How to Get Your VA Certificate of Eligibility

While you don't technically need your COE to start looking at homes, it's highly recommended to get it before making an offer. Having your COE ready shows sellers you're a serious buyer and speeds up the approval process. Many Nevada lenders (including us) can obtain your COE for you as part of the pre-approval process, so you'll have it ready when you find your dream home.

No! Obtaining your Certificate of Eligibility does NOT involve a credit check and will not impact your credit score in any way. The COE only verifies your military service eligibility—it doesn't review your finances. Your credit will be checked later when you actually apply for the VA loan with a lender, but getting the COE itself is completely separate and has zero credit impact.

You can still get a new COE! If you've paid off your previous VA loan and sold that property, your entitlement is fully restored and your new COE will reflect that. If you still have an active VA loan, you may have remaining entitlement available for a second VA loan (especially after the elimination of loan limits in 2020). Your COE will show your available entitlement amount. Request a new COE to see what's available—many Nevada veterans are surprised to learn they have more entitlement than they thought.

Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability may be eligible for their own COE under certain conditions. However, a spouse cannot obtain a COE using their veteran spouse's benefit while the veteran is living—the veteran must obtain the COE themselves or authorize a lender to do so. If you're a surviving spouse, contact the VA or a VA-approved lender to determine if you qualify for home loan benefits.

Your Certificate of Eligibility doesn't technically expire, but lenders typically want one that's relatively recent (within the past 6-12 months). If you obtained your COE years ago and are now ready to buy a home in Nevada, you should request a new one to ensure the information is current and reflects your available entitlement accurately. It only takes a few minutes to get an updated COE, so there's no reason to use an old one.

If your COE request is denied, the VA will provide a reason. Common issues include insufficient service time, a discharge that wasn't under honorable conditions, or missing service records. If you believe the denial was in error, you can provide additional documentation or appeal the decision through the VA. If your service was less than honorable but you have extenuating circumstances, you can request a Character of Discharge review. Contact a Nevada VA-approved lender or a Veterans Service Officer for help navigating the appeals process.

Yes! Active-duty service members are eligible for a COE after serving at least 90 continuous days (181 days for peacetime service, though we haven't had peacetime since 9/11). Instead of a DD-214, you'll need a Statement of Service from your commanding officer showing your entry date, current status, and any lost time. Many active-duty personnel stationed at Nevada bases like Nellis AFB or NAS Fallon use their VA benefit to buy homes. Your lender can help you obtain the Statement of Service if needed.

No! The COE is completely free whether you obtain it yourself through eBenefits, by mail, or through a VA-approved lender. The VA does not charge any fee for issuing a Certificate of Eligibility. Beware of third-party companies that charge fees to "help" you get your COE—they're unnecessary. You can get it for free on your own or through a legitimate lender at no cost. We obtain COEs for our clients as a free service when they apply for a VA loan.