Thinking about referring friends to Chase credit cards? You're sitting on a goldmine of potential rewards. Chase's Refer-A-Friend program can earn you 15,000 points per successful referral for Sapphire cards – sometimes even more than the original sign-up bonus – just for sharing your favorite cards with friends and family.

Quick Answer: Chase Refer-A-Friend Essentials

Chase's Refer-A-Friend program offers bonuses ranging from $50 cash back to 20,000 points per successful referral, depending on the card. You can typically earn up to 100,000 bonus points per calendar year across Chase Sapphire cards, with business cards offering separate limits. The referred friend must be approved and make their first purchase for you to receive the bonus.

Why Chase Refer-A-Friend Bonuses Matter More Than Ever

Chase's Refer-A-Friend program has become increasingly generous over the past few years, making it one of the most overlooked strategies for maximizing your points and rewards. While everyone focuses on sign-up bonuses, savvy points enthusiasts are quietly racking up hundreds of thousands of additional points through strategic referrals.

Here's what makes Chase's Refer-A-Friend program particularly valuable: unlike some other issuers, Chase counts referral bonuses as completely separate from your sign-up bonus eligibility. This means you can refer others to cards you've never even had yourself, opening up massive earning potential.

Current Chase Refer-A-Friend Bonus Rates (2025)

Personal Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

• Referral bonus: 15,000 Ultimate Rewards points
• Annual limit: Up to 100,000 points (approximately 6-7 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: 75,000 points after $5,000 spend

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Referral bonus: 15,000 Ultimate Rewards points
• Annual limit: Up to 100,000 points (approximately 6-7 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: 100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit after $5,000 spend

The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison becomes even more interesting when you factor in the identical referral bonuses from both cards.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

• Referral bonus: $50 cash back
• Annual limit: Up to $500 cash back (10 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: $200 cash back after $500 spend

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Referral bonus: $50 cash back
• Annual limit: Up to $500 cash back (10 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: $200 cash back after $500 spend

Business Cards (Important Changes Coming!)

Chase Ink Business Cards

• Referral bonus: 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points
• Annual limit: 100,000 points as of January 1, 2025 (down from 200,000)
• Friend's bonus: Varies by card (typically 90,000-120,000 points)

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Major Change Alert: Starting October 7, 2025, Chase business card refer-a-friend bonuses will only work for new Chase business card customers – meaning your friend can't already have any Chase business cards to qualify.

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For a deeper dive into business options, check out our guide on how to choose the best Chase Ink business card.

Hotel and Airline Cards

World of Hyatt Credit Card

• Referral bonus: 10,000 Hyatt points
• Annual limit: Up to 50,000 points (5 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: 30,000 points after $3,000 spend

United Explorer Card

• Referral bonus: 10,000 United miles
• Annual limit: Up to 50,000 miles (5 referrals)
• Friend's bonus: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend

Southwest Rapid Rewards Cards

• Referral bonus: 20,000 Southwest points
• Annual limit: Varies by card
• Friend's bonus: Varies by current offer

Marriott Bonvoy Cards

• Referral bonus: 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• Annual limit: Varies by card
• Friend's bonus: Varies by current offer

How Chase's Refer-A-Friend Program Works: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Generate Your Refer-A-Friend Link

Chase has streamlined the Refer-A-Friend process, now offering a consolidated page on both its website and its mobile app that allows you to generate referral links for all eligible Chase credit cards in one place.

1. Log into your Chase online account or mobile app
2. Navigate to the "Refer a Friend" section at creditcards.chase.com/refer-a-friend
3. Select the card you want to refer from the dropdown menu
4. Generate your unique referral link
5. Copy the link or use Chase's built-in sharing options

Pro tip: Always generate a fresh link rather than reusing old ones. Chase occasionally updates their tracking systems, and fresh links ensure proper credit.

Step 2: Share Strategically

Don't just spam your social media with referral links. Instead:

• Target the right audience: Focus on people who actually need the card's benefits
• Explain the value: Don't just share the link – explain why the card makes sense for them
• Use multiple channels: Email, text, in-person conversations often work better than social media posts
• Time it right: Share when your friend is actually ready to apply, not just whenever

Step 3: Track Your Referrals

Chase makes tracking relatively easy:

• Check your account dashboard for pending referrals
• Look for email confirmations when someone applies
• Monitor your points balance for bonus posting (usually within 1-2 billing cycles, but can take up to 8 weeks)

If you're serious about maximizing your Chase Ultimate Rewards, keeping a simple spreadsheet of your referrals helps ensure you don't miss any bonuses.

Advanced Referral Strategies

The Cross-Referral Strategy

Here's a strategy most people miss: you don't need to have a card to refer someone to it. If you have any Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can often refer friends to other cards in the program through Chase's Refer-A-Friend system.

For example, if you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited® but your friend wants the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you might still be able to generate a referral link for the Preferred card from your account.

Business vs. Personal Refer-A-Friend Limits

Chase treats business and personal card refer-a-friend bonuses separately. This means you could potentially earn:

• Up to 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points from personal card refer-a-friend bonuses
• Up to 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points from business card refer-a-friend bonuses (reduced from 200,000 in 2025)
• Total potential: 200,000 points annually

The Family Plan Approach

If you're married or have family members you trust with financial decisions, you can dramatically increase your refer-a-friend capacity. Each person can have their own Chase cards and refer others, multiplying your household's earning potential.

Just remember: never apply for cards in someone else's name or ask them to apply for cards they don't want or can't afford.

Common Refer-A-Friend Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Not Understanding the Timeline

The issue: Chase refer-a-friend bonuses typically post 1-2 billing cycles after your friend's first purchase, not immediately after approval, and can take up to 8 weeks.

