VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility

To receive a VA guaranteed loan, applicants must acquire a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Applicants eligible to receive a Certificate of Eligibility for a VA loan are divided into three categories:

• Veterans
• Active Duty Service persons
• Reservists or Members of the National Guard who have served on Active Duty

Such Applicants may acquire a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a VA loan with any of the following three methods:

1. Online Application. To receive your Certificate of Eligibility through an online application, please visit ebenefits.va.gov.
2. Application through a lender. Often, lenders will be able to obtain certification for qualified applicants within minutes, though some information will be required. Refer to the points below for the required documents. 
3. Application by mail. For applicants getting a Certificate of Eligibility through the mail, submit a VA Form 26-1880.

To receive a VA certificate of eligibility, applicants in this category must present the following information as evidence of eligibility:

• Veterans (including members or former members of the National Guard or Reserves activated for Federal Service) must present a DD Form 214 showing the character of service (item 24) and the narrative reason for separation (item 28).

• Active duty Service members must present a current statement of service signed by a proper authority (adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit). It should include full name, Social Security number, date of birth, entry date on active duty, the duration of any lost time, and the name of the command providing the information.

Reservists or Members of the National Guard Who Have Never Served on Active Duty

Applicants in this category may acquire a Certificate of Eligibility for a VA loan with any of the following three methods:

• Online Application. To receive your Certificate of Eligibility through an online application, please visit ebenefits.va.gov.
• Application through a lender. Often, lenders will be able to obtain certification for qualified applicants within minutes, though some information will be required. Refer to the points below for the required documents.
• Application by mail. For applicants getting a COE through the mail, submit a VA Form 26-1880.

To receive a Certificate of Eligibility to acquire a VA loan, applicants in this category must present the following information as evidence of eligibility:

• Members of the Selected Reserve or National Guard who are currently serving but have never been activated for Federal Service must present a current statement of service signed by a proper authority (adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit). It should include full name, Social Security number, date of birth, entry date on active duty, the duration of any lost time, and the name of the command providing the information.

• Discharged members of the National Guard who have never been activated for Federal Service must present either 1. NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service for each term served or 2. NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, and proof of the character of the service.

• Discharged members of the Selected Reserve who have never been activated for Federal Service must present a copy of their latest annual retirement points statement with confirmation of honorable service.

Surviving Spouses of Veterans Who Died During or As a Result of Service

Applicants in this category must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility by mail by submitting a VA Form 26-1817 to apply. For spouses of a veteran who died after service, the Department of Veteran Affairs must determine that the death as a result of disability related to service. As such, the process may take 2-3 months unless the decision on service-connected death has already been made.

To receive a VA eligibility certification, applicants in this category must present the following information as evidence of eligibility:

• Surviving spouses of service members deceased during active duty should submit a copy of the DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) issued by the military and a copy of the marriage certificate. NOTE: Spouses in this subcategory who already receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) do not need to send any documents.

• Surviving spouses of veterans who died as a result of military service should submit a copy of the veteran’s DD Form 214, a copy of the veteran’s death certificate, and a copy of the marriage certificate.

NOTE: Spouses in this subcategory who already receive DIC should send a copy of their award letter.

Gretchen Wegrich

Gretchen Wegrich is an editor at Lender411. She specializes in mortgage basics, personal finance and green living. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in writing from University of California, San Diego and previously worked at the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Contact her at gretchen@lender411com.