Certificate of Eligibility
Your VA Home Loan BenefitStarts With Your COE.
Your Certificate of Eligibility—or COE—shows a lender that you meet the military-service eligibility requirements for the VA home loan benefit.
Don't have yours? We can help you get it.
Start With Your COE
Built for Military Families by Veterans
Your VA Benefit
Think of Your COEas the Starting Point.
Your COE provides information about your eligibility and entitlement for the VA home loan program.
What It
Does
Establishes your official home loan benefit eligibility with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What It
Doesn't Do
Automatically approve a mortgage.
Lender Verification Required:
- Credit
- Income
- Occupancy
- Property
- Underwriting
Get Your COE
Three Ways to Request Your Certificate.
VA currently provides three methods.
Through Your Lender
A VA-approved lender may be able to retrieve the COE electronically.
Online Through VA.gov
Eligible borrowers can request their COE directly through VA.
By Mail
VA Form 26-1880 can be submitted by mail, although VA notes that mail requests may take longer.
Want us to help?
Help Me Get My COEBe Prepared
Documents Vary by How You Served.
Veterans
Typically, your DD214 or other discharge/separation documentation.
Active-Duty Service Members
A qualifying Statement of Service containing the required service information.
Eligible Surviving Spouses
Additional VA forms and supporting documentation may be required depending on the circumstances.
Reading Your COE
Eligibility Is OnlyPart of the Story.
Your COE can also contain information about your VA entitlement and previous use of the benefit.
Full Entitlement
Generally means VA loan limits don't restrict the loan amount due solely to entitlement, although the borrower must still qualify and the appraisal must support the transaction.
Previously Used Entitlement
Some entitlement may already be tied to another VA loan.
Remaining Entitlement
You may still have entitlement available for another VA purchase even when another VA loan remains outstanding.
Already have a COE? Let us help you understand what it means.
Review My COECOE FAQ
Certificate of EligibilityQuestions.
Does a COE mean I'm approved for a VA loan?+
No. A COE establishes that you meet the military-service eligibility requirements for the benefit. Your lender still reviews applicable credit, income, occupancy, property and underwriting requirements before approving a mortgage.
Does getting a COE affect my credit?+
Requesting a COE is a VA eligibility document request, not a mortgage application, and by itself it isn't a credit decision. A credit review happens when you apply for financing.
Can my lender obtain my COE?+
Often, yes. A VA-approved lender may be able to retrieve your COE electronically, which is usually the fastest route. When records require manual review, VA may ask for service documentation.
What if I've used my VA loan before?+
The benefit isn't limited to first-time use. Your COE can show entitlement previously used and what may remain, and entitlement may be restorable once a prior VA loan is paid off.
What does entitlement mean on my COE?+
Entitlement is the portion of the loan VA will guarantee on your behalf. How much is available—full, partially used, or remaining—affects loan amount, funding fee, and whether a down payment may be required.
Can I have VA entitlement tied up in another property?+
Yes. If you have an outstanding VA loan, entitlement may still be tied to that property. Depending on the circumstances, remaining entitlement may be available for another VA-financed home.
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Whether you've never used your VA benefit or you've used it several times, your COE can help establish where you stand. Military Mortgage — Military Serving Military.