a Sapphire bonus once every 48 months.
  • You couldn’t hold two Sapphire cards at the same time.
• New Rules (2025):
  • Each Sapphire product is now once-per-lifetime for bonuses.
  • You can hold multiple Sapphire cards at once (e.g., both Reserve and Preferred).
  • But you must not currently hold any Sapphire card to be eligible for a new bonus.
  • Chase will now show a pop-up during the application if you’re ineligible.
  • Chase’s 5/24 rule still applies.

✅ Deep Dive: Key Rule Changes Explained

• The End of the 48-Month Rule

You no longer have to wait four years between Sapphire bonuses. Instead, you can apply for a different Sapphire card as long as you’ve never earned that specific card’s bonus before.

• Once-Per-Lifetime Sapphire Bonuses

If you’ve ever received the bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can never earn it again. The same applies to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. However, having one doesn’t prevent you from getting the other—you just need to cancel/downgrade first.

• You Can Hold Two Sapphire Cards (But No Bonus Unless You Cancel First)

The previous restriction preventing you from having both cards is gone. But the bonus still requires you not to have any Sapphire open when applying.

• Business Sapphire Cards Are Treated Separately

The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ is considered a separate product. The once-per-lifetime rule does not apply to it in the same way, and it is not currently subject to the pop-up warning.

• The Pop-Up Message

If you try to apply for a Sapphire card while ineligible for the bonus, Chase will show a pop-up and give you the option to cancel the application. No hard inquiry is performed unless you proceed.

📈 Real Examples (FAQs)

Q: I have Sapphire Preferred and want Reserve. Can I get the bonus?

• No. You need to cancel or downgrade Sapphire Preferred and wait 1–2 weeks. If you’ve never had the Reserve bonus, you may then be eligible.
   

Q: I had the Reserve bonus 5 years ago. Can I get it again?

• No. The new once-per-lifetime rule overrides the old 48-month window.
   

Q: I got Preferred 2 years ago. Can I now get Reserve?

• Yes—if you no longer hold the Preferred card and never got a bonus for the Reserve before.
   

Q: Can I get the new Sapphire Reserve® for Business if I’ve had both personal Sapphire bonuses?

• Yes. The business product is currently treated separately.
   

Q: Can I product-change from Preferred to Reserve and get a bonus?

• No. Product changes never trigger a new bonus.

Final Thoughts

Chase’s Sapphire bonus rules have fundamentally changed: you now have more flexibility to hold multiple Sapphire cards, but only one chance to earn a bonus per product lifetime.

If you’re eligible, this could be your best shot at the intro bonus offer on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.