Chase made a meaningful update to how welcome bonuses work on its flagship Sapphire cards beginning January 22, 2026.

Initially, there was a 48‑month cooldown between earning a bonus on the same Sapphire product, then in June 2025 Chase replaced that restriction with one that blocked earning a bonus on one Sapphire card if you already held another Sapphire card.

Under the new rules, each Sapphire product now carries a lifetime welcome bonus eligibility, meaning you can earn the bonus once per card version as long as you’ve never received that card’s bonus before—regardless of whether you already hold a different Sapphire card.

In practice, that means if you’ve had the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and earned its bonus, you can apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and earn its bonus too if you’ve never earned the Sapphire Reserve bonus before.

Chase is also clarifying the eligibility language on applications to make this more straightforward: the system will check whether you’ve ever had the specific card (not just any Sapphire card) and whether you’ve already received its bonus. If you fall into an exclusion—like having received that exact card’s welcome offer previously—the app may display a pop‑up letting you know the bonus won’t be available, and you can cancel without affecting your credit. The old “once every 48 months” rule is officially gone, replaced by this once‑per‑card lifetime bonus structure.

Our Take

For points and miles travelers, this update is a net positive compared to the rule in June 2025.

That said, it’s not a return to the more generous old world. You won’t be able to earn repeat bonuses on the same Sapphire card, so timing is critical. If you skipped a Sapphire bonus in the past because of the old rules, this update may give you another shot. Just be sure to track your bonus history carefully and plan around Chase’s 5/24 rule.