The Military Homebuyer’s Guide to Making Sense of VA Entitlement Codes
If you are interested in buying a home with a VA home loan, your lender will request your certificate of eligibility, or COE, from the VA.
When you receive the COE, it will have a code at the upper left of the form, called an entitlement code. Your COE may say “Entitlement Code 10” or “Entitlement Code 05.” What do these codes mean, and should you pay attention to them at all?
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First of all, the fact that you received a COE is a good sign. This is your first step to establishing eligibility to buy a home with a VA loan. If the COE indicates full entitlement of $36,000, it means you are eligible buy a home with a purchase price of $417,000 or even higher with a VA jumbo loan.
Sample entitlement code
The entitlement code simply tells you how you are entitled to the VA home loan benefit.
What the VA Entitlement Code Tells You
Your VA entitlement code shows the period in which you earned entitlement, or alternative ways in which you are entitled to a VA home loan.
The VA has established certain time periods of service and other factors that determine eligibility. For instance, if you served a minimum of 181 days in 1979, you are most likely eligible. But in 1985, you will need two years of service history.
Here is a quick reference guide on VA entitlement codes:
VA Entitlement Codes
| Entitlement Code | Separation, Effective, or Honorable Discharge Era |
| 01 | World War II |
| 02 | Korean War |
| 03 | Post-Korean |
| 04 | Vietnam War |
| 05 | Entitlement Restored |
| 06 | Un-remarried Surviving Spouse |
| 07 | Spouse of POW/MIA |
| 08 | Post World War II |
| 09 | Post-Vietnam |
| 10 | Gulf War |
| 11 | Selected Reserves |
Dates that correspond to the above eras
| Era | Dates | Minimum Service* |
| WWII | 09/16/40 – 07/25/47 | 90 continuous days |
| Peacetime | 07/26/47 – 06/26/50 | 181 days |
| Korean | 06/27/50 – 01/31/55 | 90 days |
| Post-Korean | 02/01/55 – 08/04/64 | 181 days |
| Vietnam | 08/05/64 – 05/07/75 | 90 days |
| Post-Vietnam | 05/08/75 – 09/07/80 | 181 days |
| Post-Vietnam | 09/08/80 – 08/01/90 | 2 years |
| Persian Gulf | 8/2/90 – undetermined | 2 years or period called to active duty, not less than 90 days |
Other ways in which you may be eligible for a VA home loan
Other Ways Eligible For a VA Home Loan
| Other Eligible Persons | Minimum Service Required |
| Active Duty (valid while on active duty) | 90 continuous days (181 days in peacetime) |
| Active Reserve or National Guard | 6 years in Selected Reserves |
| Unmarried surviving spouse | No time requirement |
| Spouse of POW/MIA | Veteran has been POW/MIA for 90 days |
Related Article: Buying a Home with a VA Loan
More about VA Home Loan Eligibility
For more information about eligibility, see our VA Home Loan Eligibility Page.
Still have questions about entitlement codes, your COE, or VA home loan eligibility? Our licensed and reputable VA loan officers would love to help you.
Click here to complete a short request form and a knowledgeable VA lender will be in touch with you.
Source: VA loan training guide
