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VA Home Loan Eligibility

Determine your VA Mortgage Eligibility

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Certificate of Eligibility

Every VA loan requires a Veteran’s Certificate of eligibility (COE)

The COE confirms the veteran’s eligibility, entitlement, disability income, and funding fee waiver (if applicable).

As an approved direct VA lender, we have access to the VA’s Web LGY system and may request the COE on your behalf. We may also request corrections or updates to the COE if necessary.

Conditions for VA Mortgage Eligibility

Current Active Duty Service Members

To meet the VA’s eligibility requirement, current service members must serve a minimum of 90 days with no break in service time.

Selected Service Members

The VA requires 6 years of active reserve duty (one weekend drill a month and two weeks a year of training) or 90 days of nontraining active duty under Title 10 or 32.

Surviving Spouse

The surviving spouse needs to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits for the service member who died in the line of duty or whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. If so, you may be eligible for a VA loan.

Veterans

Service requirements depend on when, how long you served, and your character of service.

  • 24 continuous months, or
  • The full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, or
  • At least 90 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

• At least 24 continuous months, or
• The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
• At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
• Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

  • At least 24 continuous months, or
  • The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
  • At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
  • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • 181 continuous days, or
  • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • 181 continuous days, or
  • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 90 total days, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 90 total days, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 90 total days, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 181 continuous days, or
  • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 90 total days, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or
  • At least 90 days of active-duty service, including at least 30 consecutive days (your DD214 must show 32 USC sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 activations), or
  • 6 creditable years in the National Guard and you were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list

Character of Service

Honorable, Retirement, Hardship, or Reduction in Force are all acceptable types of discharges for Eligibility. 

Other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharges, are typically not eligible for the VA home loan program and require a discharge upgrade.

Summary

The information provided on this page summarizes the VA eligibility requirements. We encourage every service member and veteran to request a Certificate of Eligibility, even if there’s any doubt about the eligibility requirements listed above. There’s no charge or commitment from the VA or our bank if a COE request is approved or denied. 

Other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharges, are typically not eligible for the VA home loan program and require a discharge upgrade.

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