What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best travel credit cards. It's loaded with benefits like airport lounge access, a generous annual travel credit and various useful built-in travel insurance coverages.

Plus, the card is currently offering its highest-ever welcome bonus, with the ability to earn 150,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months from account opening. Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are some of the most valuable rewards currencies on the market. In fact, this bonus could be worth roughly $3,000 toward Chase Travel℠ bookings.

You'll typically need a strong credit score to get approved for a premium credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve. On top of that, Chase has other application restrictions you need to watch out for. CNBC Select explains what qualifications you'll need to meet to have the best chance of getting this luxury rewards credit card.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $795 annual fee, but seeing as it offers over $3,000 in benefits, it can easily be worth the price. Every year, cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits for flexible travel purchases, and that's in addition to these ongoing perks:

• $500 credit for stays with The Edit^SM, split into two bi-annual $250 credits
• Complimentary access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club plus Priority Pass Select membership (access to 1,300+ airport lounges)
• Up to $120 in application fee credits every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
• $250 credit for select prepaid Chase Travel Hotels until Dec. 31, 2026
• Complimentary access to DashPass, which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027, and up to $300 annually in monthly DoorDash promos (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• Earn 5X points on Lyft rides, a $10 monthly in-app Lyft credit and $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly (through Sept. 30, 2027)
• Up to $150 in dining credits twice per year via the Sapphire Exclusive Tables program on OpenTable ($150 credit at eligible restaurants between Jan. 1 and June 30 and between July 1 and Dec. 31)
• Up to $300 in annual StubHub and viagogo credits for concerts or events (up to $150 semiannually through Dec. 31, 2027; activation required)
• Up to $288 in annual value through complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions (activation required; subscriptions run through June 22, 2027)
• Up to $120 annual credits for Peloton memberships through Dec. 31, 2027 ($10 in monthly credit; activation required)

If you use the Sapphire Reserve card for a substantial amount of your spending, you could unlock even more benefits. Cardholders who spend $75,000 or more each calendar year can unlock the following benefits for the remainder of the year, plus the whole following one:

• World of Hyatt Explorist Status
• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• $250 Credit for The Shops at Chase
• $500 Southwest Airlines Chase Travel credit
• Southwest Airlines A-list status

Cardholders can also take advantage of many useful travel and purchase coverages. You'll get trip delay insurance, rental car coverage, purchase protection, return protection, extended warranty protection and more.

Further, the Sapphire Reserve earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are exceptionally versatile and valuable travel rewards. You can redeem Chase points for cash back, gift cards, travel and transfer them to all 14 of Chase's partner travel programs.

While there isn't an officially published minimum credit score requirement, you'll typically need an excellent credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. To give yourself the best chance of being approved, aim for a FICO Score of 800 or higher, although it's possible to qualify with a lower score.

Chase considers much more than your credit score when reviewing your application, including how many credit cards you have opened with other banks recently. Known as the (unofficial) Chase 5/24 rule, you may be denied a Chase credit card if you've opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months.

Chase also abides by a once-per-lifetime rule for the bonuses related to each Sapphire Card. If you've earned a previous welcome bonus for the Sapphire Reserve, you won't be eligible for another one. But you could earn the welcome bonus for the Sapphire Preferred, provided you haven't earned it previously as well.

The most important influences on your credit score are your payment history and total debt. These two factors comprise 65% of your FICO Score. So there isn't a shortcut to improving your credit score for the long term; it largely comes down to paying down your debt and paying your bills on time consistently.

There are services that may boost your credit score by giving you the option to add information to your credit report that normally isn't included. You can use eCredable Lift or *Experian Boost® to add payment data for utilities, cell phone services, internet services and more, to specific credit reports.

If you can't qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be a good option. It generally only requires a good credit score or better (or a FICO Score of 670+), has a lower annual fee and earns the same transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points as the Sapphire Reserve.

The Sapphire Preferred also features solid travel insurance perks, although it lacks airport lounge access. If that's an important benefit for you, then consider a different card.

Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you'd rather get a card with no annual fee, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. It offers a Priority Pass airport lounge membership with four free visits per year and an up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Both of these are exceptionally rare perks for a card with no annual fee.

Learn more: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit cards. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.

Information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.