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Are you eligible for a VA loan?

Veterans, active duty personnel, and surviving spouses are eligible

VA loans help make buying or refinancing a home more affordable. Veterans, active-duty personnel, and surviving spouses are eligible for VA loans. Eligibility is generally based on meeting minimum active-duty requirements or having been discharged for a service-related disability. You typically need an honorable discharge to be eligible too.

You'll need to get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) the first time you apply for a VA loan. You may need this certificate when you buy another home or refinance your mortgage too. Remember you still need to meet credit, income, and financial requirements to be approved for a VA loan.

Freedom Mortgage is the #1 VA lender1 in the United States. We are dedicated to helping veterans, service members, and surviving spouses finance homes with VA loans!

VA loan eligibility from the Gulf War to the present

If you are currently on active duty, you need 90 continuous days of service to be eligible for a VA loan.

Many veterans and military personnel fall under the minimum active-duty requirements for the Gulf War period. This period started on August 2, 1990 and continues to the present. You are eligible for a VA loan if during this period you served at least this amount of time:

  • 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, a reduction in force, or for convenience of the government, or
  • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability

VA loan eligibility from peace-time service in the 1980s

Veterans who served during the 1980s need 24 continuous months of service or at least 181 days when they were called or ordered to active duty. Here are the service periods.

1980s September 8, 1980 to August 1, 1990
1980s (officers) October 17, 1981 to August 1, 1990

VA loan eligibility from war-time service

Veterans who served during times of war need 90 days of service or less than 90 days of service if they were discharged for a service-connected disability. Here are the service periods.

World War II September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947
Korean War June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
Vietnam War August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975

VA loan eligibility from peace-time service

Veterans who served during times of peace need 181 days of service or less than 181 days of service if they were discharged for a service-connected disability. Here are the service periods.

post World War II July 26, 1947 to June 26, 1950
post Korean War February 1, 1955 to August 4, 1964
post Vietnam War May 8, 1975 to September 7, 1980
post Vietnam War (officers) May 8, 1975 to October 16, 1981

See the VA website for more information about eligible service periods.

VA loan eligibility for members of the National Guard and Reserves

Members of the National Guard and Reserves are eligible if they have 90 days of active-duty service between August 2, 1990 and the present. You are also eligible if you have 6 credible years in the Selected Reserve or National Guard and you meet certain conditions. See the VA website for more information.

VA loan eligibility for surviving spouses

Surviving spouses of veterans can also be eligible for VA loans. For the spouse to be eligible, the veteran needs to be missing in action, a prisoner of war, or have died in the service or from a service-related disability. There are rules about surviving spouses remarrying that can affect eligibility too. See the VA website for more information.

Talk to Freedom Mortgage about VA loans

Freedom Mortgage is the #1 VA lender1 in the United States. Talk to our experienced Loan Advisors today by calling 877-220-5533 or Get Started online.

1. Inside Mortgage Finance, 2021

How to apply for a VA loan

Learn more about eligibility and VA loan applications

Learn More
Benefits of the VA home loan program

How VA loans make financing a house more affordable for veterans

Learn More
How to refinance a VA loan

Answers to your VA refinancing questions

Learn More

Get started today by getting a personalized evaluation of your home loan options from Freedom Mortgage.

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Get started today by getting a personalized evaluation of your home loan options from Freedom Mortgage.

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