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A referral bonus is a win-win. When you refer a friend to a new card, you earn bonus points, miles or cash back without making any purchases. Your friend can also earn a substantial welcome offer after meeting a spending requirement.
Chase’s Refer-A-Friend program is generous. If you hold certain Chase credit cards (including Chase’s suite of cobranded cards with United, Hyatt, Southwest, IHG, Marriott and Disney) and are eligible, you can earn bonus points, miles or cash-back for successful referrals.
So, how do Chase card referrals work? Let’s walk through the process in this guide.
How to refer a friend to a Chase card
It’s easy to refer someone. Here’s how to generate the link to refer your friends, family members and colleagues.
On a computer, navigate to Chase’s dedicated landing page for all referral links. This page features a drop-down box of all your Chase cards and an option to generate a link on the spot to send to a friend.
You’ll need to sign in to your Chase account to access this page.
You can also find this feature in the mobile app. Log in to the Chase app, navigate to the “More” tab and select “Refer a friend.”
From there, you can share your unique link via text message or social media, or simply copy it.
Related: Refer friends to Sapphire cards for bonus points per application
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How to earn a Chase referral bonus
To earn a referral bonus, you’ll need to generate a unique application link for someone to use. Then, the person you’re referring must access the application through your link and be approved for a card. You can refer a friend, family member or co-worker.
You’ll earn the bonus after the person you referred is successfully approved for the card.
Depending on the card, you’ll receive between 10,000 and 40,000 bonus points or miles per referral. This includes cobranded cards.
You can also earn cash bonuses when referring friends to the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees), Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) or a Chase checking account.
You can repeat these referrals multiple times, but your earnings are capped between 50,000 to 200,000 bonus points or miles or $500 cash back (in the case of Freedom cards and checking accounts) per calendar year.
Chase cards with referral bonuses
The card your friend successfully applies for determines how many bonus points or miles or how much cash back you’ll receive, and how much you can receive before you reach the limit.
| Chase card | Referral bonus for each referral | Referral bonus limit per year |
|---|---|---|
15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points | 100,000 points | |
$50 cash back | $500 cash back | |
20,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points | 100,000 points | |
10,000 United MileagePlus miles | 100,000 miles | |
40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | 200,000 points | |
100 Disney Rewards Dollars | 500 Disney Rewards Dollars | |
40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points | 200,000 points | |
10,000 IHG One Rewards points | 50,000 points | |
10,000 Hyatt points | 50,000 points |
You can find a full list of each individual Chase card eligible for a referral bonus on this page.
Remember, your friend must use your personalized link for you to earn your bonus.
*You are eligible to receive referral bonus awards for new Chase Business card customers only. Referrals of individuals with existing Chase business card accounts will no longer qualify for the referral bonus.
**Some cardholders are not eligible to receive bonuses for referrals to the World of Hyatt Business card. Check your account to see if you can earn bonus points.
Related: Can I refer someone to a business credit card from a personal credit card?
What to know about Chase referral bonuses
There are additional considerations to be aware of when you’re referring to Chase cards.
You don’t have to have the card to refer to it
You can refer your friends to cards you don’t hold. For instance, I only have the Sapphire Preferred, but my referral link also mentions that I’ll earn bonuses for those who are approved for the Sapphire Reserve.
You also don’t necessarily have to be friends with your referral partner. Just make sure they follow the proper steps to be approved with your personalized link.
Ensure your friend is getting the best welcome offer
It’s important to note that your friend might not receive the highest available welcome bonus if they apply through a referral link.
Not everyone will see the same bonuses, so be a good friend and make sure the people you refer know where to find the best targeted welcome bonus for them.
For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 75,000 bonus points, earned after $5,000 in spending within the first three months of account opening. You’ll want to check this offer against the one that appears through your referral link to ensure they’re getting the best deal.
However, we have seen some instances of bonuses from referrals being higher than the publicly available bonus, so be sure to check before you send.
Your bonus could take a while to arrive
It could take up to eight weeks for bonus points, miles or cash back from a referral to be posted to your account.
You may have to pay taxes on referral bonuses
Finally, keep in mind that some banks have previously sent out 1099s for referral bonuses.
Your referral bonuses may be considered income, especially if you max out your earnings from them. Speak to a tax professional if you’re uncertain about owing taxes on referral bonuses.
Related: If I cash out my points and miles, do I have to claim it on my taxes?
Bottom line
Chase’s Refer-A-Friend program is one of the easiest ways to earn bonus points, miles or cash back without changing your spending habits.
The most important thing to remember is to ensure your friends use your personalized link when they apply. Otherwise, you won’t get a referral bonus.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history
