Eligibility
Who qualifies for a VA home loan
Short answer
You can usually get a VA home loan if you are a veteran, active-duty service member, National Guard or Reserve member, or an eligible surviving spouse, and you meet the service time for your era. Current service members need 90 continuous days. Guard and Reserve members need 90 days of non-training Title 10 active duty or 6 creditable years. Your proof is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Minimum service, by when you served
VA sets the minimum service time by era. Most Chicago buyers today fall in the first three rows.
| Your service | Minimum to qualify |
|---|---|
| Serving now on active duty | 90 continuous days |
| Gulf War era, Aug. 2, 1990 to present (veteran) | 24 continuous months, or the full period you were called to duty (at least 90 days) |
| National Guard | 90 days of non-training Title 10 active duty, or 6 creditable years and you continue to serve |
| Selected Reserve | 90 days of non-training active duty, or 6 creditable years and you continue to serve |
| Sept. 8, 1980 to Aug. 1, 1990 | 24 continuous months, or the full period called to duty (at least 181 days) |
| Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II | 90 total days |
| Discharged for a service-connected disability | Less than the minimum may still qualify |
Source: VA.gov eligibility requirements. Some early-discharge reasons, such as hardship or a reduction in force, also qualify with less time.
Discharge status
You need a discharge other than dishonorable. If you have an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, VA says you may still qualify after a discharge upgrade or a VA Character of Discharge review.
Surviving spouses
A surviving spouse can qualify if they receive certain types of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). The spouse of a service member who is missing in action or held as a prisoner of war can also qualify. Spouses who receive DIC also do not pay the VA funding fee. Full surviving spouse guide.
Using the benefit again
The VA home loan is not a one-time benefit. You can use it again after you sell and pay off a VA loan, and you may be able to hold two VA loans at once if you have remaining entitlement, for example after a PCS move. The funding fee is higher on later use with less than 5% down: 3.3% instead of 2.15%. Check your remaining entitlement.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Find your DD214, or ask your unit for a statement of service if you are still serving.
- If you have a disability rating, keep your VA award letter handy. It proves your funding fee exemption.
- Pull your credit reports and fix errors before a lender does.
- Decide where you will live. VA loans are for a primary residence you move into, generally within 60 days.
Meeting the service rule is step one
Eligibility gets you the benefit. A lender still has to approve you for the loan, and you must plan to live in the home. VA looks at your income, debts and residual income, and the lender sets its own credit-score floor. See how lenders qualify VA borrowers.
Common questions
Can National Guard members get a VA loan in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois National Guard members qualify after 90 days of non-training Title 10 active duty, or after 6 creditable years if they continue to serve.
Do I need an honorable discharge for a VA loan?
You need a discharge other than dishonorable. Veterans with an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge can ask for a discharge upgrade or a VA Character of Discharge review.
Can I use a VA loan more than once?
Yes. The benefit is reusable. You can have entitlement restored after selling and paying off a VA loan, and in some cases you can hold two VA loans at once with remaining entitlement.
Are surviving spouses eligible for VA home loans?
Yes, if they receive certain types of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or if their spouse is missing in action or a prisoner of war.
Can I get a VA loan while still on active duty?
Yes, after 90 continuous days of service. You need a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer instead of a DD214.
Do Reservists who were never activated qualify?
Yes, after 6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve, if they continue to serve or were honorably discharged.
Sources
What will your VA funding fee be?
Enter a price and down payment to see the 2026 fee, or check whether you are exempt.
An independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and not a lender. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.