How to Use an IBKR Referral Link in Singapore (2026): Step-by-Step Guide
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Interactive Brokers gives new clients up to US$1,000 in IBKR stock for joining through a referral link. Most people who are eligible never get a cent of it.
The reason is simple. There is no IBKR referral code to type in. The reward is attached to the link you start your application from — and if you open the IBKR website, start an application and only then remember the referral, it is already too late.
The second surprise is the size of the reward. US$1,000 is the cap, not the typical payout. IBKR pays US$1 of its own stock for every US$300 you deposit in your first year, so a US$3,000 account earns about US$10 in shares.
That is still free money for something you were going to do anyway. This guide walks through the exact order to sign up with the DLCuration IBKR referral link, what each deposit level earns, and the one-year rules that decide whether you keep the shares.
→ Get the IBKR referral link and reward table
Why Most People Use the IBKR Referral Link Wrong
Most people treat a referral as something you add at the end. IBKR treats it as the very first step.
Here are the three mistakes I see most often:
- Starting the application first. IBKR’s terms require you to apply through the referral invitation. If you open an account any other way, you are an existing client and the reward no longer applies.
- Looking for a code box. IBKR’s application has no referral code field to fill in later. The link does the tracking, so there is nothing to fix afterwards.
- Expecting US$1,000 for a small deposit. The reward scales with your net deposits. Plan around the formula, not the headline.
There is also a holding rule people miss. The shares you earn are locked for one year from the day they are awarded. Close the account or take money out during that year, and you give some or all of them back.
The principle the whole process is built on: open the link first, apply in the same session, then let your deposits build the reward over the first year.
What You Need Before You Start
Set aside about 20 minutes for the application. Have these ready:
- The referral link. Copy it from the IBKR referral page and open it on the device you will apply on.
- Your NRIC or passport, and proof of address. IBKR runs identity checks as part of the application and may ask for documents.
- Basic financial details. IBKR asks about your employment, income, net worth and investing experience. Answer them honestly — they decide which products you are approved for.
- A bank account to fund from. There is no minimum deposit to open the account, but you need at least US$300 in net deposits to earn the first US$1 of shares.
You are not eligible if you have ever held an IBKR account, if you live in Japan, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland, mainland China or Israel, if you open a tax-advantaged, advisor, hedge fund or institutional account, or if you share an address or are family with the person whose link you use.
Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd. is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (licence no. CMS100917).
The Full Process: Step by Step
Step 1 — Open the Referral Link Before Anything Else (1 minute)
Open the IBKR referral link first. It takes you to IBKR’s referral invitation page with an Open Account button.
→ Open the IBKR referral invitation
Do not open the IBKR app or the main IBKR website first and come back later. The referral is tracked from the invitation, so start there and stay in the same browser.
What you end up with: an application that starts from the referral invitation, which is the only way to qualify for the shares.
Step 2 — Start an Individual or Joint Account Application (5 minutes)
Click Open Account on the invitation page and create your username and password. Choose an individual or joint account.
Avoid tax-advantaged, advisor-managed and institutional account types. IBKR’s terms exclude them from the referral reward.
What you end up with: a login and an application tied to the referral.
Step 3 — Complete Your Details and Verify Your Identity (10 to 15 minutes)
Fill in your personal details, tax residency, employment, financial information and investing experience. Upload or confirm your identity and address documents when asked.
IBKR reviews every application before approval. Most of the waiting time is here, not in the form itself. If IBKR needs anything else, it will ask through the application or by email.
What you end up with: a submitted application. Keep an eye on your email for approval or document requests.
Step 4 — Choose IBKR Lite or IBKR Pro (1 minute)
You will be asked to pick a pricing plan. For most Singapore investors buying US stocks and ETFs, IBKR Lite is the simple choice: IBKR charges $0 commission on US stocks and ETFs on Lite, while IBKR Pro charges US$0.005 per share.
Your choice does not affect the referral reward.
What you end up with: an approved account on the plan that suits how you trade.
Step 5 — Fund the Account (5 minutes to set up)
Once approved, log in to the Client Portal and use the deposit section to get IBKR’s bank details for the currency you are sending. Create a deposit notification and send the transfer from your bank.
Every dollar you deposit counts towards the reward. You do not need to deposit it all at once — the Award Period is one year from your first deposit, and your reward builds as you go.
What you end up with: a funded account and the reward clock started.
Step 6 — Watch Your Welcome Share Balance Grow (no action)
IBKR awards US$1 of IBKR stock for every US$300 of net deposits in your first year, up to US$1,000 in shares. The number of shares is worked out from IBKR’s closing share price on each deposit day.
The shares are real Interactive Brokers Group Class A stock. You receive dividends on them and can vote them, even while they are locked.
What you end up with: IBKR shares in your account, topped up with each new deposit in your first year.
Step 7 — Hold for One Year and Keep the Account Open (no action)
Each award is restricted for one year from its award date. During that time you cannot sell or transfer the shares.
Two things reduce what you keep:
- Withdrawals during the Award Period take shares back, at US$1 of awards for every US$300 you withdraw, oldest first.
- Closing the account — or letting it fall out of good standing — before the one-year mark forfeits any shares that are still locked.
What you end up with: shares that become fully yours on each anniversary date.
The Full Time and Reward Breakdown
| Net Deposits in Year One | IBKR Stock Earned | Time to Set Up |
|---|---|---|
| US$300 | US$1 | About 20 minutes plus approval |
| US$3,000 | US$10 | Same |
| US$30,000 | US$100 | Same |
| US$150,000 | US$500 | Same |
| US$300,000 or more | US$1,000 (maximum) | Same |
The value shown is the value when awarded. Because the reward is paid in IBKR stock, its market value will move with the share price over the holding year.
