The Star Citizen Referral Rewards program, end to end
Maintained by Domux. Editorial approach and referral disclosure
RSI's Referral Rewards program is the official two-sided incentive system that gives new players 50,000 UEC of in-game currency and gives the player who shared the code one Recruitment Point on a ladder that goes from a cosmetic armor set at tier 1 all the way to a capital ship at 1,042 recruits. Here's how every piece of it actually works in 2026. RSI referral conditions
The two sides at a glance
The standard referral reward is 50,000 account UEC for a new account registered with a valid code. Game access requires a Game Package outside public trials. The separate $40 USD fresh-money spending rule determines the referrer’s Recruitment Point, not a different signup bonus. Alpha aUEC crediting can be delayed when a code is added later.
One point per qualifying recruit. Points accumulate on the referrer's RSI account and unlock rewards at 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 42, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,042 recruits.
How the program works step by step
- Existing player shares their code. Every RSI account holder who has bought a Game Package can find their personal STAR-XXXX-XXXX code at
robertsspaceindustries.com/en/referral-program. - New player enters the code at signup. The Referral Rewards field on the RSI enlist page accepts a single STAR-XXXX-XXXX code. The field also exists inside Account Settings for accounts under 24 hours old.
- The standard referral reward is 50,000 account UEC for a new account registered with a valid code. Game access requires a Game Package outside public trials. The separate $40 USD fresh-money spending rule determines the referrer’s Recruitment Point, not a different signup bonus. Alpha aUEC crediting can be delayed when a code is added later.
- 50,000 UEC credits to the new account. Usually within minutes, sometimes a few hours during peak event windows.
- One Recruitment Point credits to the referrer. The referrer's ladder progress updates on their RSI dashboard.
The Recruitment Points ladder (referrer rewards)
These are the official 2026 reward tiers for the referrer side, restructured during the July 2 2025 overhaul. Rewards unlock once you reach each threshold; you keep them permanently on your RSI account.
| Recruits | Reward | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CDS GCD-Army Medium Armor Set | Cosmetic gear |
| 2 | VOLT Quartz "GCD-Army" SMG | Cosmetic weapon |
| 5 | VOLT Parallax "GCD-Army" Assault Rifle | Cosmetic weapon |
| 10 | Big Benny's "Classic" Vending Machine | Hangar decoration |
| 25 | Enemy of the Empire Statue | Hangar decoration |
| 42 | Aegis Gladius Dunlevy | Flyable ship (light fighter) |
| 50 | MISC Raptor | Flyable ship |
| 100 | Freelancer MAX + "Big Brands" Paints | Flyable ship + cosmetics |
| 200 | Esperia Stinger | Flyable ship |
| 500 | Captured Vanduul Scythe | Flyable ship (alien) |
| 1,042 | Idris-M | Capital ship |
Source: official RSI referral program. Tiers updated 2 July 2025.
What the July 2025 overhaul actually changed
On 2 July 2025, RSI shipped a major Referral Rewards rework. Three real changes affect both sides:
- New-player bonus increased from 5,000 UEC to 50,000 UEC. Tenfold. This is the biggest direct change for someone using a referral code in 2026.
- Referrer ladder tiers were restructured. Pre-2025 the Gladius was unlocked at 10 recruits. Post-2025 it requires 42 recruits. The Idris-M tier moved correspondingly higher.
- Counters were reset. Referrer point totals reset at the program overhaul. The Legacy ladder preserves earned rewards from before the reset.
The user-facing dashboard at robertsspaceindustries.com/en/referral-program was also redesigned around the new structure.
The Legacy ladder (for pre-2025 referrers)
RSI did not erase pre-2025 referral progress. If you referred at least one player before 2 July 2025, you can still access your Legacy ladder progress through your account settings. Critically, new referrals after the overhaul count toward both the Legacy and the new ladder simultaneously, meaning long-time referrers earn on two tracks at once.
If you joined RSI as a referrer after July 2025, you only have access to the new (post-overhaul) ladder. No backfill, no Legacy progress.
