COE
How to get your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the official document that proves to a lender you are entitled to the VA home loan benefit. In most cases, your lender can pull it for you electronically in minutes—but knowing what it says and what it means keeps you in control of your own file.
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How COE eligibility is established
Active duty
Continuous active duty service (usually 90 days or more) qualifies. A statement of service from your commanding officer or adjutant is typically required.
Veterans
Discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Service requirements vary by era—wartime service generally requires fewer days than peacetime. DD-214 is the primary document.
National Guard / Reserves
Typically 6 years of service in Selected Reserve or National Guard, OR active duty service for at least 90 days under Title 10. Discharge records and points statements may be required.
Surviving spouses
Unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability may be eligible. VA Form 26-1817 starts the process.
How to get your COE
- Through your lender: most lenders—including Veterans Lending Group—can pull a COE electronically through VA's ACE (Automated Certificate of Eligibility) system in minutes, often before the first full application.
- Online: Veterans can request through VA.gov directly using eBenefits or the new My HealtheVet/Login.gov system.
- By mail: VA Form 26-1880 submitted with supporting documents—slower but available as a fallback.
What the COE shows (and what it does not)
Your COE confirms entitlement eligibility and the amount of guaranty the VA is willing to extend. It does not confirm approval for a specific loan—that requires credit, income, and appraisal review. Think of the COE as proof of program access, not loan approval.
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