VA Loan Eligibility
You generally qualify for a VA loan through your service: 90 consecutive days of active duty in wartime, 181 days in peacetime, or 6 years in the National Guard or Reserve. Some surviving spouses qualify too. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) proves it to the lender, but the lender still reviews your credit, income and residual income before approving a loan.
Key Takeaways
- Wartime service generally requires 90 consecutive days of active duty. Peacetime service generally requires 181 days.
- National Guard and Reserve members generally qualify after 6 years of service, or after 90 days of active duty (for Guard members, including at least 30 consecutive days under a Title 32 activation).
- Surviving spouses of those who died in service or from a service-connected disability may qualify.
- The Certificate of Eligibility shows your entitlement and funding fee status. We can help you request it as part of pre-approval.
- Eligibility is only step one. You still qualify on credit, income and residual income.
What are the VA service requirements?
| Type of service | General requirement |
|---|---|
| Active duty, wartime | 90 consecutive days of active service |
| Active duty, peacetime | 181 days of active service |
| National Guard or Reserve | 6 years of service, or 90 days of active duty (for Guard members, including at least 30 consecutive days under a Title 32 activation) |
| Surviving spouse | Spouse of a service member who died in service or from a service-connected disability, subject to VA rules |
These are general rules. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, you generally need 24 continuous months of service or the full period you were called to active duty, unless an exception applies. Other service-length rules can apply depending on when and how you served, and your discharge generally must be under conditions other than dishonorable. A Licensed Lendia California Loan Officer can confirm where you fall.
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
The COE is the VA document that shows the lender your entitlement. It tells the lender whether you have full or reduced entitlement and whether you are exempt from the funding fee. You do not need it to start talking with a lender, but you will need it before closing, and having it early avoids surprises. Learn more in VA loan Certificate of Eligibility, VA entitlement codes and how to get your COE.
There are three common ways to get it:
- Through your lender. At Lendia, we can usually request it for you through the VA’s lender portal.
- Online through the VA. You can apply for it yourself and upload your documents.
- By mail. This is the slowest route and is rarely needed.
What documents help prove eligibility?
- Veterans: typically a discharge document such as the DD-214. If you do not have it, read Do I need a DD214 to know if I am eligible?
- Active-duty members: a statement of service signed by the personnel office or unit commander.
- Guard and Reserve: a statement of service or equivalent records showing your years of service and good standing.
- Surviving spouses: VA documentation of your eligibility, along with the service member’s records.
What does eligibility not cover?
Eligibility earns the benefit. It does not approve a loan. The lender still reviews:
- Credit. The VA sets no minimum score. Lenders do. At Lendia, we can work with scores as low as 580 on purchases up to $1,000,000, while larger loans typically need higher scores. See VA loan credit score requirements.
- Income and debts. A 41% debt-to-income guideline is common, and residual income can allow more.
- Credit events. Foreclosure, short sale and bankruptcy have waiting periods. See VA loan credit events and waiting periods.
- Occupancy. You must intend to live in the home as your primary residence.
Who else may be eligible?
Surviving spouses, in particular, are often unaware of the benefit. A spouse may qualify, subject to VA remarriage rules, when the service member died in service or from a service-connected disability. Spouses of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war may also qualify. Spouses can also be co-borrowers on a veteran’s loan, although eligibility itself rests on the veteran’s service. Ask a loan officer if you think you may qualify.
What does VA eligibility look like in California?
California has one of the largest veteran and military populations in the country, and VA loans are common near bases and in major metro areas. Eligibility rules are federal and apply the same way here. What changes is the price of homes: with California prices, how much entitlement you have left matters. See What are the VA loan limits? for how entitlement and county limits fit together, and who qualifies for a VA loan for more detail.
At Lendia, we help you take the first step
At Lendia, we review your service history, request your COE, and explain what your entitlement means for a California purchase. Rates and terms depend on your situation; approval requires qualification. Contact us or get a rate quote now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a spouse use my VA benefit?
Only a surviving spouse who meets VA requirements. Otherwise a spouse can be a co-borrower, but eligibility rests on the veteran’s service.
Does my discharge type matter?
Yes. The VA looks at the character of service, and a dishonorable discharge generally disqualifies you. Other discharge types may be reviewed case by case. Ask us if you are unsure.
Do I have to wait to use the benefit after separating?
No set waiting period applies. Once you meet the service requirement and have a COE, you can apply for a VA loan.
I am still on active duty. Can I get a VA loan?
Yes, generally once you meet the service requirement. You use a statement of service in place of a DD-214.
Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?
Yes. See using a VA loan more than once.
Talk to a Licensed Lendia California Loan Officer
At Lendia, we review your situation and show you the programs you qualify for.