✅Eligibility Requirements (Complete Breakdown)

– Who qualifies and how to get started

1. Service Requirements

A Veteran must have sufficient service time in the U.S. Armed Forces, depending on when and how they served:

Wartime Service

• World War II (9/16/1940 – 7/25/1947): 90 consecutive days active duty.
  
  
• Korean War (6/27/1950 – 1/31/1955): 90 consecutive days active duty.
  
  
• Vietnam War (8/5/1964 – 5/7/1975): 90 consecutive days active duty.
  
  
  • If served in Vietnam itself, service from 2/28/1961 – 8/4/1964 also qualifies.
    
    

Peacetime Service

• Post-WWII (7/26/1947 – 6/26/1950): 181 days continuous active duty.
  
  
• Post-Korean War (2/1/1955 – 8/4/1964): 181 days continuous active duty.
  
  

Post-Vietnam & Modern Era

• Post-Vietnam Era (5/8/1975 – 9/7/1980): 181 days continuous active duty.
  
  
• Service after 9/7/1980 (enlisted) or after 10/16/1981 (officers): 24 continuous months OR the full period called to active duty (minimum 90 days during wartime, 181 days during peacetime).
  
  

Gulf War Era (8/2/1990 – Present):

• Active duty: At least 24 months continuous service OR the full period called to active duty (minimum 90 days wartime or 181 days peacetime).

2. National Guard & Reserve Requirements

• 6 years of honorable service in the Selected Reserve or National Guard, AND:
  
  
  • Discharged honorably, OR
    
    
  • Placed on the retired list, OR
    
    
  • Transferred to Standby Reserve/Ready Reserve (after honorable service), OR
    
    
  • Still serving.
    
    
• OR: 90 days active-duty service under Title 10 (federal orders), with at least 30 days consecutive.

3. Surviving Spouses

A surviving spouse may be eligible if they:

• Are the unremarried spouse of a Veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability.
  
  
• Remarried after age 57 and after 12/16/2003 (still eligible).
  
  
• Is the spouse of a service member missing in action (MIA) or a prisoner of war (POW).

4. Discharge Requirements

To qualify, the Veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

• Honorable & General discharges → Eligible.
  
  
• Other Than Honorable (OTH), Bad Conduct, or Dishonorable discharges → Usually not eligible.
  
  
• Veterans with questionable discharges may apply for a VA Character of Service determination.

5. Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Even if service requirements are met, a Veteran must obtain a COE to prove eligibility. This requires:

• Veterans: DD Form 214 (discharge/separation papers).
  
  
• Active Duty: Statement of service signed by commander/personnel officer.
  
  
• National Guard/Reserves: NGB Form 22 or NGB Form 23 (point statement), or reserve records.
  
  
• Surviving Spouses: VA Form 21-534 (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) or VA Form 26-1817.

*Eligibility applications can be submitted electronically by going through your lender, who will use the Automated Certificate of Eligibility system. In addition, Veterans can apply through www.va.gov electronically.

6. Credit & Income Requirements (set by lenders, not VA)

The VA does not impose strict credit score rules, but:

• Must show stable income to cover mortgage and living expenses.
  
  
• Must meet residual income guidelines (VA’s unique way of measuring affordability).
  
  

Lenders set their own minimum credit , the VA has no official minimum credit score.

7. Property Requirements

The loan must be used for:

• A primary residence (not vacation homes or investment-only properties).
  
  
• Property must meet VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) for safety, soundness, and sanitation.