VA Loan Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a VA loan, you or your spouse must meet the minimum service requirements set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and satisfy the lender's credit and income requirements.

What are VA requirements to get a loan?

You may qualify for a VA loan by meeting one or more of the following requirements:

You served 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime.
You served 181 days of active service during peacetime.
You have 6 years of service in the National Guard or Reserves, or served 90 days (at least 30 of them consecutively) under Title 32 orders.
You are the spouse of a service member who died while serving or due to a service-related disability.

Minimum active-duty service requirements

For service members

If you’ve served for at least 90 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service), you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement.

Eligibility For Veterans- When Did YOU Serve?

Between Aug 2, 1990-Present

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 24 continuous months, or
The full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, or
At least 90 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 24 continuous months, or
The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 24 continuous months, or
The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

181 continuous days, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

181 continuous days, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Aug 5, 1964- May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 total days, or
Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 total days, or
Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Feb 1, 1955- Aug 4, 1964 (Post-Korean War Period)

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 181 total days, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

June 27, 1950- Jan 31, 1955 (Korean War)

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 total days, or
Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 181 continuous days, or
Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

Sept 16, 1940- July 25, 1947 (WWII)

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

Sept 16, 1940- July 25, 1947 (WWII)

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 total days, or
Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

ELIGIBILITY For National Guard members- When did you serve?

Aug 2, 1990-Present

Any Other Time Period

If you’ve served for at least 90 days of active duty, you meet the minimum service requirement.

Any Other Time Period

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or
At least 90 days of active-duty service including at least 30 consecutive days (your DD214 must show 32 USC sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 activation), or
6 creditable years in the National Guard and you were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list

Eligibility For Reserve members-When Did you Serve?

Aug 2, 1990- Present

Any Other Time Period

If you served for at least 90 days of active duty, you meet the minimum service requirement.

Any Other Time Period

You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:

At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or
6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve

And at least 1 of these must be true:

You were discharged honorably, or
You were placed on the retired list, or
You were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable, or
You continue to serve in the Selected Reserve

VA Loan Eligibility Requirements

What are VA requirements to get a loan?

Minimum active-duty service requirements

For service members

Eligibility For Veterans- When Did YOU Serve?

Between Aug 2, 1990-Present

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

Between Sept 8, 1980- Aug 1, 1990

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

Oct 17, 1981- Aug 1, 1990 as an Officer

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

Aug 5, 1964- May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)

May 8, 1975- Sept 7, 1980 (Post-Vietnam War Period)

May 8, 1975- Oct 16, 1981 as an Officer

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

Feb 1, 1955- Aug 4, 1964 (Post-Korean War Period)

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

June 27, 1950- Jan 31, 1955 (Korean War)

Nov 1, 1955- May 7, 1975 In the Republic of Vietnam

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

Sept 16, 1940- July 25, 1947 (WWII)

July 26, 1947- June 26, 1950 (Post WWII Period)

Sept 16, 1940- July 25, 1947 (WWII)

ELIGIBILITY For National Guard members- When did you serve?

Aug 2, 1990-Present

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Eligibility For Reserve members-When Did you Serve?

Aug 2, 1990- Present

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

Any Other Time Period

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