Credit

What credit score do I need for a VA loan?

Short answer

VA itself does not set a hard minimum credit score — it's a lender decision. Most lenders want 580–620 minimum on standard VA files; some go lower with manual underwriting and compensating factors. Stronger scores often mean better pricing.

Plain-English explanation

Lender overlays vary: 580 is a common floor for streamlined VA files; 620 is broader; 640+ unlocks more lenders and tighter pricing. Manual underwriting can sometimes approve below 580 with strong residual income, low DTI, and clean recent payment history. Recent late payments, collections, and high credit-card utilization affect the file separately from the score. Subject to lender overlays.

Practical example

A veteran at 590 with clean recent payment history, a low DTI, and strong residual income often clears VA with the right lender. A veteran at 650 with a recent 30-day late on a credit card may face the same overlay scrutiny — score isn't the only signal.