Reviewed by Jeff Shin, NMLS #1041652. Updated .
Also called: COE.
Who can be eligible
The VA sets eligibility by service history. Veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members who meet the service requirements, and certain surviving spouses can qualify. The COE is how a lender confirms it.
How to get a COE
- Online. Apply through VA.gov.
- Through your lender. Many lenders can request it through the VA’s online system, called WebLGY.
- By mail. Send VA Form 26-1880 to the VA. This takes longer.
If records are missing, the request can stall, so start before you shop for a house. See COE timing checks before house hunting.
What happens next
A COE shows you have the benefit. It is not a loan approval. The lender still reviews your credit, income, debt-to-income ratio, and residual income, and the home has to pass a VA appraisal.
Related terms
- VA funding fee
- VA IRRRL (Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan)
- VA residual income
- Pre-approval vs. prequalification
Related on BankPricer
Sources
Definitions on this page are summarized from the agencies that set the rules. Lenders can add stricter requirements. Checked October 7, 2026.
Not sure which of these applies to you?
That is usually the actual question. Send the situation rather than the product name — purchase or refinance, primary or investment, price range, and timeline — and you get the structures that fit, with what each one costs.