Who qualifies for Amex's black Centurion card?

High-spending Amex cardholders are the most likely candidates for the Centurion card. Amex does not publish its selection criteria, and high purchase volume alone does not guarantee an invitation.

How much do you have to make to get Amex's black Centurion card?

Amex does not publish an income requirement for the Centurion card. The rumored annual spending threshold is $250,000 to $500,000 across all open Amex accounts, though this figure is unconfirmed by Amex.

What is the hardest credit card to get?

The Amex Centurion card and the Business Centurion® Card from American Express are among the most difficult cards to obtain. Both are invitation-only, and Amex does not publish its selection criteria.

Can I request an invitation for the Amex Centurion card online?

Sort of. For a while, existing Amex cardholders could submit a request through the Centurion membership page on AmericanExpress.com. The form required a name and Amex card details. Submission wasn’t a credit application and didn’t obligate Amex to extend an invitation. However, that form is no longer available and might not return.

What is the difference between the personal and business Centurion card?

Both versions are invitation-only and carry a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee. The personal Centurion card is issued to an individual based on personal Amex spending and account history, while the Business Centurion® Card from American Express is issued to a business owner based on business Amex spending. The business version supports additional employee cards and offers business-oriented perks, including access to the Amex Business Platinum card benefits suite. Core travel and lifestyle perks (concierge, lounge access, plus hotel and airline elite status) are similar across both products.

How To Get the Amex Centurion Black Card [2026]

Updated: May 18, 2026, 6:15am CDT

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Table of Contents

Benefits of the Centurion Card
How To Request a Centurion Card Invitation
Is the Centurion Card Worth It?
Final Thoughts

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The Centurion^® Card from American Express*, commonly called the Amex Black Card, is an invitation-only card with no preset spending limit.

Since late 2021, existing Amex cardholders have been able to request consideration for the Amex Black Card by contacting American Express. Spending history across existing Amex cards is the primary factor American Express weighs when selecting invitees, though the company does not publish its full selection criteria.

*The information concerning the Centurion^® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was neither provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Benefits of the Centurion Card

The Centurion card’s headline perks include a 24/7 personal Centurion concierge, access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection (Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass upon enrollment, and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta), complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite), Hilton Honors (Diamond), and IHG One Rewards (Platinum Elite), and complimentary Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status. Enrollment is required for some of these benefits.

Amex Centurion Lounge Sao Paulo Centurion Card Only — Many Amex Centurion Lounges include a private space only for holders of the Amex Black card. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

The card carries an annual fee of $5,000 per year plus a one-time joining fee of $10,000 (for U.S. users) (Source: American Express Cardmember Agreement). For the complete list of perks, see our full Centurion card review.

The Centurion card has a modest earning structure:

Earn 1 Amex Membership Rewards point per $1.
Earn an extra 0.5 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on purchases of more than $5,000 (up to 1 million extra points per year).

Hot Tip:

For most people, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a more realistic premium Amex card. Its annual fee is lower, it’s more attainable, and some of the benefits overlap. However, the Centurion card’s most premium perks aren’t found on the Amex Platinum card.

How To Request a Centurion Card Invitation

Amex does not publish a formal application process for the Centurion card, but existing cardholders can contact American Express to position themselves for consideration. Here is the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Be an Existing Amex Cardholder in Good Standing

A minimum of 1 year of history on an existing Amex card is the commonly cited baseline. Cardholders with delinquencies, charge-offs, or bankruptcies on their Amex history are unlikely to be considered. If you are not yet an Amex customer, the Amex Platinum card or The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express are common starting points.

Hot Tip:

See our detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card and Centurion card to see which travel rewards card you should consider.

Step 2: Build Spending Across Your Amex Cards

Reports from current and former cardholders place the rumored annual spending threshold at $250,000 to $500,000 combined across all Amex accounts. American Express does not publish a specific dollar figure, and this range is unconfirmed by the company.

Step 3: Express Your Interest

American Express previously had a Centurion page entitled “By Invitation Only” on AmericanExpress.com. There, members could click the link at the bottom of the page to express interest. The form required your name and Amex card details (Source: American Express). That page no longer works, so the most direct option may be calling the customer service number on the back of an existing Amex card.

Step 4: Understand That Submission Doesn’t Guarantee an Invitation

Amex states that expression of interest is not a credit application and does not obligate the company to invite you to apply. The company does not publish its selection criteria and reviews each request internally based on factors that include spending, income, and overall account relationship. If selected, you’ll receive an invitation, and accepting it triggers the $10,000 initiation fee.

Is the Centurion Card Worth It?

Most Amex cardholders do not meet the spending requirements for a Centurion invitation. For those who do, the card’s value depends on regular use of the concierge, hotel programs, and lifestyle memberships that justify the $15,000 first-year cost. For most readers, some of the overlapping benefits on the Amex Platinum card come at a lower fee.

Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle Centurion Card Check In — It’s an exclusive club. Image Credit: Layne Fable for Upgraded Points

Final Thoughts

The Centurion^® Card from American Express is invitation-only. Existing Amex cardholders can request consideration through the Centurion membership page. The unconfirmed annual spending threshold reported by current and former cardholders is $250,000 to $500,000 across Amex accounts.

The card’s annual fee is $5,000 per year plus a one-time joining fee of $10,000 (for U.S. users), with up to 2 additional cardholders at $5,000 each.