Eligibility
St Paul Regional Office
Regional Loan Center
General Rules for Eligibility
A veteran is eligible for VA home loan benefits if he or she served on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable after either:
- 90 days or more, any part of which occurred during wartime or
- 181 continuous days or more (peacetime).
2 Year Requirement
A greater length of service requirement must be met by a veteran who:- Enlisted (and service began) after September 7, 1980 or
- Was an officer and service began after October 16, 1981.
These veterans must have completed either:
- 24 continuous months or more or
- The full period for which ordered to active duty, but not less than 90 days (any part during wartime) or
- 181 continuous days (peacetime).
If you have never used this VA benefit in the past and you believe that you are eligible, you should apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
If you are not able to obtain a COE through your lender, you can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility by submitting a completed VA Form 26-1880, Request For A Certificate of Eligibility For VA Home Loan Benefits, to our Winston-Salem VA Eligibility Center.
You also need to submit evidence of satisfactory military service. This is usually a DD214. If you do not have a copy of your DD214, you can obtain a copy from the National Archives and Records Administration.
In some cases it may be possible for VA to establish eligibility without your proof of service. However, to avoid any possible delays, it's best to provide such evidence.
