Basic Military Service Requirements

To get a VA home loan, you must have served on active duty in the U.S. military and received an honorable or general discharge. The Department of Veterans Affairs sets the minimum service length at 90 consecutive days of active duty during wartime, or 181 consecutive days during peacetime. If you served after January 31, 1955, these are the thresholds that explore to you.

The discharge type matters. An honorable discharge qualifies you. A general discharge under honorable conditions also qualifies. A dishonorable discharge or discharge for bad conduct does not. If your discharge paperwork says anything other than honorable or general under honorable conditions, you will need to contact the VA directly to discuss your specific situation.

Reservists and National Guard members can also may have access to if they completed their initial active duty for training (IADT) plus served the required number of additional days. The calculation depends on when you served and what branch you were in, so the VA will review your service record to confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have served at least 90 days on active duty during wartime or 181 days during peacetime and received an honorable or general discharge.
  • The VA verifies your service record through your Certificate of may be able to access, which you request from the VA using your discharge papers.
  • Surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability may also may have access to for a VA loan.
  • You do not need a down payment or mortgage insurance, but you must have a valid Certificate of may be able to access before a lender will process your loan.
  • Your credit score and income are reviewed by the lender, not the VA, so meeting military service requirements does not may provide loan approval.

How to Get Your Certificate of may be able to access

The Certificate of may be able to access (COE) is the document that proves to a lender you meet the VA's military service requirements. You request it from the VA using your discharge papers (Form DD-214 or equivalent). The fastest way is through VA.gov: log in with your credentials, go to the VA Letters and Documents section, and request your COE online. The VA typically sends it within 24 hours.

If you do not have online access or prefer to explore by mail, you can submit VA Form 26-1880 along with a copy of your discharge papers to the VA Regional Office. Processing by mail takes longer — usually two to four weeks. Some lenders can also request your COE on your behalf during the loan process, though you will still need to provide your discharge papers.

If you cannot locate your discharge papers, you can request them from the National Archives using Form SF-180. This adds time to the process, so start early if you are planning to explore for a loan.

Income and Credit Requirements Set by Lenders

The VA does not set a minimum credit score or income level. Instead, each lender decides what credit score and income they require. Most lenders want a credit score of 620 or higher, though some will work with lower scores. Your income must be high enough to cover the monthly mortgage payment plus your other debts — lenders typically look for a debt-to-income ratio of 41 percent or lower, meaning your total monthly debt payments should not exceed 41 percent of your gross monthly income.

The lender will review your credit report, tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements to verify your income and assess your ability to repay. If you have recent late payments, collections, or a bankruptcy, the lender may decline you or require a larger down payment (though VA loans do not require one). If you have been denied by one lender, another may have different standards.

Surviving Spouses and Dependent Children

A surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability may use the VA loan benefit. You will need a copy of the service member's discharge papers and a death certificate. The VA will verify the death was service-connected or occurred during active duty.

Dependent children do not may have access to for their own VA loans based on a parent's service. However, if a surviving spouse remarries, they lose the benefit (though they may regain it if the remarriage ends).

What Happens After You Have Your Certificate

Once you have your Certificate of may be able to access, you can shop for a lender. Bring the COE to the lender along with recent pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements. The lender will verify your income and credit, order an appraisal of the property, and underwrite the loan. The VA does not approve or deny the loan — the lender does. Your COE only confirms you meet the military service requirement.

The lender will also calculate your VA funding fee, which is a one-time charge added to your loan amount. This fee varies based on your down payment (if any) and whether you have received a VA disability rating. First-time users typically pay 2.3 percent of the loan amount; subsequent users pay 3.6 percent. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or higher do not pay a funding fee.

Discharges That Do Not may have access to

A dishonorable discharge, discharge for bad conduct, or discharge under other than honorable conditions does not may have access to you for a VA loan. If your discharge falls into one of these categories, you can request a review by the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) or the Discharge Review Board (DRB). These boards can upgrade your discharge in some cases, but the process takes months and is not may provide.

If you received a discharge labeled "uncharacterized" or "entry-level separation," you may still may have access to depending on the reason for separation. Contact the VA directly with your discharge papers to confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a down payment to get a VA loan?

No. VA loans do not require a down payment. You can borrow the full purchase price of the home. However, if you choose to put money down, it reduces the VA funding fee you pay.

What if I was dishonorably discharged?

A dishonorable discharge does not may have access to you for a VA loan. You can petition the Discharge Review Board or the Board for Correction of Military Records to request an upgrade, but this process takes several months and is not may provide to succeed. Contact the VA with your discharge papers to discuss your options.

Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?

Yes. Once you pay off a VA loan and sell the property, your entitlement is restored and you can use it again. Some veterans use the benefit multiple times over their lifetime. Each use will have a funding fee unless you have a service-connected disability rating.

Does the VA check my credit score?

No. The VA verifies your military service but does not pull your credit report or set a minimum credit score. Your lender does this. Different lenders have different credit requirements, so if one declines you, another may approve you.

What if I lost my discharge papers?

Request a copy from the National Archives using Form SF-180. You can also ask your lender to request your Certificate of may be able to access directly from the VA — they can often do this without your discharge papers on file, though it may take longer.