f you're planning to use a VA loan, you'll need to establish that you're eligible for the VA home loan benefit. Your Certificate of Eligibility is the document that does that.
A VA Certificate of Eligibility, commonly called a COE, tells a lender that the VA has determined you meet the service or other eligibility requirements for its home loan program. You can request a VA home loan COE directly through the VA, or a lender may be able to retrieve it on your behalf.
Getting a COE is an important early step, but it isn't the same as getting approved for a mortgage. Your lender still has to determine whether you qualify for the loan you're requesting.
VA Certificate of Eligibility Basics
| COE Question |
What To Know |
| What is a VA COE? |
A document confirming that you qualify for the VA home loan benefit based on your service history, duty status or another qualifying category. |
| Who issues it? |
The VA. |
| Does it approve your mortgage? |
No. Your lender still reviews your income, credit, debts and other loan requirements. |
| How do you get one? |
Online through the VA, through a lender or by submitting VA Form 26-1880 by mail. |
| What else can it show? |
Your VA home loan entitlement and, for applicable loan types, information related to your VA funding fee exemption status. |
What Does a VA Certificate of Eligibility Do?
Your COE gives a lender evidence that you're eligible to use the VA home loan benefit. Eligibility is generally based on factors such as your length and type of military service, although certain surviving spouses and other qualifying individuals may also be eligible.
The COE also provides information about your VA home loan entitlement. Entitlement is the amount the VA can guarantee to a lender if you don't repay the loan. It is not the amount of money you're allowed to borrow.
If you have full entitlement, the VA does not impose a VA loan limit on how much you can borrow without a down payment. Your lender still decides how much you qualify to borrow, and the property's value can also affect the available loan amount. If you've previously used your VA benefit and haven't restored all of your entitlement, county loan limits can affect how much you can borrow without a down payment. T
The VA provides a detailed explanation of VA home loan entitlement and loan limits.
Who Can Get a VA Certificate of Eligibility?
A COE is available to people who meet the VA's home loan eligibility requirements. The exact service requirement depends on when and how you served.
Veterans
Many Veterans qualify based on their active-duty service and discharge status. The minimum service requirement varies by the period in which you served and the circumstances of your separation.
For many Veterans who served in the modern era, eligibility can be based on 24 continuous months of active duty or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty, subject to the VA's specific rules and exceptions. Shorter service periods can also qualify in certain circumstances, including some service-connected disability discharges.
Active-Duty Service Members
If you're currently serving on active duty, you generally meet the minimum active-duty service requirement after at least 90 continuous days of service.
National Guard And Reserve Members
National Guard and Reserve members can qualify through eligible active-duty service or qualifying Guard or Reserve service. For example, the VA says National Guard members may qualify through certain periods of active service or after six creditable years of service if they continue serving or meet qualifying discharge or retirement requirements.
Reserve members can similarly qualify through eligible active-duty service or six creditable years in the Selected Reserve under the VA's requirements.
Eligible Surviving Spouses
Certain surviving spouses can also qualify for the VA home loan benefit. Eligibility can include some spouses of Veterans who died in service, died from a service-connected disability or met certain total-disability requirements before death. Additional rules apply to remarriage and other circumstances.
Because service requirements vary substantially by service period and status, you can check the VA's current home loan eligibility requirements or review how VA loan eligibility works before requesting your COE.
How To Get a VA Certificate of Eligibility
The VA currently provides three ways to request a COE.
1. Request Your COE Online
You can request a COE through the VA's online home loan system. If the VA already has enough information to determine your eligibility, the process can be relatively straightforward. If more information is needed, you'll be asked to provide supporting documentation.
You can start a COE request on VA.gov.
2. Request a COE Through Your Lender
A VA-approved lender may be able to obtain your COE electronically through the VA's loan guaranty system. This can save you from requesting the certificate separately.
Some cases can't be resolved automatically. If the VA needs additional service records or other documentation to determine eligibility, you'll need to provide that information before the COE can be issued.
3. Apply By Mail
You can also request a COE by completing VA Form 26-1880, Request for a Certificate of Eligibility, and mailing it to the appropriate VA regional loan center. The VA notes that mailed requests can take longer than online or lender-submitted requests.
What Documents Do You Need for a VA COE?
The documents you need depend on how you qualify.
If You're a Veteran
You generally need your discharge or separation papers, such as your DD Form 214. The VA uses your service records to determine whether your military service satisfies its eligibility requirements.
If You're on Active Duty
You'll generally need a current statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer. The VA specifies information that the statement should include, such as your full name, date of birth, entry date on active duty and any lost time.
If You're in the National Guard or Reserve
The documentation depends on whether you've been activated and whether you're still serving. Depending on your circumstances, the VA may request a statement of service, DD Form 214, National Guard records or Reserve retirement-points documentation.
