Marriott Credit Card Eligibility Rules

Determining whether you are eligible for a new Marriott credit card can get quite complicated. Marriott cards are issued by both Chase and Amex, each of whom has its own set of application rules. On top of that, Marriott credit cards each have their own set of rules governing card eligibility and welcome offer eligibility. Basically, you might not be eligible for a new Marriott card (or its welcome offer) depending on what Marriott cards you currently have, have opened in the past, or have received a welcome offer for. Because of that we put together this Marriott credit card eligibility rules guide with an easy to follow chart.

12/22/23 Update: Updated with the new Amex Marriott Bonvoy Family Rule.

What Credit Cards Does Marriott Offer?

As a refresher, currently, Marriott offers 6 co-branded credit cards between Chase and Amex. The Chase co-branded credit cards are:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful

The Amex co-branded credit cards are:

• Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Review

Background On These Application Rules

Why does Marriott have co-branded credit cards offered by Chase and Amex, and why are their rules so complicated? This is largely due to Marriott's acquisition of Starwood back in 2016 (r.i.p.). Starwood had partnered with Amex for its co-branded credit cards, and Marriott had a partnership with Chase for its cards.

After the acquisition, Marriott maintained the Amex partnership, with Amex now issuing Marriott cards as well. Meanwhile, Marriott launched its current loyalty program–Marriott Bonvoy–in February 2019, marking the end of the Starwood Preferred Guest program.

Marriott Credit Card Eligibility Chart

To help you navigate these convoluted eligibility requirements for Marriott credit cards, we prepared this handy eligibility chart. This should help make some sense out of these rather dense rules.

Also remember that Chase and Amex each have their own set of rules for credit card applications. These rules apply generally, not just to Marriott credit card. You can learn more about Chase and Amex application rules in this post.

In this chart, we omitted some cards referenced in the offer terms that are no longer around. Specifically, we left out cards that are impossible to hold nowadays because they are not available for new applicants and have been automatically converted into a different card. Think of the old SPG cards, for example.

Application Rules For Each Individual Card

If you're a glutton for punishment, we're also sharing the eligibility criteria for each Marriott credit card below. Why SPG cards need to be mentioned by name in these offer terms is beyond me.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold (Chase)

This credit card is not available to you if (1) you currently have any of the following cards or (2) you received a new cardmember bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: 

• Marriott Bonvoy^® Premier credit card
• Marriott Rewards^® Premier credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® credit card
• Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® credit card

The new cardmember bonus is not available to you if (1) you currently have or had any of the following cards within the last 30 days: 

• Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^® Card
• The Starwood Preferred Guest^® Credit Card from American Express;

Or if (2) you applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days or (3) received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: 

• Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® American Express Luxury Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^™ American Express^® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (Chase)

This credit card is not available to you if (1) you currently have any of the following cards or (2) you received a new cardmember bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: 

• Marriott Bonvoy^® Premier credit card
• Marriott Rewards^® Premier credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® credit card
• Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® credit card

The new cardmember bonus is not available to you if (1) you currently have or had any of the following cards within the last 30 days: 

• Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^® Card
• The Starwood Preferred Guest^® Credit Card from American Express

Or if (2) you applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days or (3) received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: 

• Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® American Express Luxury Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^™ American Express^® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful (Chase)

This credit card is not available to you if (1) you currently have this card or (2) you received a new Cardmember bonus for this card within the last 24 months.

The new cardmember bonus is not available to you if (1) you currently have or had any of the following cards within the last 30 days, (2) you applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days, or (3) you received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: 

• Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® Credit Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card
• Starwood Preferred Guest^® American Express Luxury Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express or previous versions of these Cards.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who

(i) have or have had the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days,

(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, in the last 90 days, or

(iii) received a new Card Member bonus offer in the last 24 months on the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card.

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or previous versions of these Cards.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who

(i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business® Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days,

(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or

(iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card or previous versions of these Cards.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who

(i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days,

(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or

(iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

ToP Guide to Marriott Credit Card Eligibility Rules: ToP Thoughts

As if having six cards with similar sounding names across two different issuers wasn't confusing enough, the eligibility rules make things even muddier. Hopefully, our eligibility chart can help you navigate the bevy of credit card options to reap you some bountiful rewards.

Have you had to navigate Marriott's credit card eligibility rules? Come share your thoughts in our Facebook Group!