The rules nobody reads carefully
$40 minimum is checked, every time
24 hour window to attach the code
The Referral Rewards field on the RSI signup form must be filled in at account creation, or added through Account Settings within exactly 24 hours of account creation. After that the field disappears, and RSI support does not manually re-open it. The clock starts when you click Enlist Now on your RSI account, not when you buy the Game Package.
Self-referral is detected and disqualified
RSI's program flags self-referrals via shared payment methods, IP addresses, device fingerprints, and rapid account-creation patterns. Flagged accounts lose Recruitment Points retroactively and risk being banned. The program requires the recruit to be a genuinely different person on a different account.
Periodic bonus events
RSI occasionally runs limited-time Referral Bonus events that boost or modify the standard program:
- Ship Showdown referral bonuses: themed bonuses tied to RSI's annual Ship Showdown event in spring.
- Alpha patch referral bonus weeks: time-limited boost periods around major alpha patches (3.9, 3.12, etc were past examples).
- IAE Referral promotions: in November, during the IAE event, RSI sometimes adds limited cosmetics on top of the standard 50,000 UEC.
The base 50,000 UEC bonus is always active. Bonus-event extras stack on top when they are running.
How to use the program if you're brand new
- Open
robertsspaceindustries.com/enlist(the orange button below pre-fills the code). - Fill in your account details.
- Paste STAR-JTV7-FXLR in the Referral Rewards field at the bottom of the form.
- Tick Terms and click Enlist Now.
- Buy a Game Package of $40+ (cheapest is the Citizen Starter Pack at $45).
- 50,000 UEC credits to your account once the purchase clears.
If you forgot the code at signup, you have 24 hours to add it inside Account Settings under Referral Rewards. See the signup walkthrough for screenshots of the exact field location.
How to share your own referral code (once you have one)
After you buy a Game Package, your personal STAR-XXXX-XXXX code appears at robertsspaceindustries.com/en/referral-program. Share it with people who genuinely want to try the game. Best places:
- RSI Spectrum referral-exchange sub-forums (designed for this exact purpose).
- Reddit's
r/starcitizenreferralssub (link with context, not spam). - Friends and gaming circles where SC is on-topic.
- Your own personal site or social channels, with honest framing about how the bonus works.
Don't spam
RSI's program flags pattern abuse, but more importantly so do Reddit, YouTube and Google. Mass posting your code in unrelated subreddits or YouTube comments gets your account flagged and your code attached to a spam signal that follows you. One genuine recommendation in the right place beats fifty drive-by posts.
50,000 UEC for you. One Recruitment Point for the maintainer of this page. Same package price either way.
STAR-JTV7-FXLR Use code at RSI signup ✓ Verified referral code · Today: 3 October 2026FAQ
What is the Star Citizen Referral Rewards program?
RSI's official two-sided incentive system. New player gets 50,000 UEC on signup; referrer earns one Recruitment Point toward a reward ladder that goes from cosmetic gear up to a capital ship at 1,042 recruits.
How much UEC does the program give in 2026?
RSI advertises the 50,000 UEC signup bonus after buying a Game Package. For the referrer to earn a Recruitment Point, the account must own a Game Package and reach $40 USD in eligible fresh-money spending across the pledge store. Store credit and gifted pledges do not count toward that spend.
What are Recruitment Points?
The referrer-side currency. One point per qualifying recruit. Points unlock ladder rewards at fixed thresholds (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 42, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,042).
What does the referral ladder give the referrer?
Cosmetic armor and weapons at low tiers, hangar decorations at mid tiers, flyable ships from the Gladius at 42 recruits up to the Idris-M capital ship at 1,042. Full ladder table is above this FAQ.
Does the bonus stack with the package UEC?
Yes. Package UEC and referral UEC are separate credits. A Citizen Starter Pack ($45) with the referral code gives you 10,000 (package) + 50,000 (referral) = 60,000 UEC total.
What is the Legacy referral ladder?
The pre-July-2025 reward structure. Referrers who earned at least one recruit before 2 July 2025 keep access to Legacy progress through Account Settings. New referrals after July 2025 count on both the Legacy and the new ladder for those long-time referrers.
Can I refer myself with a second account?
No. RSI detects shared payment methods, IPs, device fingerprints, and account creation patterns. Self-referrals are disqualified retroactively and risk a ban.