Earn rewards with Chase’s Refer-A-Friend program

A referral bonus is a two-way 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, you can earn up to 200,000 points or up to $500 cash back each year 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

Referring someone is pretty straightforward. Here's how to generate the link to refer your friends, family members and colleagues.

On a desktop computer, navigate to Chase's dedicated landing page for all referral links. This new addition to Chase's website 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.

The screenshot above shows the drop-down menu. For security, I've removed the last four digits of my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).

You can also find this feature on mobile.

Log in to the Chase app, navigate to the "More" tab and select "Refer a friend."

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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 10,000 bonus points per application

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.

You'll receive anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 bonus points or miles per referral, depending on the card. 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 at anywhere from 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.

You can find a full list of each individual Chase card eligible for a referral bonus on Chase's website.

Remember, your friend must use your personalized link for you to earn your bonus.

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 Chase cards.

Here are some of the most important factors to know.

You don't have to have the card to refer 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 your friend may not be eligible for elevated welcome bonuses if they apply through a referral link.

Not everyone will see the same bonuses, so be a good friend and be sure the people you refer know where they can find the best targeted welcome bonus offer for themselves.

For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in spending on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Since it's the highest-ever offer on the card, you want to be sure your friend has access to it — and this bonus may not be eligible through your referral link.

If it is, great. If it isn't, they may want to apply elsewhere.

Your bonus could take a while to arrive

It could take up to eight weeks for you to see bonus points, miles or cash back posted to your account from a referral.

You may have to pay taxes on referral bonuses

Finally, don't forget some banks have sent out 1099s for referral bonuses in the past.

Keep in mind your referral bonuses may be considered income, especially if you max out your earnings with referral bonuses.

Related: If I cash out my points and miles, do I have to claim it on my taxes?

Bottom line

Referral bonuses are an excellent way to earn bonus points and miles without making additional purchases.

The most important factor to remember is to ensure your friends go through your personalized link when they apply. Otherwise, you won't collect the referral bonus.

Related: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history