One of the great appeals of getting a new credit card or charge card can be a generous sign-up offer. While many will factor in a card’s ‘everyday’ points earning rate and annual fee, the promise of a healthy up-front helping of points can turn that ideation into action. But when it comes to American Express, who is eligible for those sign-on bonuses?

After all, you wouldn’t want to be drawn in with the promise of a solid sign-up offer, only to find that you don’t actually qualify! Here’s the lowdown.

Amex sign-on bonuses: the simple answer

Just looking for the bullet points about an American Express sign-on bonus? We should highlight that the terms of Amex’s deals can change from time to time. They may also vary from one card to the next. In any case, you still need to check the terms of any offer for yourself. But, we’ve noticed a common theme.

Usually, American Express rules out anybody who already currently holds an Amex Card in Australia from earning another sign-on bonus. The same exclusion applies to anybody who has held an Australian Amex Card in the last 18 months. Read on to learn about the small number of exceptions to this.

Amex sign-on bonuses: the longer answer


Let’s take a look at the official wording of one of their card, the American Express Platinum Card:

Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

American Express Platinum Card

American Express Platinum Card - 150,000 bonus Membership Rewards points
Sign-up Bonus:
150,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points¹
Rewards Earn Rate:
Earn 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all eligible purchases, except for spend with government bodies, for which you will earn 1 point per $1 spent
Annual Fee:
$1,450 p.a.
Offer expires
13 January 2026
Enjoy 150,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points¹ when you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. (Offer available to new American Express Card Members only. Offer ends 13 January 2026. T&Cs apply.) Unlock premium perks including unlimited airport lounge access, international travel insurance, Amex Hotels and Resorts benefits, up to $400 in Global Dining Credit¹⁰, and a $450 Travel Credit⁵ each year. Earn up to 2.25 Membership Rewards Points per $1 on eligible spend. The annual fee is $1,450.

Similar wording can be found in the fine print for other offers currently promoted by American Express Australia. Still, we know that leaves a few ambiguities unanswered. Allow us to shine a torch over some of the common questions you may still have.

This article is not presented as personal financial advice, nor does it supersede or seek to provide a legal interpretation of the Terms and Conditions of any American Express Card offer. Ultimately, the reader remains responsible for confirming and complying with the terms of any sign-up offer, which, as noted, may change from time to time. This includes after this article is published.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m currently an Additional Card Member on my partner’s American Express Card. However, I don’t have an Amex Card of my own. Would I still be eligible for the sign-on bonus if I apply for a Card as the primary cardholder?

Generally, yes. As an Additional Card Member, you are not a primary ‘American Express Card Member’. In other words, you don’t already have your own Amex Card, so you shouldn’t expect to be excluded from an Amex sign-on deal on this basis alone.

How long do I have to wait from cancelling an American Express Card and applying for a new one to get the sign-on bonus?

Generally, an 18-month exclusion period applies. That’s between holding a primary American Express Card and being eligible to qualify for a sign-on bonus. If there’s any doubt, it’s best to call American Express to confirm the exact date that your previous account is considered to have been closed.

If I close my existing Card that has been held for 18 months, would I qualify for sign up points straight away? Or, do I have to wait 18 months from when I cancelled my Amex before I qualify again?

Even if you cancel your existing American Express Card, you would have held that Card within the past 18 months. That, alone, is a reason that American Express uses to disqualify customers from its sign-on bonus offers.

Under the present rules, you’d need to keep that account closed for 18 months – while also having no other American Express Cards on which you are the primary Card Member – before you may requalify as an eligible new customer.

Can I hold multiple American Express Cards at the same time as the primary cardholder?

Generally, yes. But any decision to approve a new credit product would ultimately come down to factors such as credit worthiness, serviceability and customer history.

Even so, we’ve previously been advised by American Express Australia that it will issue no more than four primary credit cards to any one individual in Australia. This includes personal Cards, as well as business Cards for which the individual is personally responsible as the primary contact.

