Lightyear has two separate programs for new joiners: referral links and promotional codes. The referral program is person-to-person — share your link, and both you and your friend receive fractional stock when they join. Promo codes are typically distributed through our partners and may offer different rewards depending on the promotion.
Both programs work differently and can't be combined, so here's everything you need to know about each one.
Referral program
The referral program is designed to help grow a community of people who genuinely want to use our tools to invest and manage their money. We let our customers earn a reward by inviting friends to join Lightyear via a referral link. To find out what the current reward is, open your referral link or check our Refer a Friend Terms.
These links are for new customers only — they can't be applied to an existing account or added partway through sign-up. When a referral link is opened, it takes you directly to a personalised invitation page where you accept the invite by entering your email address, which will start creating your personal account. The referral is only registered if the sign-up begins from that page. Entering a friend's name, link, or any other details manually at any point during registration won't work.
How the referral program works
- Share your referral link with a friend
- Your friend must sign up to Lightyear using your link. The link needs to be opened and the invitation accepted to start the account creation and cannot be used later.
- Once they make a qualifying deposit, you both receive a randomised reward amount, which you can invest in a fractional instrument. You can find the exact reward amount and timeline in your app or by opening the referral link.
- Even if your referral link is in your business account, your friend will receive their reward in their personal account. Your reward will be credited to your business account, where the link is. Please note that in this case, your link or reward cannot be moved to the personal account.
Where is my referral link?
The referral program isn't a permanent feature — it runs in cycles and isn't available to everyone at the same time. The easiest way to check if it's active for you is to check the app. If you can see the referral button, you're in and can start sharing your link. If it's not there, it's not available on your account.
On mobile, look for the button in the top right corner of any main screen. On the web, find it in the left sidebar under the gift icon.
To keep the program fair and sustainable, we never share what makes someone eligible to get the link. But the app will let you know when it's your time — just watch out for the button appearing!
Your referral link may move to your business account when it becomes eligible, and we're not able to move it back to your personal account. This means any rewards you earn from friends accepting your invite will be credited to your business account, even though your friends will always receive their rewards in their personal accounts.
A few things to know
- Your friend must use your referral link to start the sign-up, it can't be applied afterwards
- There is a monthly limit on how many referral rewards you can earn
- The reward amount cannot be withdrawn for 180 days from the date it was received
Promotional codes
Promotional codes give new customers a reward when they sign up and meet certain conditions. These are typically shared publicly by our partners. Typically, a promo code does not apply if you’ve already used a friend’s referral link. Promo rewards vary, so check the details from where you got the code or see our Promotion Terms.
How promo codes work
- Enter the code during sign-up when the app asks you, or add it afterwards through Profile → Settings → Promotions
- Deposit the qualifying amount stated in the promotion's terms within the app or by the partner you got the code from
- Your reward will be credited to your account once the conditions are met. The rewards may vary from fractional stock to free trades, depending on the promo code.
Can I change the promo code I entered?
The promo code you entered at sign-up is fixed. Once it's applied, it can't be changed or replaced. Make sure you've got the right one before signing up.
A few things to know
- Promotional codes are time-limited and may have different rewards and conditions, so always check the terms of each promotion for the expiry date and qualifying conditions. This information is available in the app after you enter the promo code or from where you got the code.
- Typically, promo codes cannot be used if you have already signed up through a friend’s referral link
- The reward amount cannot be withdrawn for 180 days from the date it was received
Can I use both at the same time?
No, referral links and promo codes can't be combined. Whichever one you used when creating your account is the reward you'll get, and we don’t change or swap it afterwards. This means that if you signed up through a referral link, a referral reward will be yours — just complete the steps and the reward is on its way! And the same with a promotional code, so if you have already entered a code, you can only get a promo reward.
Where to find the rewards
Both referral and promo rewards you have received are visible in the Transactions tab and in your Account statement. If you have a pending reward, you can claim it in the Portfolio tab.
Referral link
You can view your referrals on the same page where you get your referral link. On mobile, look for the button in the top right corner. On web, navigate to the left sidebar and hit the gift icon.
Promo code
You can view your active and past rewards anytime in Profile → Settings → Promotions.
Can I change or cancel my reward order?
Once you've placed a buy order through a reward you got, the order can't be changed or cancelled.
If you have a question about your reward, get in touch with our support team below this article and we'll be happy to help.
See also: I didn’t receive my reward