The summer of premium travel cards has brought a new product to the mix: the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees).
Citi introduced the highly anticipated successor to the Citi Prestige® Card in July with a limited-time welcome bonus and multiple new perks at a $595 annual fee.
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.
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.
Citi Strata Elite Card welcome offer
First, let’s get into what this welcome bonus entails.
New Citi Strata Elite Card holders who apply online can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. TPG’s July 2025 valuations place Citi ThankYou Rewards points at 1.85 cents apiece, meaning this welcome offer is worth $1,480.
At the price of convenience, you could get a higher welcome offer. New Citi Strata Elite Card holders who apply in person at a Citi retail branch can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Per TPG valuations, this offer is worth $1,850.
The time and effort needed to find a Citi branch will determine the offer you’re eligible for here.
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Related: Citi adds American Airlines as a 1:1 transfer partner, offers Admirals Club passes on brand-new card
Am I eligible for the Citi Strata Elite’s welcome bonus?
If you’ve decided to apply for the new Citi Strata Elite, 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Related: New Citi Strata Card now accepting applications
Bottom line
New applicants to the Citi Strata Elite should be pleased with the limited restrictions on earning the card’s new high-value welcome bonus.
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, see our full review of the Citi Strata Elite Card.
Apply here: Citi Strata Elite Card
