Can my spouse be on the VA loan if they're not a veteran?

The VA Lenders Handbook treats a veteran and spouse as the ordinary case: both on the note, both incomes counted, full guaranty. The spouse does not need to be a veteran, does not need their own entitlement, and does not consume yours. The lender underwrites both of you — credit, income, debts — and both of you are liable on the loan. In community property states, a lender may also consider the debts of a spouse who is not on the loan, which surprises people.

A co-borrower who is not your spouse — a parent, a partner, a sibling — is a different structure called a joint loan. VA guarantees only the portion of the loan attributable to the veteran, so on a two-borrower loan with one veteran the guaranty covers half. Lenders generally require a down payment to cover the unguaranteed share, and a number of lenders simply do not originate joint VA loans. Two veterans buying together, each using entitlement, is fine and the guaranty covers both shares.

For the income side of qualifying, including a spouse's job when you are moving on orders, the orders-as-income page covers what the lender documents. For the loan basics, start with the VA loan guidelines and the COE page — only the veteran needs one.