Chase Sapphire Reserve Free For Active-Duty Service Members – Forbes Advisor

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®—one of the priciest and most perk-packed credit cards on the market—is a no-brainer for a select group: active-duty U.S. military members and their spouses.

Thanks to protections under the federal Military Lending Act (MLA), Chase is waiving the card’s hefty $795 annual fee for qualifying service members. This means military families can unlock top-tier travel benefits and statement credits without the financial sting that typically keeps some people on the sidelines.

A Premium Card, Minus the Premium Price Tag

This isn’t just any piece of plastic. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is known for its rich perks—a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and beefed-up travel insurance—plus generous rewards rates like 8 points per dollar on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

For consumers, these benefits come with one of the highest annual fees in the world of credit cards. For military cardholders, though, the price tag drops to zero.

Under the Military Lending Act, banks can’t charge active-duty service members more than 36% APR on certain loans and credit products, and annual fees on premium cards are often waived entirely.

Chase automatically checks applicants against the Department of Defense database to verify eligibility, so there’s no extra paperwork in most cases.

Why It Matters for Service Members

Military life often means frequent travel, whether it’s Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, training assignments or visiting family between deployments. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, that travel can be significantly more comfortable (and less expensive):

• $300 travel credit: Automatically erases the first $300 you spend on travel each year.
• Priority Pass lounge access: Over 1,300 lounges worldwide—a haven during layovers.
• Global Entry application fee credit: This can cut airport security time dramatically.
• Robust travel insurance: Trip delays, lost luggage and rental car damage are covered.

In other words: fewer headaches, more value.

The Fine Print

Even with the fee waived, the Sapphire Reserve isn’t for everyone. Approval generally requires excellent credit, and while the MLA covers the primary cardholder, it doesn’t automatically extend to authorized users unless they also qualify under the Act.

And while perks are great, they still require smart use. Many statement credits are split into monthly chunks, meaning unused portions vanish. For example, the much-hyped $120 Lyft credit isn’t one large gift card balance. It’s doled out in $10 monthly chunks that disappear if you don’t use them.

Overspending just to trigger a perk can wipe out the value quickly—especially if it’s on something you wouldn’t normally buy.

Bottom Line

For active-duty military members and their spouses, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® delivers premium rewards and travel comfort with no annual fee. It’s a rare win in the world of high-fee credit cards—but like any powerful financial tool, it works best in the hands of someone who uses it strategically.

Or put another way: For service members who already travel, dine out or stay on the move, this could be one of the most valuable cards they’ll ever carry.