How to Get a DD214 Online: A Step-by-Step Guide for Veterans and Families

If your DD214 has been lost, you need another copy for your records, or you are helping an eligible family member locate military service documents, much of the request process can now begin online.

For many Veterans, the National Archives' eVetRecs system is the primary online request method. Some Veterans with more recent military service may instead be able to access records through the Department of Defense's milConnect system.

The important distinction is that submitting a DD214 request online is not always the same as instantly downloading the DD214.

Records may still need to be located, reviewed, or retrieved from a military records repository before they can be released.

Can You Get a DD214 Online?

Yes. Veterans and qualifying next of kin can request many military service records online.

The National Archives allows eligible requesters to use eVetRecs to request:

DD214 and other separation documents, Official Military Personnel File records, replacement medals, and certain medical and health records.

NARA currently requires users to verify their identity through ID.me when submitting new eVetRecs requests and when retrieving electronic responses.

Whenever possible, NARA provides the completed response digitally and sends retrieval instructions to the email address supplied with the request.

Step 1: Determine Who Is Making the Request

Before beginning, determine whether you are requesting your own military record or requesting records for someone else.

A Veteran can generally request their own non-archival military personnel records.

If the Veteran is deceased, the National Archives recognizes certain relatives as next of kin for access to non-archival records.

NARA defines next of kin as:

An un-remarried surviving spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

A family member does not automatically receive unrestricted access to the records of a living Veteran simply because they are related. The Veteran may need to authorize the release.

For detailed access rules, read Who Can Legally Request a Veteran's Military Records? .

Step 2: Identify the Veteran's Branch and Separation Date

Military records are not all stored in one universal online database.

The Veteran's branch of service and separation date can help determine whether the record is available through milConnect, the National Archives, or another military personnel command.

VA currently directs certain Veterans to DoD's milConnect system if they were discharged after these dates:

Air Force: after October 1, 2004
Army: after October 1, 2002
Marine Corps: after January 1, 1999
Navy: after January 1, 1995

VA also states that certain Marine Corps records from 1998 to the present and Coast Guard records from 2008 to the present may need to be requested through the appropriate personnel command.

Step 3: Gather the Information Needed to Locate the Record

Before starting the request, collect as much accurate information about the Veteran's military service as possible.

Useful information includes:

The Veteran's complete name used during military service, Social Security number, date and place of birth, branch of service, dates of service, and service number if one was assigned.

If you do not know every detail, the request may still be possible. NARA asks requesters to provide as much information as they can.

Avoid guessing at service dates or identifying information when you are unsure. Incorrect information can make locating the appropriate record more difficult.

Step 4: Start the eVetRecs Request

If the National Archives is the appropriate records source, begin with the eVetRecs system.

Select the option to make a new request and sign in using an identity-verified ID.me account.

If you do not already have an ID.me account, you can create one during this process.

NARA may require additional identity-verification steps as part of that process.

Step 5: Identify Yourself as the Veteran or Next of Kin

eVetRecs asks who is making the request.

If you are requesting your own record, select Veteran.

If the Veteran has died and you qualify as next of kin, select Next of Kin of Veteran and identify your relationship to the Veteran.

Next-of-kin requests for non-archival records require proof of the Veteran's death.

Acceptable proof can include a death certificate, letter from a funeral home, or published obituary.

Families should review How to Get a DD214 for a Deceased Veteran for detailed instructions.

Step 6: Enter the Veteran's Military Service Information

eVetRecs will ask for information about the Veteran and their military service.

Enter the Veteran's name as it was used during military service and provide as much of the requested service information as possible.

NARA specifically warns that missing information can contribute to processing delays.

If there are name variations, unusual service circumstances, or other details that may help identify the record, include them when the system provides an opportunity for additional information.

Step 7: Specify That You Need the DD214

The system will ask which military documents or information you are requesting.

Select the appropriate separation document or DD214 option and provide any additional information requested.

If you need other records from the Veteran's Official Military Personnel File, those may also be requested depending on your eligibility and the purpose of the request.

If your DD214 contains an error and you are actually trying to change the military record rather than obtain another copy, that is a separate process.

See How to Correct a DD214: DD215 Explained .

Step 8: Choose Where the Response Should Be Sent

eVetRecs asks where you want the response delivered and requires an email address.

The National Archives states that whenever possible, it provides a digital response and sends retrieval instructions to the email address entered with the request.

Make sure the email address is correct and that your email system allows messages from the @nara.gov domain.

Some records or circumstances may still result in a response being provided by U.S. Mail.

Can You Request a DD214 Without Using eVetRecs?

Yes.

The National Archives also accepts Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records.

SF-180 can be mailed or faxed to the appropriate records custodian.

The form includes a routing table based on the Veteran's branch of service, separation date, and type of record being requested.

NARA recommends SF-180 because it collects the information needed to conduct an effective military-record search.

Is an Online DD214 Request an Instant Download?

