Definitive Guide on How to Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Understanding how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the first step to starting to enjoy the benefits of a card that will help you make smart purchases, anywhere in the world.

If your goal is to know how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you need to understand that this card is an asset capable of generating a high financial return when used correctly.

In this guide, we will detail exactly how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. We will go from the technical analysis of the benefits to the complex approval protocols required by the institution.

How Does the Ultimate Rewards Program Work?

Before starting the application process, you must understand the card you are seeking to acquire.

It offers Chase Ultimate Rewards points, considered by industry specialists as one of the most flexible and valuable loyalty currencies on the market.

Know that having a card from the Sapphire family is necessary to be able to convert what would only be cash back into transferable points.

A Candid Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred was designed for those looking to balance costs with protections.

These advantages were previously reserved only for elite cards, but the CSP democratized access to benefits such as primary insurance and aggressive point multipliers.

Costs of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

First of all, you should know that this card charges an annual fee of US$95.00, charged in the first month after account opening, and does not offer a first-year waiver in most current public offers.

For international travelers, a key differential is the total exemption from foreign transaction fees, generating a 3% saving on every purchase made outside the USA.

However, you should pay attention to the purchase APR, which ranges between 19.49% and 27.74%, depending on your creditworthiness.

In addition, fees for balance transfer and cash advance are high, set at US$5 or 5% and US$10 or 5%, respectively, with a punitive APR of 29.99% for cash withdrawals.

The late payment penalty can reach US$40 if the minimum payment is not made by the due date.

Welcome Bonus of 75,000 Points

Chase’s main customer acquisition mechanism lies in the sign-up bonus.

With it, you get 75,000 bonus points after the customer spends between US$4,000 and US$5,000 in purchases in the first three months. These points, when redeemed, are worth US$750. However, when using the Chase travel portal, the value increases to US$937.50.

Transferring to partners like World of Hyatt can increase this value to more than US$1,500.

Travel Benefits and Insurance

The CSP’s value proposition goes beyond points. It offers insurance that mitigates risks.

One of the most valuable benefits is primary car rental insurance coverage (Auto Rental CDW).

Unlike most cards that only offer secondary insurance, the CSP covers theft and collision damage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle. This allows you to decline the expensive rental company insurance, which costs between US$15 and US$30 per day.

On a ten-day trip, the savings generated by this insurance already more than double the card’s annual fee.

Furthermore, there are comprehensive protections such as reimbursement of up to US$10,000 per person for trip cancellation or interruption for covered reasons.

Not to mention reimbursement of up to US$100 per day for essential purchases in case of baggage delay exceeding six hours.

Credits and Point Accelerators

To encourage the use of its proprietary portal, Chase offers an automatic statement credit of US$50 each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards.

For any consumer who stays in a hotel at least once a year, this reduces the annual fee to an effective cost of US$45.

In the earnings structure, the card offers:

• 5x points on travel through the Chase portal;
• 3x points on dining (including delivery);
• 3x points on streaming services and online groceries;
• 2x points on other travel expenses.

Moreover, the card also rewards loyalty with a 10% Anniversary Bonus. Thus, you receive additional points based on the previous year’s total spending.

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve better than the Preferred?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve requires careful analysis due to its updated annual fee of US$795.00.

To offset this cost, the card adopts a “breakdown credits” strategy. The most flexible benefit is the annual US$300 travel credit. It automatically reimburses the first expenses in a broad category that includes everything from airlines to parking and tolls.

This immediately reduces the effective annual fee to US$495.

Another key differentiator of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the 50% redemption bonus on the travel portal, making 50,000 points worth US$750. This establishes a value floor of 1.5 cents per point.

Furthermore, the card guarantees unlimited access to Priority Pass Select VIP lounges and the exclusive Chase Sapphire Lounges network, allowing entry for the cardholder and up to two guests.

Travel protections are “Infinite” level, including emergency medical evacuation of up to US$100,000 and trip delay coverage activated after just 6 hours.

Quick guide on how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card

Applying for a Chase Sapphire card requires planning due to the bank’s risk policies.

Therefore, it is not enough to fill out a form; it is necessary to understand the unwritten but strictly applied rules.

The 5/24 Rule

The 5/24 rule is the most feared initial filter in the US miles market.

Chase will automatically deny any application for a new card if the applicant’s credit report shows the opening of 5 or more new personal credit card accounts in the last 24 months.

This includes cards from any issuer, not just Chase, and also store cards that operate on Visa, Mastercard, or Amex networks.

Know that if you have already reached the limit, the rejection will be instant by the algorithm, requiring you to wait until the oldest account completes 25 months.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered eligible, a credit score (FICO Score) above 700 to 740 is recommended.

Although approvals with lower scores are possible for customers with a previous banking relationship, Sapphire cards are high-ticket products.

In addition, Chase prefers to see at least one year of revolving credit history with another card before approval.

It is emphasized that the annual income must be sufficient to support the minimum required credit line: US$5,000 for the Sapphire Preferred (Visa Signature) and US$10,000 for the Sapphire Reserve (Visa Infinite).

Follow these steps and apply for the card

The first step is to perform a pre-application audit, checking your 5/24 status. This way, you will get your credit reports from the three main bureaus, focusing on Experian.

The online process must be done through the official website Chase, filling in personal and financial data accurately.

Furthermore, Chase is one of the banks friendly to ITIN holders.

If you meet the requirements mentioned above, approval will be certain.

Comparative Table of Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve

Feature	Chase Sapphire Preferred® (CSP)	Chase Sapphire Reserve® (CSR 2025)
User Profile	Beginner / Intermediate Traveler	Frequent / Luxury Traveler
Annual Fee	US$95.00	US$795.00
Travel Credit	US$50 (Hotel via Portal)	US$300 (General) + US$500 (The Edit)
Lounge Access	No	Yes (Priority Pass + Sapphire Lounges)
Point Value (Portal)	1.25 cents per dollar	1.50 cents per dollar
1:1 Transfer	Yes	Yes
Rental Car Insurance	Primary	Primary
Foreign Transaction Fee	0% (Exempt)	0% (Exempt)
Breakeven Point	Easy to justify with few uses	Requires intensive use of credits and lounges

Conclusion

Understanding the details and requirements of the process is fundamental for anyone who wishes to enter the Chase Sapphire ecosystem.

The right choice depends on the analysis of your spending profile and travel frequency.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the rational and low-risk choice for most consumers.

Its US$95 annual fee is recovered through the sign-up bonus and insurance benefits. Without a doubt, it is the ideal card to guarantee the maximum value of Ultimate Rewards points. Are ready to take the next step, simply apply for the card, following the steps mentioned.

If you have doubts about whether this is the right card, then take the opportunity to check out other options. We recommend you find out how to apply for the American Express Platinum card.