Burial in a VA national cemetery is generally open to veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, service members who die on active duty, and their eligible spouses and dependent children. Some members of the Reserve and National Guard also qualify. For those who are eligible, the VA provides the gravesite, opening and closing, a grave liner, a headstone or marker and perpetual care at no cost to the family.
The rules have details and exceptions, so this guide walks through who qualifies, what is included, and how to confirm eligibility before it is needed.
Who is eligible
Veterans
A veteran is generally eligible if they served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. An honorable or general discharge usually qualifies. Discharges characterized as "other than honorable" or bad conduct may require a case-by-case review, and a dishonorable discharge generally disqualifies a person.
Many veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or entered as officers after October 16, 1981) must also have completed a minimum period of service, typically 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period for which they were called. There are exceptions, for example for those discharged for a service-connected disability or hardship.
Service members who die on active duty
Members of the armed forces who die while on active duty are eligible.
Reserve and National Guard members
Members of the Reserve and National Guard may be eligible if they:
- Served on federal active duty (other than for training) and meet the veteran criteria above
- Were entitled to retired pay, or would have been but for being under age 60
- Died while on training duty or from injuries or disease incurred during training duty
Recent law has expanded eligibility for some Reserve and Guard members, so anyone in this group should check current VA guidance or request a pre-need determination.
Spouses and surviving spouses
The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran is generally eligible, even if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery. A spouse who dies before the veteran can be buried first. In many cases a surviving spouse who remarries remains eligible based on the marriage to the veteran.
Dependent children
Eligible dependents include:
- Minor children of an eligible veteran
- Unmarried adult children who became permanently unable to support themselves due to a disability before reaching adulthood
- In some cases, unmarried children who were full-time students up to a certain age at the time of death
Other groups
Certain other groups can qualify, including some commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and NOAA, some World War II Merchant Mariners, and other categories defined by law. The VA can confirm these individually.
Who is generally not eligible
- Anyone whose only service was active duty for training in the Reserve or Guard, unless they meet one of the criteria above
- Veterans discharged under dishonorable conditions
- People convicted of certain serious federal or state capital crimes, or certain sex offenses, as defined by law
- Former spouses of veterans whose marriage ended in divorce
- Adult children who do not meet the dependent criteria
- Other relatives, such as parents or siblings, with limited exceptions for parents of certain service members
What the VA provides
| Benefit | Provided in a national cemetery? | Also available in a private cemetery? |
|---|---|---|
| Gravesite or columbarium niche | Yes, at no cost | No (family buys the plot) |
| Opening and closing of the grave | Yes, at no cost | No |
| Grave liner for casket burial | Yes, at no cost | No |
| Government headstone or marker | Yes, at no cost | Yes, for the veteran (or a medallion for a private headstone) |
| Perpetual care | Yes | No |
| Burial flag | Yes | Yes |
| Presidential Memorial Certificate | Yes | Yes |
| Military funeral honors | Available on request | Available on request |
Spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery are usually inscribed on the veteran's headstone (commonly on the reverse side of an upright stone) rather than receiving their own marker.
The family pays for funeral home services, such as transportation, preparation, a casket or urn, and any viewing or service at the funeral home. Some families may qualify for a VA burial allowance to help with these costs, depending on circumstances. Our guide on how much does a burial cost outlines the typical funeral home charges.
Pre-need eligibility determination
The VA encourages veterans and spouses to confirm eligibility before it is needed. You can apply for a pre-need eligibility determination using VA Form 40-10007. You submit it with a copy of the veteran's discharge papers (such as a DD Form 214), and the VA reviews it and sends a decision letter.
A pre-need determination does not reserve a specific gravesite or cemetery. What it does is settle the eligibility question ahead of time, so that at the time of need the family and funeral director can schedule the burial quickly without searching for paperwork. Keep the decision letter with your important papers and tell your family where it is.
How burials are scheduled
At the time of need, the funeral director (or the family) contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. They will need:
- The deceased's full name, date of death and relationship to the veteran
- The veteran's discharge documents or pre-need decision letter
- The preferred national cemetery
- Whether the burial is casket or cremation
- Information about any spouse or family member already buried in a national cemetery
The office verifies eligibility and schedules the burial. Families can choose which open national cemetery they want, but the specific gravesite is assigned by the cemetery. You can browse options on our national cemeteries page or look for the closest one with near me.
National cemeteries vs Arlington
Arlington National Cemetery is run by the Army, not the VA, and its eligibility rules are stricter, especially for in-ground burial. Qualifying for a VA national cemetery does not automatically mean qualifying for Arlington. See what is a veterans cemetery for how the different types compare.
State veterans cemeteries as an alternative
If the nearest national cemetery is far away, a state veterans cemetery may be closer. These are operated by states, often with VA grant funding, and generally follow similar eligibility rules, sometimes with added residency requirements. Browse veterans cemeteries by state, such as /texas/veterans-cemeteries/.