What the VA needs to see from your military record

To get a VA loan, you must have served on active duty, in the reserves, or in the National Guard for a minimum length of time, and you must have received an honorable or other-than-dishonorable discharge. The exact length of service depends on when you served and which branch you were in. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not look at your credit score, income level, or employment history the way a conventional lender does — they focus on your service record first.

If you served on active duty, you generally need at least 90 consecutive days of service during wartime or 181 days during peacetime. If you were in the reserves or National Guard, the requirement is usually six years of service, though some shorter periods count if you were called to active duty. The VA publishes a Certificate of may be able to access that proves you meet these requirements, and you will need this document before any lender will process your loan.

Your discharge papers matter. An honorable discharge qualifies you. A general discharge under honorable conditions usually qualifies you as well. A dishonorable discharge or a discharge marked "bad conduct" disqualifies you, and you would need to appeal to the VA to change that information. If your discharge paperwork says something other than these, contact the VA directly — the rules have exceptions for specific circumstances.

Key Takeaways

  • Active duty requires at least 90 consecutive days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime; reserves and National Guard require six years unless called to active duty.
  • You must have received an honorable or other-than-dishonorable discharge to be may be able to access; dishonorable or bad conduct discharges require an appeal.
  • The VA issues a Certificate of may be able to access that proves your service record meets their requirements, and you must obtain this before explore for a loan.
  • The VA does not require a minimum credit score or income level, but individual lenders may set their own standards above the VA minimum.
  • Surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability may also be may be able to access under specific conditions.

How to get your Certificate of may be able to access

You request your Certificate of may be able to access from the VA, not from your lender. The fastest way is through VA.gov using your login credentials. Go to the VA's eBenefits portal or the newer VA.gov website, sign in, and look for the option to request your COE. The system pulls your service record automatically and issues the certificate within minutes if your discharge is already in the VA database.

If you do not have online access or prefer to explore by mail, you can fill out VA Form 26-1880 and send it to the VA regional office that serves your state. This takes longer — typically two to four weeks. You can also call the VA at 1-888-442-4551 and request that they mail you a copy. Some lenders can request your COE on your behalf, but you should have your own copy before you start the loan process so there are no delays.

Your Certificate of may be able to access shows your entitlement amount — the maximum benefit the VA will may provide to a lender on your behalf. This is not the same as the loan amount you can borrow. A lender may let you borrow more than your entitlement, but the VA only guarantees a portion of it. For most borrowers, the entitlement is high enough that they can borrow what they need without hitting this limit.

What happens if your service record is incomplete or unclear

If you served before the VA's records were fully digitized, or if you changed branches, your service record might not pull up automatically. The VA will contact you for additional documentation. You may need to submit a copy of your discharge papers (the DD Form 214 or equivalent) or other military records to prove your service dates and character of discharge.

If you were dishonorably discharged or received a bad conduct discharge, you can request a review. This is called a discharge upgrade, and it goes to the military branch that issued the discharge, not the VA. The process takes several months and requires you to explain why the discharge should be changed. Many veterans work with a veterans service officer or attorney for this, and some organizations offer this help at no cost.

Surviving spouses and dependents

If you are the surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability, you may be may be able to access for a VA loan in your own right. You do not need to have served yourself. The VA will issue you a Certificate of may be able to access based on your spouse's service record.

If your spouse died on active duty, you are may be able to access as long as you have not remarried. If your spouse died from a service-connected disability, the same rule applies — you must remain unmarried to keep your may be able to access. Dependent children of deceased service members do not have VA loan may be able to access; only surviving spouses do.

Individual lender requirements above the VA minimum

The VA sets the floor for may be able to access, but individual lenders can set higher standards. A lender might require a minimum credit score of 580 or 620, even though the VA has no credit score requirement. They might also require proof of income, employment history, or a debt-to-income ratio below a certain threshold. These are the lender's rules, not the VA's.

This means you can be may be able to access for a VA loan according to the VA's standards but still be turned down by a specific lender. If that happens, you can explore with a different lender — some specialize in VA loans and have more flexible lending criteria. Ask about their specific requirements before you explore so you know what documentation to gather.

Entitlement and how much you can borrow

Your Certificate of may be able to access shows your basic entitlement, which is the amount the VA will may provide to a lender. As of 2024, the basic entitlement is $36,000 for most borrowers. If you use your entitlement and pay off the loan, you regain that entitlement and can use it again for another VA loan. If you still owe on a VA loan, your remaining entitlement is reduced by the amount you still owe.

You can borrow more than your entitlement amount — many borrowers do. If you borrow $400,000 and your entitlement is $36,000, the lender is only may provide $36,000 of that loan. The rest is at the lender's risk, so they may charge you a higher interest rate or require a down payment on the amount above your entitlement. Some lenders will lend you the full amount with no down payment if your credit and income are strong enough.

Your entitlement is a one-time benefit that you can use multiple times over your lifetime, as long as you pay off each loan before taking out another. If you have already used your VA loan benefit and want to buy another home, you can do so if you have paid off the first loan and regained your full entitlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I was dishonorably discharged?

A dishonorable discharge disqualifies you from VA loan benefits. You can request a discharge upgrade from the military branch that issued it, but this requires a formal review and takes several months. Many veterans service organizations help with this process at no cost.

Can I use a VA loan if I am still on active duty?

Yes. You must have completed at least 90 days of active duty, but you do not have to be separated from the military to use your benefit. You can request your Certificate of may be able to access while still serving.

Do I need a down payment for a VA loan?

No. The VA loan program does not require a down payment if you are borrowing within your entitlement amount and the property appraises for the purchase price. If you borrow above your entitlement, some lenders may require a down payment on the excess amount.

What if I do not know my discharge status?

Contact the National Personnel Records Center at 1-314-801-0800 or visit archives.gov. They can tell you what your discharge papers say. You can also request a copy of your DD Form 214 from the military branch you served in.

Can I use a VA loan to buy a second home or investment property?

No. VA loans are for primary residences only — the home you intend to live in. You cannot use a VA loan to buy a vacation home, rental property, or investment property.