VA Loan Eligibility for National Guard & Reserves: Requirements & Paperwork

Members of the National Guard, Air National Guard and reserves must meet special VA loan eligibility requirements before they can use the VA loan to buy a home. However, there is much more to qualifying for a VA loan than simply being eligible. Let’s look at the VA loan eligibility requirements, including the necessary forms and paperwork you will need before you can apply for a VA loan.

Current or former members of the National Guard, Air National Guard and reserves are eligible to apply for VA loans if they meet one of the following:

• Must have served at least 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime
• Must have served at least 181 consecutive days on active duty during peacetime
• Must have completed six creditable years (“good years”) with their Guard or reserve unit, with an honorable discharge or placement on the retired list
• Must have served at least 90 days of active duty under Title 32 orders, with at least 30 of those days consecutive (added by the Veteran Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020)
• Must have been discharged due to a service-connected disability prior to completing the above minimums

Note: These requirements only make you eligible to apply for a VA loan; they do not guarantee your loan will be approved. You still must meet the financial requirements set by the lender.

Proof of Service for Guard and Reserve

After meeting minimum service requirements, you must provide the VA with proof of service to acquire a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Members with active-duty time should receive a DD Form-214 upon transition. It must state total days served on active duty. For Title 32 activations, confirm the form references the applicable U.S. Code sections (32 USC §§ 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505).

Statement of service

If currently serving on active duty, submit a Statement of Service signed by your unit commander, adjutant, or personnel officer. It must include:

• Full name, date of birth, and Social Security Number
• Date entered into military service
• Total creditable years of service (“good years”)
• Duration of lost time
• Unit command name, location, and contact information

Documents for Discharged Members of the Guard and Reserves

If you are no longer in the Guard or reserves and do not meet active-duty time requirements, submit separation paperwork:

• National Guard: NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) for each period of service, or NGB Form 23 (Retirement Points Accounting) plus proof of character of service
• Reserves: Latest annual retirement points statement and evidence of honorable service

Certificate of Eligibility for National Guard or Reserves

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a requirement for every VA loan application. Lenders who have access to the VA Web LGY system can obtain and process these forms for you in a few minutes. However, if the VA does not have all your records in their system, you can obtain your COE through one of these methods:

• Apply online: VA.gov — the older eBenefits portal has largely been retired
• Apply by mail: Use VA Form 26-1880, Request for Certificate of Eligibility (PDF). Instructions and the mailing address are on the form.

Most COE requests are now processed electronically — about two-thirds are issued immediately. Manual requests can take a few days to a couple of weeks.

Eligibility Does Not Guarantee a Loan

Meeting VA loan criteria establishes eligibility to apply, but approval still depends on the lender. Factors include income, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio. Most VA lenders require a minimum credit score of 620, though this varies.

If you are planning to buy a home with a VA loan, check out our VA loan rates page, which lists current interest rates from various lenders. It will give you an idea about current interest rates in your area.

Equal Housing Opportunity. The Department of Veterans Affairs affirmatively administers the VA Home Loan Program by assuring that all Veterans are given an equal opportunity to buy homes with VA assistance. Federal law requires all VA Home Loan Program participants – builders, brokers, and lenders offering housing for sale with VA financing – must comply with Fair Housing Laws and may not discriminate based on the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of the Veteran.

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Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet's founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Tennessee Air...

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