A referral problem is easier to diagnose when you identify which step failed. The link might not have attached a code. A code might be attached while a qualifying action remains incomplete. Or a reward might be earned but still require a claim or have withdrawal restrictions.
Kalshi's Referral Program FAQ distinguishes these cases. This guide explains that workflow; it does not promise that a particular account or code qualifies.
First check whether a code is attached
Opening a link is not the same as confirming referral attribution. Inspect the offer or referral information in your account. If a code is already attached, entering another code is not the documented way to troubleshoot a missing reward.
If you signed up without a code or a link did not track, the FAQ describes a self-service route for eligible accounts with no existing code. The relevant clock starts when the account is created, not when identity verification finishes.
Understand the 72-hour window
According to the current general FAQ, an eligible user can add a valid referral code within 72 hours of creating the account, provided another code is not already attached. Depositing or trading does not by itself close that code-entry window.
That statement is narrower than “every user has three days to claim a bonus.” Adding a code, completing an offer, and claiming a reward can have different conditions. Logging in again or reopening a link does not reset the account-creation clock.
Use the documented app flow
The FAQ directs users to Explore, then the menu, then Your rewards and Have a code?. Enter the referral code and apply it if the account and code meet the conditions.
If you reopen a referral link and are asked to sign in, use the existing account. The FAQ suggests reopening the link while signed in if the referral screen does not appear after login. Interface labels can change, so compare what you see with the current official help page.
Do not create a duplicate account simply to work around attribution. That would not establish eligibility for a new-user offer.
Separate qualification from attribution
Once a code is attached, inspect the specific offer's requirements. Identity checks, location eligibility, qualifying activity, product restrictions, and deadlines can all matter. A deposit is not necessarily the same thing as the qualifying transaction the offer requires.
Do not use an amount or requirement from another website as the authoritative condition for your account. Even the referrer and the new user can have different rewards or obligations.
Check the claim and credit states
Some bonuses are credited automatically, while others require an unlock or claim action after the steps are complete. The FAQ illustrates a bonus progress card and an unlock flow in the app; availability and wording can vary.
A credited reward also may not be immediately withdrawable. Trading-credit conditions are separate from what was required to earn the reward. Read the credit details rather than interpreting “bonus received” as “cash available to withdraw.”
Escalate the exact problem
If the app still shows an invalid or expired code, check for typing errors and spaces, confirm the time window, and inspect the offer's eligibility and expiry. If the issue remains, contact official support with the referral link or code and the exact error.
Describe the failed step: attribution, qualification, claiming, or withdrawing. That gives support a clearer starting point than a generic statement that the bonus “didn't work.” For the overall process, see the Kalshi bonus guide.
If attribution is already confirmed, move to the step-by-step bonus claim guide. If the reward appears in Credit but cannot be cashed out, use the withdrawal checklist. These are different problems, so repeatedly applying a code will not resolve every missing-bonus report.