Usually not.

eVetRecs is an online request system. It does not mean every military personnel record is already stored in a searchable digital database.

The National Archives states that recent military service and medical records are not simply available online through NARA, and many historical personnel records remain paper-based.

Records may therefore need to be located and processed before an electronic response can be issued.

For the specific question of immediate electronic access, read Can I Download My DD214 Online? .

How Long Does It Take to Get a DD214 Online?

There is no guaranteed turnaround time for every DD214 request.

NARA says response time depends on:

The complexity of the request, availability of the records, and current workload.

The National Personnel Records Center currently receives approximately 4,000 to 5,000 requests per day.

NARA asks requesters not to submit a follow-up before 90 days have elapsed, because duplicate inquiries can contribute to further delays.

The 90-day guidance is not a promise that every request takes 90 days. Some records may be available sooner, while older or complicated searches can take longer.

Read How Long Does It Take to Get a DD214? for a detailed explanation.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a DD214 Online?

Most Veterans and qualifying next of kin can obtain basic non-archival DD214s and certain other military service records directly from the government without a government fee.

Fees can apply to older archival personnel files and certain more extensive records requests.

Private companies may also charge separately for records-request preparation and assistance.

To understand the difference between free government requests, archival fees, and private assistance, read How Much Does It Cost to Get a DD214? .

What If You Lost Your DD214?

Losing your personal copy does not normally mean the government's copy has disappeared.

Depending on your service history, the record may still exist in your Official Military Personnel File, a DoD electronic system, a military personnel command, or another federal records repository.

If you know you previously had a DD214 but can no longer locate it, read How to Replace a Lost DD214 .

If you are unsure whether a DD214 was ever issued to you, see What Happens If I Never Received My DD214? .

What If You Need a DD214 for VA Benefits?

Do not automatically delay a VA benefits application just because you do not have your personal DD214.

VA currently states that when it receives an application for VA benefits, VA will request the Veteran's DD214 as part of the application process.

Veterans therefore generally do not need to obtain a replacement DD214 from the National Archives before filing a VA benefits application solely for VA's use.

Having your own copy remains useful for many other purposes.

Learn more in Why You Need a DD214 for VA Benefits .

What If You Need a DD214 for a VA Home Loan?

A VA home loan may create a more direct need for discharge documentation.

Separated Veterans requesting a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility may need their discharge or separation papers, commonly the DD214.

If you are planning to purchase a home and cannot locate your DD214, addressing the missing record before underwriting or closing can reduce the risk of a time-sensitive documentation problem.

Read How to Use a DD214 for a VA Home Loan .

Can a Family Member Request a DD214 Online?

Yes, when the requester qualifies under the applicable access rules.

Qualifying next of kin of a deceased Veteran can use eVetRecs to request military personnel records.

For non-archival records, proof of the Veteran's death is required.

A family member requesting records for a living Veteran generally needs appropriate authorization from that Veteran rather than relying solely on the family relationship.

Adult children helping a parent can read How to Get a DD214 for a Parent .

Spouses can review Can a Spouse Request a DD214? .

What If the DD214 Is Needed for an Urgent Burial?

Do not treat an urgent burial request like an ordinary online DD214 request.

If the Veteran is being buried in a VA national cemetery and the family cannot locate the military records, VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office can attempt to locate the documentation needed to determine burial eligibility.

NARA also provides emergency procedures for certain other burial and natural-disaster military-record requests.

Families facing an immediate burial need should review How to Use a DD214 for Burial Benefits rather than relying on an ordinary records-request timeline.

What If the Military Record Is More Than 62 Years Old?

Military personnel files generally become archival 62 years after separation from military service.

Once a record becomes archival, it is generally open to the public and follows different access and fee rules.

This can be important for children, grandchildren, genealogists, and historians researching military service from many decades ago.

Archival Official Military Personnel Files are subject to National Archives copying fees.

What If You Need Proof of Service Before the DD214 Arrives?

A DD214 is not the only military document that can contain evidence of service.

Depending on the program or organization requesting verification, another separation document, personnel record, retirement record, military order, award record, or reconstructed record may sometimes be accepted.

The organization requesting the proof ultimately determines what documentation it will accept.

Read How to Prove Military Service Without a DD214 for additional options.

How to Get a DD214 Online: The Short Version

For most requests, the process can be summarized in a few steps:

1. Determine whether you are the Veteran, qualifying next of kin, or an authorized requester.
2. Identify the Veteran's branch of service and separation date.
3. Gather accurate military service and identifying information.
4. Check whether the record may be available through milConnect.
5. If appropriate, start an eVetRecs request and verify your identity through ID.me.
6. Select the DD214 or other records you need.
7. Submit the request and wait for the appropriate records custodian to process it.

Veterans who prefer not to use eVetRecs can also submit Standard Form 180 by mail or fax.

The most important point is that "online DD214 request" does not necessarily mean "instant DD214 download." The record may still need to be located and processed before it can be delivered.