If you are someone else’s authorized user Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see Rates and Fees), you may be wondering whether this will affect your ability to open your own account – and importantly, whether you can still get the welcome offer.
The good news is that becoming an authorized user does not automatically prevent you from applying for the Sapphire Preferred or receiving its welcome offer, as long as you meet Chase’s current bonus eligibility rules. This is especially encouraging considering that Chase currently offers new Sapphire Preferred cardholders a generous welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
If you transfer your points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners, this bonus is worth up to $1,538 based on our December 2025 valuation.
Here’s what you need to know about Sapphire Priority eligibility.
Can I turn on Sapphire Preferred if I am an authorized user of someone else’s Sapphire card?
The short answer is yes. When you are added as an authorized user on the card, you do not open your own personal line of credit.
The primary cardholder is the person who has the credit associated with the account. Therefore, in the eyes of the card issuer, this is the only person who technically “owns” the card. Therefore, you don’t “own” the card, but you are eligible for your own.
You also don’t have to delete your authorized user status to apply for your own card. This can be an important consideration because your credit score could be affected if you are removed from long-term accounts, which determine the average age of your accounts.
If you encounter any application issues after becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card, it’s worth calling Chase’s reconsideration hotline and explaining your situation to a customer service representative.
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However, there are some restrictions to be aware of when applying for any Chase card. In addition, the Sapphire card has some specific regulations of its own. Let’s check these application rules to see if they will affect your application.
Related: As an authorized user, can I open my own account for the same card?
Sapphire Priority Application Rules
Chase has two subtle application rules that may affect your ability to get the position Sapphire preferredWelcome offers, so it’s important to understand how they work before applying.
Chase’s 5/24 Rule
The infamous Chase 5/24 rule limits approval for a new Chase card to anyone who has opened five or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months.
With the exception of certain business cards, every card you have successfully applied for in the past 24 months counts towards this rule. Your points must be below 5/24 to be approved for a Chase credit card.
Authorized user cards (if opened within the past 24 months) will generally count toward your 5/24 status, even if you are not the primary cardholder.
If you were denied a Chase card for this reason, there may be an easy fix. If you call the reconsideration hotline and explain the situation, a Chase representative may not count your card as an authorized user against your 5/24 credit. However, this does not guarantee that you will be approved.
Sapphire family rule
You can hold more than one Chase Sapphire card at the same time, e.g. Sapphire preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See Rates and Fees). However, while holding multiple Sapphire cards is allowed, getting the welcome offer is a separate consideration.
Chase evaluates Sapphire Welcome Bonus eligibility based on a number of factors, including your current Sapphire card and your previous bonus history:
- If you have previously received a welcome bonus with the same product, you may not be eligible to receive a welcome bonus with the Sapphire Card.
- If you currently hold another Sapphire card as the primary cardholder, you may also not be eligible for the Sapphire Card’s welcome bonus, even if you have never received a bonus on the product you are applying for.
Remember, the authorized user is not considered the primary cardholder. If you are only an authorized Sapphire card user and do not currently hold a Sapphire card in your own name, these Sapphire bonus limits will generally not affect you.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Application Limits
Am I eligible for the Sapphire Priority welcome bonus?
If you do not currently hold another Sapphire card as the primary cardholder and have not previously received a welcome bonus with the Sapphire Preferred, you may be eligible for a welcome bonus with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
It is also recommended that your credit score is 670 or above to improve your chances of approval.
To take the guesswork out of it, Chase will pop up an eligibility window during the application process to tell you if you qualify for the Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus before you proceed. Checking your eligibility this way will not affect your credit score.
bottom line
Being an authorized user of someone else’s Sapphire Card does not prevent you from opening your own account or earning a welcome bonus. However, Chase’s Sapphire bonus rules mean eligibility is determined not only by your bonus history, but also by whether you currently hold a Sapphire card as the primary cardholder.
Your chances of qualifying are generally good as long as you meet the following criteria:
- Under Chase’s 5/24 restriction
- Credit score 670 or above
- Currently do not hold a Sapphire card
- Never received the Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus
To learn more, check out our full review of Sapphire Top Picks.
Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