Is the IBKR Referral Worth It? Three Realistic Examples
The headline number does most of the selling, so here is what the formula looks like for three typical Singapore investors.
The monthly investor. You set up a US$500 monthly transfer to buy an ETF. By the end of your first year you have deposited US$6,000 and earned about US$20 in IBKR shares. Small, but it costs you nothing extra.
The broker switcher. You move a US$60,000 portfolio across from another broker and keep investing. According to the DLCuration landing page, transferred assets count as net deposits, so that transfer alone is worth about US$200 in IBKR shares.
The large account. You consolidate US$300,000 or more of cash and holdings at IBKR. You hit the US$1,000 cap — the most the programme pays any single client.
In every case, the reward is a side benefit. If IBKR’s fees, markets and tools suit you, the referral link makes the switch slightly more rewarding. If they do not, no amount of free stock fixes that.
The one thing that is never worth it is depositing money you will need within the year. A withdrawal claws back shares at the same US$1 per US$300 rate, so short-term money gains you nothing.
What the Referral Link Cannot Do
It cannot be added after you apply. There is no code field to fill in later. If you started your application without the link, the reward is gone for that account.
It does not pay cash. The reward is IBKR stock, locked for one year. It can go down as well as up.
It does not reward a small account much. At US$1 per US$300, the reward only gets meaningful with a large deposit. Do not move more money than you planned just to chase the cap.
It does not survive early withdrawals. Take money out in the first year, and IBKR takes back shares in proportion.
It is not open to everyone. Previous IBKR clients, the excluded countries and the excluded account types listed above do not qualify.
Is IBKR Safe? What the Link Does Not Change
Using a referral link has no effect on how your account is held or protected. Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd. is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
A brokerage account is not a bank deposit, so it is not covered by SDIC deposit insurance. Investments, including the IBKR shares you earn, can lose value.
Dividends on US stocks, including the IBKR shares, are generally subject to 30% US withholding tax for Singapore tax residents.
None of this is financial advice. Choose a broker for its fees, markets and tools — the referral reward is a bonus, not a reason.
Tips to Get the Most From the IBKR Referral
Open the link in the browser you will apply in. Switching devices halfway through is the easiest way to lose the referral.
Screenshot the invitation page. A screenshot of the referral page before you click Open Account is your evidence if the reward does not appear.
Deposit what you planned, then leave it. The reward follows net deposits, so withdrawals in the first year cost you shares. Money you might need soon belongs elsewhere.
Transfer in existing holdings if you have them. The DLCuration landing page notes that transferred assets also count as net deposits. If you are moving a portfolio from another broker, that transfer can earn shares too.
Check your Welcome Share Balance in the Client Portal. It updates daily during the Award Period, so you can confirm the referral worked within a few days of your first deposit.
What If You Already Have an IBKR Account?
You are not eligible. IBKR’s referral reward is only for people who have never held an IBKR account, and only one reward is paid per new client.
You can still share your own referral link — IBKR’s referral page explains how existing clients earn a referral bonus when a friend funds a new account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use an IBKR referral link?
Open the referral link first, before visiting the IBKR website or app. Click Open Account on the invitation page, complete your application for an individual or joint account, and fund it once approved. IBKR then awards US$1 of its stock for every US$300 of net deposits in your first year, up to US$1,000.
Is there an IBKR referral code I can enter?
No. IBKR’s referral programme works through a link, not a code. The reward is tied to the invitation you start your application from, so there is no field to type a code into later.
How much IBKR stock will I get?
US$1 worth of Interactive Brokers Group Class A shares for every US$300 of net deposits in the first year after your first deposit. A US$3,000 deposit earns about US$10, US$30,000 earns about US$100, and US$300,000 or more earns the US$1,000 maximum.
When can I sell the IBKR shares?
Each award is locked for one year from its award date. After that anniversary date the shares are yours to sell or keep. You receive dividends and voting rights during the lock-up, but you cannot sell or transfer the shares.
What happens if I withdraw money in the first year?
Withdrawals reduce your reward. IBKR takes back US$1 of awarded shares for every US$300 you withdraw, oldest awards first. Closing the account before the one-year mark forfeits any shares that are still locked.
Is there a minimum deposit to open an IBKR account?
No. IBKR Singapore has no account minimum. You need at least US$300 in net deposits to earn the first US$1 of shares under the referral programme.
Can I use the referral link if I had an IBKR account before?
No. The reward is only for people who have never held an IBKR account. Opening a new account after closing an old one does not qualify.
Final Thoughts
The IBKR referral reward is easy to get and easy to lose. The whole thing comes down to order: open the link, apply in the same session, fund the account, and leave the money in for a year.
Be realistic about the size of it. For most Singapore investors moving a few thousand dollars, the reward is worth tens of dollars in IBKR stock, not hundreds. That is still a free top-up on a broker with no account minimum and $0 commission on US stocks with IBKR Lite.
Start with the link. Everything else follows from getting that one step right.
→ Get the IBKR referral link and full reward table
Opened your IBKR account already? Let me know in the comments whether you went with IBKR Lite or Pro.
Continue reading:
- IBKR Referral Link — Full Reward Breakdown
- How to Use a Webull Referral Code or Referral Link
- How to Use the uSMART Referral Code
- All Singapore Referral Codes in One Place
Disclosure: this article contains my IBKR referral link. If you open and fund an account with it, Interactive Brokers may pay me a referral reward, at no cost to you. DLCuration is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Interactive Brokers. Information is based on IBKR’s Refer a Friend terms dated 2 July 2026 and IBKR’s Singapore website, checked on 13 October 2026. Terms can change. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Investing involves risk; the value of investments, including IBKR shares, can go down as well as up. This is not financial advice.
