How the Chase 5/24 rule works and what it means for your Chase credit card applications (2024)

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Deciding when is the best time to apply for a new credit card is key, especially if you're looking to open a Chase credit card. While Americans have an average of four credit cards, those with more may run into Chase's "5/24 rule."

The 5/24 rule limits who can open a new Chase credit card, based on how many cards they have opened within the past two years. So, if you're looking to maximize travel rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or get out of debt with the Chase Slate®, you may need to calculate your 5/24 score before applying.

Below, Select explains how the Chase 5/24 rule works, so you can gauge qualification odds for Chase credit card applications.

Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.

For instance, if you've opened two Citi cards and three Amex cards within the past 24 months, then you will likely be denied for a new Chase card until your 5/24 score decreases. There really aren't any workarounds to the 5/24 rule, beyond waiting for a new account to be over 24 months old.

While Chase doesn't publish which cards are affected by the rule, there are numerous reports on forums, such as Reddit, that report which credit cards are subject to 5/24.

The 5/24 rule reportedly affects most Chase credit cards, including:

• Chase Freedom® (read our review)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® (read our review)
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (read our review)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® (read our review)
• Chase Slate®
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (read our review)
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (read our review)
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (read our review)

Co-branded cards are also reportedly affected:

• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
• Prime Visa (read our review)
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card
• Disney® Premier Visa® Card
• Disney® Visa® Card
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (read our review)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (read our review)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (read our review)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
• Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card (read our review)
• United Club℠ Business Card
• United Club℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card

If you've recently opened new credit cards and want to apply for a Chase credit card, you may not know where you stand for the 5/24 rule. To calculate your 5/24 score, simply review your credit report and count the number of accounts that were opened in the past 24 months.

This also includes if someone added you as an authorized user on their account. And any accounts that were opened within the past two years but also closed within that time should still be counted.

No — other card issuers don't follow the 5/24 rule, so you may qualify for an Amex or Citi card if you've opened five accounts within the past 24 months. However, all card issuers have their own requirements and criteria for approving applicants.

Information about the Chase Freedom®, Chase Slate®, Prime Visa, Disney® Premier Visa® Card, Disney® Visa® Card, Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card, United Club℠ Business Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, and United Club℠ Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. If you purchase something through Select links for the Prime Visa, we may earn a commission.