Are you eligible for the Citi Strata Elite’s 100,000-point welcome bonus?

3 Mins read

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) came onto the premium credit card scene this summer, adding another option for luxury travel card enthusiasts.

Citi‘s highly anticipated successor to the Citi Prestige® Card, the card is featuring a limited-time welcome bonus and multiple perks at a $595 annual fee.

The information for the Citi Prestige 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.

And for a limited time, new Citi Strata Elite cardholders can earn 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months from account opening.

The Citi Strata Elite’s suite of benefits includes high earning rates, unique lifestyle credits and useful travel rewards. If you like what you’ve read, you may be considering an application. But, are you eligible for the bonus?

Here’s what to know about welcome offer restrictions and determining whether you’re a candidate for the new card.

Citi Strata Elite Card welcome offer

First, let’s get into what this welcome bonus entails.

For a limited time, new Citi Strata Elite cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Citi Strata Elite Credit Card — THE POINTS GUY

TPG’s October 2025 valuations place Citi ThankYou Rewards points at 1.9 cents apiece, meaning this welcome offer is worth $1,900.

Since the card launched so recently, this is the best bonus we’ve seen in its short history.

Am I eligible for the Citi Strata Elite’s welcome bonus?

If you’ve decided to apply for the Citi Strata Elite and earn its historic welcome offer, you may have a few specific questions related to bonus eligibility. We have you covered with the answers to some commonly asked questions.

What credit score do I need for the Citi Strata Elite?

TPG recommends a minimum score of 670 to be approved for the Citi Strata Elite, although some people with lower scores may be approved.

If your credit score is too low or you’re still building credit history, you should hold on getting the Strata Elite and instead go for a starter card.

What are Citi’s application rules for new cards?

In general, Citi doesn’t limit how many cards you can have from the bank.

However, your overall credit across all Citi cards could be limited. So, if you run into this issue, a quick call to Citi’s reconsideration line should help you get approved by moving credit from one Citi card to a new one. Citi’s number for checking your application status is 1-866-606-2787.

Man making an online purchase at home — XAVIER LORENZO/GETTY IMAGES

Citi also limits how frequently you can earn a welcome bonus on one of its cards. Once you earn a bonus on a Citi card, you’ll have to wait 48 months to earn the welcome bonus again.

However, this isn’t an issue for new applicants to the Citi Strata Elite since it’s a brand-new card.

What if I already have other Citi cards?

You’re eligible for the bonus on the Citi Strata Elite even if you hold other Citi cards and have earned bonuses on them. This includes the Citi Prestige, so that’s good news for current Citi cardholders.

What if I also want to apply for the new Citi Strata Card?

Along with the Citi Strata Elite news, the Citi Rewards+® Card has been rebranded to the Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees).

The information for the Citi Rewards+ 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.

The Citi Strata is a no-annual-fee card that earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points and comes with its own welcome bonus. For a limited time, new applicants can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.

It is possible for someone looking to earn a chunk of Citi ThankYou Rewards points to successfully apply for both the Citi Strata Elite and the Citi Strata. New applicants will also be eligible to earn both bonuses.

Woman sitting on a patio — THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

It’s worth mentioning that you can only apply for one Citi card (personal or business) every eight days, and you won’t be approved for more than two cards in a 65-day window.

The only stipulations are that you won’t be able to earn the welcome offer on the Citi Strata if you received a new bonus for a Citi Rewards+ account in the past 48 months or converted another Citi card that you’d earned a bonus on in the last 48 months into a Citi Strata or Citi Rewards+ account. These restrictions do not apply to the Citi Strata Elite.

Bottom line

New applicants to the Citi Strata Elite should be pleased with the limited restrictions on earning the card’s 100,000-point welcome bonus — the highest in the card’s short history.

Applicants who are approved for the Strata Elite will receive the bonus as long as they meet the spending requirement. This card features multiple valuable perks and could be a solid addition to a frequent traveler’s wallet.

To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Strata Elite Card.

Apply here: Citi Strata Elite Card

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.