How to get a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Three ways to request it

1. Online. You can request a COE through VA.gov with your account. This works well if you want to see the result yourself before you talk to lenders.

2. Through your lender. VA says your lender may be able to use an online system called Web LGY to get your COE. This is often the quickest route once you have chosen a lender, and the lender sees the result directly.

3. By mail. Fill out VA Form 26-1880, Request for a Certificate of Eligibility, and mail it to your regional loan center; the address is on the last page of the form. VA notes that mail requests may take longer.

After a request, VA reviews it and tells you its decision. You can check the status online.

Documents by group

VA.gov lists what to have ready, depending on who you are:

• Veterans: a copy of your discharge or separation papers, the DD214.
• Active-duty service members: a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer. It must show your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, the date you entered duty, the duration of any lost time, and the name of the command providing the information.
• Current or former activated National Guard members: a copy of your DD214 or other discharge documents. If you qualify through at least 90 days of active duty including 30 consecutive days, VA asks for a document showing your activation date, such as a DD214 showing activation under certain Title 32 sections, or other records VA lists.
• Guard and Reserve members qualifying through 6 creditable years: the service records VA lists for your status, such as annual point statements or discharge documents.
• Surviving spouses: VA has a separate request process for surviving spouses who are eligible for or receive certain Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or whose spouse is missing in action or a prisoner of war.

What the COE shows

The certificate confirms your eligibility and can show your entitlement and whether you are exempt from the VA funding fee. Check the exemption status carefully. If you receive VA disability compensation but the COE does not show an exemption, raise it with your lender before closing, because the fee can be several thousand dollars.

When a request stalls

Requests can take longer if your records are incomplete, your service had breaks, or your discharge type needs review. VA asks for more information when it needs it. Answer promptly, keep copies, and tell your lender and real estate agent before you write offers with short financing deadlines.

If you were discharged under conditions that block eligibility, VA.gov explains options such as applying for a discharge upgrade or asking for a character of discharge review.

Using the COE more than once

VA entitlement can be used more than once in many cases, for example after you sell a home and pay off a VA loan. Later use usually carries a higher funding fee for borrowers who are not exempt. The calculator on this page shows the difference.