How to Get a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility

If you are going to be applying for a VA Home loan then you need to have a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility. A VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility ensures the lender that you have pre-qualified for a VA home loan.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Obtain a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility from your lender. Lenders can usually issue you a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility using ACE (Automated Certificate of Eligibility).

2. Request a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility yourself. You will need to complete VA Form 26-1880. I have provided a link in the resource section to download a pdf of this form.

3. Obtain a copy of your discharge papers. You will need a valid copy of your discharge papers to send in with the VA form 26-1880. These are usually referred to as a DD 214.

4. Send the completed VA Form 26-1880 and necessary documents to the following address:
   VA Loan Eligibility Center
   PO Box 20729
   Winston-Salem, NC 27120
   
   It will usually take an average of 10 days to process your request and send you a response.

Resources

• VA Form 26-1880