Are you Eligible?
Military Service Requirements for VA Loan Eligibility:
Click here to Request Your Certificate
*NOTE: Applications involving other than honorable
discharges will usually require further development by VA. This is
necessary to determine if the service was under other than dishonorable
conditions.
| Wartime - Service during: |
WWII |
09/16/40 to 07/25/47 |
| Korean |
|
06/27/50 to 01/31/55 |
| Vietnam |
|
08/05/64 to 05/07/75 |
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You must have at least 90 days on active duty and been
discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than 90
days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability.
| Peacetime - Service during periods: |
|
07/26/47 to 06/26/50 |
| |
|
02/01/55 to 08/04/64 |
| |
|
05/08/75 to 09/07/80 (enlisted)
|
| |
|
to 10/16/81 (officer) |
You must have served at least 181 days of continuous active
duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you
served less than 181 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service
connected disability.
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Service after 09/07/80 (enlisted) or 10/16/81 (officer)
If you were separated from service which began after these dates, you must have:
(a) Completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full
period (at least 181 days) for which you were ordered or called to active duty
and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
(b) Completed at least 181 days of active duty and been discharged under the
specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1171 (Early out), or
have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability;
(c) Been discharged with less than 181 days of service for a service-connected
disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active
duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or,
in some instances for the convenience of the Government.
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Gulf War - Service during period 08/02/90 to date yet to be determined
If you served on active duty during the Gulf War, you must have:
(a) completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full
period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to
active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; or
(b) completed at least 90 days of active duty and been discharged under the
specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1173 (Early out), or
have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability, or
(c) been discharged with less than 90 days of service for a service-connected
disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active
duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or,
in some instances, for the convenience of the Government.
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Active Duty Service Personnel
If you are now on regular active duty (not active duty for training), you are
eligible after having served 181 days (90 days
during the Gulf War) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying
period of active duty service.
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Selected Reserves or National Guard
If you are not otherwise eligible and you have completed a total of 6 years
in the Selected Reserves or National Guard (member of an active unit, attended
required weekend drills and 2-week active duty for
training) and
(a) were discharged with an honorable discharge; or
(b) were placed on the retired list; or
(c) were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve
other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable
service; or
(d) continue to serve in the Selected Reserves.
Individuals who completed less than 6 years may be eligible if discharged for a
service- connected disability.
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You may also be determined eligible if you:
(a) are an unremarried spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a
service connected disability, or
(b) are a spouse of a serviceperson missing in action or a prisoner or war.
[NOTE: Also, a surviving spouse who remarries on or after
attaining age 57, and on or after December 16, 2003, may be eligible for the
home loan benefit. However, a surviving spouse who remarried before December
16, 2003, and on or after attaining age 57, must apply no later than December
15, 2004, to establish home loan eligibility. VA must deny applications from
surviving spouses who remarried before December 16, 2003 that are received
after December 15, 2004.]
Eligibility may also be established for:
(a) certain United States citizens who served in the armed forces of a
government allied with the United States in WWII.
(b) individuals with service as members in certain organizations, such as Public
Health Service officers, cadets at the United States Military, Air Force, or
Coast Guard Academy, midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, officers of
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, merchant seaman with WW II
service, and others.
VA Certificate of Eligibility
Before you get a VA loan, you will need a VA Certificate of Eligibility. If you
are a military veteran, we will be happy to help you get one. Fill out our
request form and we will send a blank VA Form 26-1880 (Request for a
Certificate of Eligibility) to you by mail or email. Please do not send our
request form to the VA. It will be disregarded.
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Click here to Request Your Certificate