How Chase referral links work and what you earn
Chase lets you refer friends and family through a personal referral link tied to your account. When someone uses your link to open a new card, both of you receive a reward — usually cash back or bonus points — as long as the new cardholder meets the card's spending requirements within the stated timeframe. The specific reward depends on which Chase card you're referring for; some cards offer $50 to $100 per successful referral, while others offer points that vary in value.
Your referral link is unique to you and your card. It's not a code you share — it's a URL that tracks who referred the applicant. Chase uses this to confirm the referral was legitimate and to credit both accounts. You can generate and share as many referrals as you want, but Chase does have limits on how many times the same person can be referred for the same card (typically once per calendar year per person).
The person you refer must be new to that specific card. If they've held it before, or if they're already a cardholder, the referral won't may have access to. Chase also screens for fraud — if the application looks suspicious or the new cardholder doesn't meet the card's standard approval criteria, the referral bonus won't post even if the card is approved.
Key Takeaways
- Your referral link is found in your Chase online account or mobile app under the specific card's details, usually labeled "Refer a friend" or similar.
- Both you and the person you refer earn a reward only if they open the card through your link and meet the card's minimum spending requirement within the bonus period.
- The person you refer must have never held that specific card before, and Chase screens applications to prevent fraud.
- You can refer multiple people, but each person can typically only be referred for the same card once per calendar year.
- Referral rewards are separate from the card's welcome bonus — the new cardholder gets both if they meet the spending requirement.
Finding your referral link in the Chase app or website
Log into your Chase account online or open the Chase mobile app. Navigate to the card you want to refer — you'll see it listed under "Your accounts" or "Cards." Tap or click on that card to open its details page.
Look for a section labeled "Refer a friend," "Share and earn," "Refer and earn," or similar language. The exact wording varies by card and changes occasionally, but it's always on the card's main details page. Tap that section and Chase will display your unique referral link. Some versions show a button to copy the link to your clipboard; others show a URL you can manually copy or a QR code the other person can scan.
If you don't see a referral option on your card's page, that card may not have an active referral program at the moment. Chase enables and disables referral programs periodically based on the card and current promotions. You can contact Chase customer service to confirm whether your card has a referral program.
How to share your referral link with someone
Once you have your link, you can share it any way you want — text message, email, social media, or in person. There's no restriction on how you distribute it. The person you're referring simply clicks or taps the link on their phone or computer, and it takes them to the card's application page with your referral already attached.
They then complete the application normally. They don't need to enter a code or do anything special — the link itself carries the referral information. If they're approved and meet the spending requirement, both rewards will post automatically once Chase processes the referral.
You can also share your link publicly on social media or a blog if you want, though Chase's terms do prohibit posting referral links in certain contexts (like paid advertising or third-party referral sites). Sharing with friends and family directly is always fine.
When the referral bonus posts to your account
The timing depends on two things: approval and spending. First, the person you referred must be approved for the card. This usually happens within a few days, but can take up to two weeks in some cases. Second, they must meet the card's minimum spending requirement — typically $500 to $5,000 depending on the card — within a set window, usually 3 to 6 months from account opening.
Once both conditions are met, Chase processes the referral and credits your account. This typically happens within 1 to 2 billing cycles after the spending requirement is satisfied. You'll see the reward post as a statement credit, points, or cash back depending on the card's structure. The person you referred receives their reward on the same timeline.
If the spending requirement isn't met within the window, neither of you gets the referral bonus. The new cardholder still gets their welcome bonus if they meet that separate requirement, but the referral reward doesn't post.
What happens if the referral doesn't go through
If the person you referred is denied for the card, no referral bonus posts for either of you. Chase doesn't pay referral rewards for declined applications. The person can reapply on their own later, but a new application won't be tied to your referral unless they use your link again.
If they're approved but don't meet the spending requirement in time, the referral bonus doesn't post. The welcome bonus (if they may have access to for it separately) may still post, but the referral reward is tied only to the spending requirement. There's no way to extend the spending window or get the bonus later if the deadline passes.
If Chase suspects fraud — for example, if the applicant has multiple referrals from the same person in a short time, or if the application details look suspicious — Chase may deny the referral bonus even if the card is approved. This is rare with legitimate referrals to friends and family, but it's part of Chase's fraud prevention.
Referral limits and how often you can refer the same person
Chase typically allows each person to be referred for the same card once per calendar year. So if your friend opens the Chase Sapphire Preferred through your referral in January, you can't refer them for that same card again until January of the next year. However, you could refer them for a different Chase card immediately.
There's no published limit on how many different people you can refer in a year, but Chase does monitor for patterns that look like a referral business rather than personal sharing. If you're referring dozens of people per month, Chase may investigate or restrict your referral privileges.
The person you refer can use multiple referral links from different people for different cards. For example, they could use one person's link for the Sapphire Preferred and another person's link for the Freedom Unlimited. Each referral is tracked separately.
Referral rewards don't count toward minimum spending
The reward you earn from a referral is separate from the welcome bonus the new cardholder receives. It also doesn't count toward their minimum spending requirement. If the card requires $5,000 in spending within 3 months and they spend $4,500, they don't meet the requirement even if they're getting a referral bonus — they still need to hit $5,000 in actual purchases.
Similarly, if you receive a referral reward, it doesn't count toward any minimum spending requirement on your own card. It's a separate credit that posts after the requirement is already met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refer someone who already has a Chase account?
Yes. They just need to be new to that specific card. If they've never held the Sapphire Preferred before, they can be referred for it even if they have other Chase cards. The restriction is per card, not per person or per Chase account.
What if someone uses my referral link but doesn't get approved?
No bonus posts for either of you. Referral rewards only apply to approved applications. If they want to try again, they can reapply on their own or use your link again, but Chase will treat it as a new application.
Do I need to tell Chase I'm referring someone?
No. The referral link handles everything automatically. Chase tracks it on the back end. You just share the link and Chase confirms the referral when the application comes through.
Can I refer someone who lives in a different state?
Yes. There's no geographic restriction on referrals. The person can live anywhere in the United States and use your link.
What if the person I referred closes the card before the bonus posts?
If they close the card before meeting the spending requirement, the referral bonus won't post. If they close it after meeting the requirement but before the bonus posts, the bonus should still post on the normal timeline — closing the card doesn't reverse a bonus that's already been earned.