How to refer friends to American Express cards and earn bonus points
American Express cardmembers can earn bonus Membership Rewards points, airline miles and hotel points by referring friends and family members to eligible cards.
Depending on the card you carry and the current offer attached to your account, referral bonuses can be quite lucrative — especially if you regularly recommend cards to people in your orbit anyway.
Referral offers change frequently and vary by account, but the process itself is simple. Here's how American Express referrals work and how to maximize them.
How American Express referrals work
Most American Express cards include a "Refer a Friend" feature that allows existing cardmembers to generate a personalized referral link. If someone applies through your link and is approved, you'll typically earn a referral bonus.
Those bonuses can come in several forms, including:
- Membership Rewards points
- Airline miles
- Hotel points
- Cash back
In many cases, the person applying through your link may also receive an elevated welcome offer compared to the public application page.
Amex referral links are often broader than people expect. You might hold one card but still be able to refer someone to a completely different American Express product.
Referral offers can also vary significantly from person to person, even among people with the same card.
How to find your Amex referral link
Finding your referral link is fairly straightforward.
On desktop:
- Go to this link.
- Log into your American Express account.
- View your referral offers.
- Share your personalized link.
In the Amex mobile app:
- Open the app and select your card.
- Navigate to the Membership tab.
- Click on "Get rewarded for referrals" (note that not all cards may show this option).
- Share your personalized link.
Amex frequently rotates referral offers, so it's worth checking back periodically to see whether your bonus has increased.
What you can earn from referrals
Referral bonuses vary depending on the card and the current promotion attached to your account.
Here are a few examples of referral offers I've personally seen on my accounts:
| Card | Example referral bonus |
|---|---|
10,000 Membership Rewards points | |
10,000 Delta SkyMiles | |
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card* | 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points |
*Legacy product no longer available to new applicants. The information for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For the Delta and Marriott offers, all personal and business cards within the Delta and Marriott card families, respectively, were eligible for me to refer friends to. Conversely, my Blue Business Plus referral only worked for that particular card.
Disappointingly, I had no ability to refer friends to the two American Express cards I value most: the American Express Platinum Card® or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Conversely, TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak has a referral link for her Amex Platinum, offering 15,000 bonus points for up to five approved cardmembers. If you don't currently have the ability to refer anyone to one of your Amex cards, it's worth checking back regularly.
Amex also limits how many referral bonuses you can earn each calendar year, though the cap varies by card. For the three examples I gave above, they were capped at 50,000 points or miles per calendar year each.
Tips for maximizing Amex referrals
Referral offers constantly change, so a little strategy can go a long way.
Before sending a referral, I always compare the referral offer against the public link to make sure the other person is actually getting a better deal. Sometimes the referral offer is stronger — but not always.
A few other things worth keeping in mind:
- Check your referral offers regularly, since Amex frequently runs elevated promotions.
- Consider referring within your household if someone is already planning to apply for a card.
- Screenshot elevated referral offers in case they disappear later.
It's also important to remember that approval isn't guaranteed, and Amex's standard welcome bonus eligibility rules still apply.
Related: Should my partner get their own card or be added as an authorized user?
Bottom line
American Express referrals can be an easy way to earn extra rewards if friends or family members are already considering a new card.
Depending on your account, those bonuses can add up quickly in the form of Membership Rewards points, airline miles or hotel points.
Since Amex referral offers change frequently, it's worth checking your accounts regularly — especially before recommending a card to someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many cases, yes. American Express may issue a tax form if you earn enough referral bonuses in a calendar year, and the IRS can consider those rewards taxable income. If you earn significant referral bonuses, it’s worth consulting a tax professional.
American Express sets annual referral caps that vary by card and offer. Many cards cap referral earnings at 50,000-100,000 points or miles per calendar year, though some promotions may allow higher limits.
No. Anyone who uses your referral link and is approved can trigger a referral bonus, whether they’re a friend, family member or someone else. However, sharing referral links publicly may violate American Express's terms in some situations, so it’s best to review the issuer’s rules.
Sometimes, yes. American Express referral links are often more flexible than they appear, meaning someone may be able to apply for a different eligible Amex card than the one you currently hold.
Referral bonuses are often awarded within a few days after the referred applicant is approved, though American Express notes that it can sometimes take up to 12 weeks for points, miles or cash back to post to your account.