Fillable Form VA 26-1880 (2019)

What is VA Form 26-1880?

The VA Form 26-1880 is known as a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE confirms for your lender that you qualify for the VA home loan benefit. This form is used by the United States Department of Veterans Affair. The form will be used by a veteran who needs to determine their eligibility for a VA guaranteed home loan, which is a type of VA benefit.

This form will require information from the applicant to identify them. This includes full name, address, VA claim number, date of birth, and social security number. The veteran will also need to detail their military service. This is what the Department of Veterans Affairs will use in order to determine the eligibility of the applicant. The applicant may need to include other documentation that demonstrates proof of their military service as well.

What is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

The Certificate of Eligibility is known as the starting point of the VA loan process and proves to a lender that a buyer has met the VA’s service requirement. Every veteran has to meet one of the following service requirements before they can obtain a VA loan:

• 181 days of service during peacetime
• 90 days of service during war time
• 6 years of service in the Reserves or National Guard
• Some surviving spouses of service members who have died in the line of duty are also eligible

Who can apply for a VA loan?

To know that you are eligible for a VA loan you must be, veterans, active duty service members, National Guard members, and reservists must meet the basic service requirements set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The spouse of a military member who died while on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability may also be eligible.

How to fill out VA Form 26-1880?

Before filling out the form, make sure that the information given is correct. Write as legible as possible to avoid errors and possible need for corrections. Please read information on page 2 before completing this form. If additional space is required, attach a separate sheet.

Provide the following:

Veterans Information

1. Name of veteran

a. (First, Middle, Last)

2. Date of birth

3. Social security number

4. Other names used during military service

a. Check the appropriate box. (If "Yes," complete Item 4B)

i. Did you serve under another name?

b. Name(s) used during military service (If different from name in Item 1)

5. Daytime telephone number

6. Email address

a. (If applicable)

7. Address

a. (Number and street or rural route, city or P.O., State and ZIP Code)

8. Whether you were discharged, retired, or separated from service because of a disability.

a. Check the appropriate box.

b. VA claim number

9. Military Service (Further instructions for proof of service are on the next page)

a. Whether you are currently on active duty check the corresponding box.

i. You may need to provide a statement of service signed by the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Any Veterans Services Representative will assist you in securing necessary proof of military service.

b. Answer whether you are a purple heart recipient or not.

Branch of service, date entered, date separated, officer or enlisted, service number

c. Active service

i. Do not include any periods of Active Duty for Training or Active Guard Reserve service. Do include any activation for duty under Title 10 U.S.C. (e.g. Reserve or Guard unit mobilized)

d. Reserve or National Guard Service

i. Include any periods of Active Duty for Training (ADT) or Active Guard Reserve service. Do not include any activation for duty under Title 10 U.S.C. (e.g. Reserve or Guard unit mobilized)

You may submit NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service.

10. Previous VA Loans

a. Whether you own any home(s) purchased or refinanced with a VA-guaranteed loan

b. Date of loan

c. Street address

d. City and State

11.

a. Whether you are applying for the one-time only restoration of entitlement to purchase another home

b. Date of loan

c. Street address

d. City and State

12.

a. Whether you are applying for a restoration of entitlement to obtain a regular (cash-out) refinance on your current home

13.

a. Whether you are refinancing an existing VA loan to obtain a lower interest rate without receiving any cash proceeds

Certification that all the above statements are true.

14.

a. Do not write in print.

i. Signature

b. Date signed

Where to file VA Form 26-1880?

It is important that you keep a copy of all the forms you fill out and give to VA. This way you will have your own complete record to refer to.

You can apply for a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through three different methods:

• Apply through a VA approved lender. Try asking your lender, as it is considered to be the easiest and best method of obtaining a COE.
• Apply online through the VA’s eBenefits portal.
• Apply by mail with VA Form 26-1880. You should mail your completed application to the Regional Loan Center of jurisdiction.

If you live in:	Please send your completed application to:
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee	Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Loan Center P.O. Box 100023 Decatur, GA 30031-7023
Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont	Department of Veterans Affairs Cleveland Regional Loan Center 1240 East Ninth Street Cleveland, OH 44199
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming	Department of Veterans Affairs Denver Regional Loan Center Box 25126 Denver, CO 80225
Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas	Department of Veterans Affairs VA Regional Office Loan Guaranty Division (26) 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas	Department of Veterans Affairs Houston Regional Loan Center 6900 Almeda Road Houston, TX 77030-4200
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada	Department of Veterans Affairs Phoenix Regional Loan Center 3333 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85012-2402
District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland Virginia, West Virginia	Department of Veterans Affairs Roanoke Regional Loan Center 210 Franklin Road, S.W. Roanoke, VA 24011
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin	Department of Veterans Affairs St. Paul Regional Loan Center 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling St. Paul, MN 55111-4050
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands	Department of Veterans Affairs St. Petersburg Regional Loan Center 9500 Bay Pines Blvd. St. Petersburg, FL 33744