Travel November 9, 2025 0 Comments

Unlock the Secret: Could You Be Missing Out on Capital One Venture Rewards’ Game-Changing Welcome Bonus?

Ever found yourself daydreaming about your next getaway while wondering if there’s a credit card that could actually keep up with your travel ambitions—without emptying your pockets? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might just be that trusty sidekick for your journeys, offering a neat bundle of miles for a modest $95 annual fee. But here’s the kicker: Getting your hands on this card isn’t as straightforward as it used to be, especially if you’re already juggling other Capital One cards. Capital One has recently tightened the reins on who gets the green light across its Venture family, meaning your eligibility check just became your new best travel habit. Ready to dive into the nitty-gritty and find out if you’re on the map for approval? Buckle up, because knowing these rules can make all the difference between a smooth application cruise or hitting a bureaucratic turbulence. LEARN MORE

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid option for travel enthusiasts to earn Capital One miles for a modest $95 annual fee.

However, if you want to be approved for this card, you’ll want to be sure you’re eligible first. This is especially true if you already have other Capital One cards in your wallet.

Capital One recently tightened restrictions for approval across its Venture family of cards, making it even more important to review your standing before you apply. Here’s everything you need to know.

Are you eligible to apply for the Capital One Venture?

There are multiple factors to consider if you’re hoping to be approved for the Venture and receive its bonus, including the new changes to eligibility across the Venture lineup.

Capital One application rules

You have to wait six months between your Capital One card applications. So, if you’ve been approved for any Capital One card within the last six months, you’ll need to wait if you want to be approved for the Venture.

What if I received a Venture card welcome bonus in the past?

If you’ve previously received the Venture’s welcome bonus, you have to wait 48 months to be approved for the card and receive the bonus again.

What if I already have the Venture X or VentureOne cards?

This is where the most recent change kicks in. Capital One’s recent Venture lineup family rule applies the 48-month rule when you move “down” within the Venture suite, in terms of annual fees.

So, if you’ve earned the bonus on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee) in the last 48 months, you aren’t eligible for the Venture card or its bonus. However, if you’ve earned the bonus on the no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you are still eligible to be approved for the Venture and its bonus — since you’re going “up the ladder” with regards to annual fees.

Woman shopping online and relaxing on the sofa at home — LEOPATRIZI/GETTY IMAGES

Here’s what the card’s terms have to say about this:

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“You are not eligible for this product if you have received a new cardmember bonus for the Capital One Venture card or the Capital One Venture X card in the past 48 months.”

What credit score do I need to qualify for the Venture?

TPG recommends a minimum score of 670 for approval for the Venture Rewards, although individuals with lower scores have also been approved.

Capital One specifically mentions that you should have excellent credit to qualify. Still, we’ve seen multiple reports of people getting approved despite having a credit score below 670. So, it may be worth applying even if you’re below that mark.

If you have exceptionally low credit or no credit, it’s best to wait and apply for a credit-building card instead.

Capital One Venture Rewards details

If you’re interested in applying for the Venture, here are the basics to know about the card.

Current welcome bonus

New applicants can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — THE POINTS GUY

TPG’s November 2025 valuations deem the total value of this bonus at $1,388. This is the standard welcome offer we typically see on this card.

There are two primary ways to redeem these miles. One option is to redeem them at a flat rate toward any travel-related expenses on your statement. This includes future bookings through the Capital One Travel portal, parking fees, rental cars and ride-hailing services, among multiple other types of travel. This redemption method offers a flat rate of 1 cent per mile.

A more advantageous alternative could involve transferring your miles to Capital One’s 15-plus transfer partners. Most partners offer a straightforward transfer ratio of 1:1. By transferring your miles to a highly lucrative partner, such as Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you can easily get significant value out of your miles.

Annual fee

The Venture has an annual fee of $95, which feels reasonable given this card’s perks.

Earning

The Venture Rewards presents an earning rate that’s simple yet rewarding. You’ll earn:

This card is a great option for those who don’t want to track multiple bonus categories and instead prefer earning a flat reward rate on most purchases.

Other benefits

Beyond the welcome bonus, here are the ongoing benefits of the Venture Rewards:

Bottom line

The Venture is a fantastic card for frequent travelers at a modest annual fee. Unfortunately, Capital One has rolled out more application restrictions regarding those who already have Venture cards and want to apply for the Venture and receive the bonus.

However, if you haven’t received a bonus on the Venture or Venture X in 48 months, wait six months between Capital One card applications and have a TPG-recommended credit score of at least 670, this solid rewards card will likely be yours.

To learn more, read our full review of the Venture.

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.