If You're an Eligible Surviving Spouse
Documentation varies depending on whether you're receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC. Some surviving spouses use VA Form 26-1817. Others may need additional documentation such as a marriage license, the Veteran's death certificate and applicable benefit forms.
The VA's COE request instructions provide the current documentation requirements for each applicant type.
How Long Does It Take To Get a VA COE?
Some COEs can be generated quickly when the VA already has enough information to verify eligibility. Other applications require manual review.
For COE applications under review, the VA says its goal is to contact applicants with a decision or update in an average of five business days. A request can take longer if the VA needs additional records or information. You can check your VA COE status online and upload requested documents through VA.gov.
Does a COE Mean You're Approved for a VA Loan?
No. A COE confirms your eligibility for the VA home loan benefit. Mortgage approval is a separate process.
A lender still reviews your income, debts, credit history and ability to repay the loan. The home also has to satisfy the requirements that apply to the transaction.
The VA itself does not set a universal minimum credit score for its home loan guaranty program, although individual lenders can establish their own credit requirements. Your COE therefore shouldn't be treated as a preapproval or guarantee that you'll qualify for a particular loan amount.
What Does VA Entitlement on Your COE Mean?
Your VA entitlement represents the amount of the loan guaranty available through your VA home loan benefit. A figure such as $36,000 of basic entitlement on your COE doesn't mean you're limited to a $36,000 mortgage.
The VA says a COE showing $36,000 in basic entitlement generally indicates full entitlement. For loans over $144,000, the VA can generally guarantee up to 25% of the loan amount for someone with full entitlement.
If you previously used a VA loan and some entitlement remains tied to that loan, you may have partial or remaining entitlement instead. In that situation, the location of the property and the applicable county loan limit can affect how much you can borrow without a down payment.
Can You Get Another COE After Using a VA Loan?
Yes. The VA home loan benefit isn't limited to one use.
If you've previously had a VA loan, a new COE can show how much entitlement is currently available. Depending on what happened to the previous loan, you may be able to have your entitlement restored. You also may be able to use remaining entitlement before your previous entitlement is fully restored.
Your entitlement status becomes particularly relevant if you want to have more than one VA-backed loan at the same time or if a previous VA loan hasn't yet been paid off or otherwise cleared for restoration.
Can Your COE Show a VA Funding Fee Exemption?
For VA purchase loans and certain refinance transactions, the COE can display information about whether you're exempt from the VA funding fee.
Some Veterans, service members and surviving spouses don't have to pay the funding fee. Examples include certain Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability and certain surviving spouses receiving DIC. Funding fee exemption rules depend on your individual status, and the lender is responsible for verifying the applicable status before closing.
The VA lists current funding fee exemptions and fee amounts on VA.gov.
The Bottom Line
A VA Certificate of Eligibility verifies that you qualify to use the VA home loan benefit. You can request one directly through VA.gov, obtain one through a participating lender or apply by mail.
Your COE can also provide important information about your available VA entitlement and, for applicable transactions, funding fee exemption status. It does not determine whether you're approved for a mortgage or how much a lender will let you borrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does COE Stand for in a VA Loan?
COE stands for Certificate of Eligibility. It's the VA-issued document that confirms you meet the eligibility requirements to use the VA home loan benefit.
Do I Need a Certificate of Eligibility Before Applying for a VA Loan?
You need to establish your eligibility as part of the VA loan process, but you don't necessarily have to obtain the COE yourself before contacting a lender. A lender may be able to request it electronically on your behalf.
Can I Get My VA Certificate of Eligibility Online?
Yes. The VA allows eligible Veterans, service members and other qualifying applicants to request a COE online through VA.gov. You can also check the status of a pending request and download an approved COE online.
Does Having a VA COE Guarantee a Home Loan?
No. A COE verifies your eligibility for the VA home loan benefit. A lender must separately approve your mortgage based on its underwriting requirements and applicable VA loan rules.
Does a VA Certificate of Eligibility Expire?
A COE reflects your eligibility and entitlement status when it is issued. If your circumstances change, such as after you use a VA loan, pay one off or become eligible for restoration of entitlement, your lender or the VA may need to obtain an updated COE showing your current status.
Can I Use My VA Home Loan Benefit More Than Once?
Yes. You can use the VA home loan benefit more than once if you continue to meet the applicable requirements and have sufficient entitlement available. In some circumstances, you can restore previously used entitlement after a VA loan is paid off or otherwise meets the VA's restoration requirements.
What If My VA COE Says I Have $0 in Basic Entitlement?
A $0 basic entitlement figure doesn't automatically mean you can't get another VA loan. The VA explains that you may still have bonus, or second-tier, entitlement available for loans above $144,000. Your available entitlement and the applicable county loan limit determine how much VA guaranty may remain if you don't have full entitlement.
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