What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan?

A Veteran’s Affairs (VA) loan is a mortgage benefit given to service members on active duty, returning service members, or surviving spouses to finance a home. The credit score requirements for these loans are typically lower than standard loans. There is no minimum credit score mentioned by the Department of Veteran Affairs for a VA loan. This is because the VA itself does not lend money. It only guarantees a portion of the funds. Private lenders, like banks or mortgage companies, set their own individual credit score requirements to grant a VA loan.

In general, like most loans available to the general public, a good FICO® score is advisable. But lenders typically accept credit scores that are upwards of 620 (in the fair FICO range) for a VA loan.