Fill VA Form 26-1880 online
Request for a Certificate of Eligibility
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VA Form 26-1880 in short
VA Form 26-1880 is the paper request for a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE shows your lender that you qualify for the VA home loan benefit. VA says requesting online or through your lender is usually faster than mailing this form.
| Issued by | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration, Loan Guaranty Service |
|---|---|
| Current version | Rev. December 2025 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | Veterans, active-duty service members, and current or former National Guard and Reserve members who want a COE. The form is also used to ask for restoration of entitlement. VA says some surviving spouses use VA Form 26-1817 instead. |
| Who receives it | The VA Regional Loan Center that covers the state where you live. |
| Where to send it | Mail it to the Regional Loan Center for your state. The addresses are listed on page 4 of the form, for example the Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Roanoke, St. Paul and St. Petersburg centers and the Honolulu regional office. You can also request a COE online on VA.gov or ask your lender to get it through VA's Web LGY system. |
| Deadline | No deadline. You need the COE before your lender can close a VA-backed loan. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF |
What changed
The DEC 2025 edition replaced the OCT 2022 edition. The form says the OCT 2022 edition will not be used. VA did not publish a list of changes.
How to fill out VA Form 26-1880, line by line
| Section I, item 1 | Name to appear on COE Your full name as you want it on the certificate. If it differs from your service documents or VA records, attach a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court document. |
| Section I, items 2A to 9B | Identifying information Other names used in service, mailing address, date of birth, Social Security number, service number, phone and email. Say whether you were discharged because of disability, and give your VA claim number if you know it. |
| Section II, items 10A to 10C | Active duty status Say whether you are on active duty, whether you received the Purple Heart, and whether you have a pre-discharge claim pending. The instructions explain how these can affect the VA funding fee. |
| Section II, items 11A and 11B | Periods of service List active service and, separately, Reserve or National Guard service, with branch and dates entered and separated. The instructions explain which proof of service to attach, such as a DD214 or a statement of service. |
| Section III, item 12 | How you will use the COE Entitlement inquiry only, purchase a home, cash-out refinance, or interest rate reduction refinance loan. |
| Section III, items 13A to 16D | Previous VA loans Say whether you used a VA home loan before and still own any of those homes. For each, give the address, loan number, loan date and whether you are asking for restoration of entitlement. |
| Section III, items 17A to 17D | Disaster damage Answer if you still own a home financed with a VA loan that was destroyed or substantially damaged by a federally declared natural disaster. |
| Section IV, items 19A and 19B | Signature and date The veteran signs and dates the form. The form says do not print your name in the signature box. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mailing the form to the wrong Regional Loan Center. Use the table on page 4 to find the center for your state.
- Using the OCT 2022 edition. The current form says it will not be used.
- Not attaching proof of service when it is readily available. The form says eligibility can often be found in VA systems, but recommends proof of service.
- Asking for a name on the COE that does not match service records, without attaching a document that supports the change.
- Leaving out previous VA loans, or not saying whether you still own those homes.
- Sending original documents. The instructions say copies are acceptable.
- Printing your name in the signature box instead of signing.
Questions about VA Form 26-1880
Is there a faster way than VA Form 26-1880?
VA says you can request a COE online, or your lender may get it through VA's Web LGY system. Mail requests may take longer.
Where do I mail VA Form 26-1880?
To the VA Regional Loan Center for the state where you live. The full list of addresses is on page 4 of the form.
What proof of service do I need?
For most veterans, VA asks for a copy of the DD214. Active-duty members and current Guard or Reserve members who were never activated need a statement of service signed by their commander, adjutant or personnel officer.
Can I get my entitlement back after a previous VA loan?
The instructions say that if you paid off the VA loan and sold the home, you can generally have entitlement restored. If you paid it off but still own the home, you may get a one-time restoration.
Can a surviving spouse use this form?
VA's COE page says a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation uses VA Form 26-1817. Others send VA Form 21P-534EZ with a marriage license and the veteran's death certificate.
Related forms
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.