The fix: Be patient and track your referrals. If a bonus doesn't post within 8-10 weeks, contact Chase customer service with your friend's application details.

Mistake #2: Referring Ineligible Friends

The issue: Your friend won't get approved if they:

• Already have the card
• Have opened 5+ cards from any issuer in the past 24 months (for most Chase cards)
• Don't meet Chase's credit score or income requirements

The fix: Before referring someone, make sure they're actually eligible. A quick conversation about their credit card history can save everyone time and disappointment.

Mistake #3: Forgetting About 5/24

Chase's famous 5/24 rule still applies to referrals. If your friend has opened 5 or more cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, they'll likely be denied for most Chase personal cards.

Business cards have some exceptions to 5/24, but personal cards are strict about this rule. For more details, check out our guide on building a rock-solid credit profile.

Mistake #4: Not Maximizing Your Annual Limits

With Chase's 100,000-point annual refer-a-friend limit for Sapphire cards, you're potentially leaving significant value on the table if you're not actively referring. That's enough points for:

• Round-trip flights to Europe in economy
• 6-8 nights at premium hotels through Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners
• $1,000+ in travel through the Chase travel portal

Mistake #5: Missing the Business Card Deadline

Don't forget that starting October 7, 2025, Chase business card refer-a-friend bonuses will only work for new Chase business customers. If you have friends who might want business cards, refer them before this deadline if they already have other Chase business cards.

When Refer-A-Friend Bonuses Make Sense vs. Public Offers

Sometimes the public sign-up bonus is actually better than the refer-a-friend bonus, and you should tell your friend to skip your link. Here's how to evaluate:

Calculate total value:

• Referral bonus to you + referral bonus to friend = Total household value
• Compare this to: Public bonus to friend only

Example scenario:

• Public offer: Friend gets 100,000 points
• Referral offer: Friend gets 75,000 points, you get 15,000 points
• Total referral value: 90,000 points vs. 100,000 points public

In this case, the public offer wins – and being transparent about this builds trust and ensures your friend gets the best deal.

Maximizing Your Referred Friend's Experience

Getting your referral bonus is just the beginning. Help your friend succeed with their new card:

Share Strategic Advice

Point them toward resources like:

• How to use Chase Pay Yourself Back for maximum flexibility
• Best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for premium travel

Help With Meeting Minimum Spend

Suggest legitimate strategies:

• Paying bills through services like Bill.com for business expenses
• Using the Chase travel portal for upcoming trips
• Taking advantage of grocery store promotions during bonus categories

Share Your Expertise

If you've been in the points game for a while, your experience is valuable. Share what you've learned about:

• Maximizing rewards during holidays
• Using retention offers to keep cards longer
• Planning award travel through booking engines like Google Flights

Tax Implications and Record Keeping

Refer-a-friend bonuses are generally considered taxable income by the IRS, though Chase typically doesn't issue 1099s unless you earn substantial amounts. Keep records of:

• Date of each refer-a-friend bonus
• Amount received
• Which card generated the bonus

For significant refer-a-friend earnings, consider consulting with tax software like TaxFyle or a tax professional to ensure proper reporting.

Troubleshooting Refer-A-Friend Issues

When Bonuses Don't Post

If your refer-a-friend bonus doesn't appear after 8-10 weeks:

1. Gather information: Your friend's name, application date, and approval date
2. Call Chase: Use the number on the back of your card
3. Be persistent: Sometimes it takes multiple calls to get bonuses manually credited
4. Document everything: Keep notes of call dates, representative names, and reference numbers

Refer-A-Friend Link Problems

If your refer-a-friend link isn't working:

• Try generating a new link
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Use an incognito/private browsing window
• Try the Chase mobile app instead of the website

Restrictions on High-Volume Referrals

Chase has introduced some restrictions where if 10 or more people apply for a card using your Refer-A-Friend link, Chase may not allow you to earn any bonus miles. This appears to target people posting refer-a-friend links publicly online rather than normal friend-and-family referrals.

The Future of Chase's Refer-A-Friend Program

Chase has been gradually increasing refer-a-friend bonuses over the past few years, making them more competitive with public offers. However, we're also seeing some restrictions:

• Business card annual limits were cut in half starting January 1, 2025
• New restrictions on business card refer-a-friend bonuses starting October 7, 2025
• Potential caps on high-volume referrers

Keep an eye on:

• Seasonal promotions that boost refer-a-friend bonuses
• New card launches that often come with enhanced refer-a-friend offers
• Changes to annual limits or eligible cards

Bottom Line: Make Refer-A-Friend Part of Your Strategy

Chase's Refer-A-Friend program represents one of the most underutilized earning opportunities in the credit card space. With proper planning and execution, you can earn an extra 100,000+ Ultimate Rewards points annually just by sharing cards you already love with friends who actually need them.

The key is being strategic rather than spammy, transparent about value, and focused on helping your friends succeed with their new cards. When done right, referrals create a win-win situation where everyone benefits from better rewards and smarter financial decisions.

Remember to pair your refer-a-friend strategy with other credit card maximization techniques and consider how referrals fit into your broader points and miles goals. Whether you're saving for a luxury vacation through Expedia or planning award travel, those extra refer-a-friend points can make all the difference in reaching your travel dreams.

Action Steps:

1. Log into your Chase account today and see which cards you can refer through the Refer-A-Friend program
2. Make a list of friends who might genuinely benefit from Chase cards
3. Set calendar reminders for the October 7, 2025 business card refer-a-friend changes
4. Track your referrals to maximize your annual limits

Ready to start referring? Remember that Chase's consolidated Refer-A-Friend page makes it easier than ever to generate links for all your eligible cards in one place. Your points balance will thank you.