Understand Your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

A certificate of eligibility (COE) is a form generated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) that will confirm if a Veteran or servicemember meets the necessary VA eligibility requirements to use the VA home loan benefit.  The COE also provides your lender with the necessary information regarding entitlement and/or fees.  The entitlement is the total amount the VA will guarantee your loan for.

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Eligibility for a VA loan COE

Always check with the VA website to confirm because their requirements may update periodically.  For now, the following service requirements must be met for eligibility:

• Honorable discharge

• Served after August 2, 1990 if served for at least 24 continuous months

• Currently serving active duty for at least 90 continuous days

• Members of National Guard and Reservists after 6 years of service or Title 10 orders 

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Application for COE

Call your trusted VA home loan specialist and if you're eligible, they should have a copy of your COE for you within a few minutes.  Information they will need:

• Full name

• Social security number

• Date of birth

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How to get your COE

• Call or text 573-239-9631 direct (this may usually take just a few minutes)

• Complete your online information here for a quicker response

• Visit your VA eBenefits website to apply online (this make take 4-6 weeks for a response)

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Terry Roberts is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and specializes in residential mortgages, including new construction, conventional, FHA, and VA home loans. He has helped more than 10,000 clients start the homebuying process across America over since 2012.  Learn more about Terry...