However, from the same conversation, it seems there’s no set limit on the number of charge cards Amex Australia will issue. Remembering, of course, that charge cards need to be repaid in full each and every month.

Amex also promotes the ability to hold more than one product – just less overtly. For instance, by offering the Amex Platinum Reserve Credit Card for no annual fee to those who concurrently hold a Platinum Card, Platinum Business Card or Centurion Card. In fact, only these existing Card Members are eligible to apply for that product.

American Express® Platinum Business Card

American Express® Platinum Business Card - 300,000 Bonus Membership Rewards points
Sign-up Bonus:
300,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points*
Rewards Earn Rate:
Earn 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all eligible business purchases, except for spend with government bodies, for which you will earn 1 point per $1 spent
Annual Fee:
$1,750 p.a
Offer expires
13 January 2026
Earn 300,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points* when you apply by 13 January 2026, are approved and spend $12,000 on eligible purchases on your American Express Platinum Business Card in the first 3 months of approval. The Card is aimed at small and medium-size businesses who want to maximise their points earned, as well as business and travel benefits. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

In any case, while you may be approved for multiple American Express Cards as above, you shouldn’t expect to receive any sign-on bonus points with those subsequent accounts, as you would be an existing Card Member.

Will I earn the sign-up bonus on a personal Card if I already hold a business Card, and vice versa?

Generally, no, as small business Cards generally have an individual primary Card Member. Corporate Cards are usually the exception, as these are held by the entity rather than by an individual.

Is there any way to earn a sign-on bonus as an existing American Express Card Member?

Through a normal application, usually not. But you might be able to qualify for an ‘upgrade offer’ on an existing Card account. That is, where Amex offers an incentive if you switch to a higher tier Card within the same product family.

For instance, we’ve seen Amex offer bonus points to a customer who’s switched from the Qantas Discovery to the Qantas Ultimate Card. Ditto, when changing from the Essential Card to the Platinum Edge Card or the Explorer Card. To confirm whether you may be eligible for an upgrade offer on an existing account, contact American Express and ask if there are any upgrades offers available with a product change.

Qantas American Express Ultimate

Qantas American Express Ultimate - Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points
Offer Currently Not Available
Sign-up Bonus:
Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
Rewards Earn Rate:
1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Annual Fee:
$450 p.a.
Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 20,000 Qantas Points when you spend a minimum of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card Fee¹. (Offer ends 13 January 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas lounge passes, complimentary international travel insurance, and Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99). Earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 on everyday spend, 2.25 on Qantas purchases, and 0.5 on government payments. The annual fee is $450.

If you’re interested in the Amex Platinum Card, be aware that you can’t usually ‘upgrade’ from another Card. That’s because Amex’s other personal Cards are credit cards, whereas the Platinum Card is a charge card – thus, a different type of financial product. But if you have a personal charge card (perhaps, grandfathered from an old product line), it may be possible to upgrade. Again, contact Amex.

Summing up

Be mindful that in general, credit card issuers like American Express use sign-on deals to attract new, genuine, ongoing customers. They do this by purchasing those bonus points from the airlines. Or by giving you points that you’ll later convert to an airline.

Card issuers don’t go this just to be nice. They do it because it can be hard to attract new customers. In Australia, it’s said that people are more likely to leave their partner than to leave their bank! But, when there’s a solid offering of bonus points on the table, people can be more willing to dip their toe into the water.

Some people might apply for a card with little intention of keeping it after the bonus arrives. While that’s their right, some credit issuers may not look favourably on those who frequently apply for new credit. Or, whose average account age is quite ‘young’. But, some might say, if at first you don’t succeed, try again (elsewhere, perhaps).

Featured image courtesy of American Express.

Also read: Where are American Express cards accepted in Australia?


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Are you eligible for an American Express sign-on bonus? was last modified: August 7th, 2025 by Chris Chamberlin