Plan national-cemetery eligibility
Request a VA burial eligibility determination while the intended person is living.
Who this program may help
Service and family eligibility requirements apply. VA rechecks eligibility when burial is needed.
Read official eligibility instructions1. Check the cemetery and applicant instructions
A pre-need determination is not a gravesite reservation.
Confirm that the intended cemetery uses VA’s national-cemetery process.
Why this matters
Arlington, state and tribal cemeteries have separate processes.
Official action:
Read pre-need eligibility instructionsNCA evaluates eligibility for VA national-cemetery burial.
Official references
2. Prepare the application and available service evidence
VA Form 40-10007 identifies the person and qualifying service.
Use the current form. Follow the authorized-requester instructions if signing for someone else.
Why this matters
VA needs the applicant and service details.
Documents for this step
- VA Form 40-10007 — Request pre-need burial eligibility
Paper pre-need request
alternative - Available DD214 or separation documents recommended
- Authority to request for another person
Apply the current requester instructions
conditional
NCA may request clarification or authority.
Official references
3. Send the pre-need application to NCA
Online, mail and fax methods are available.
Use VA’s online request or the scoped NCA destination.
Why this matters
This application does not file a burial allowance claim.
Official action:
Continue to VA to request pre-need eligibilityBefore death; use scheduling when a burial is needed now.
Keep the request confirmation.
NCA reviews the request.
Official references
4. Keep the decision with your planning records
VA sends a written eligibility determination.
Make sure the person arranging a future burial knows where the letter is stored.
Why this matters
It helps later scheduling but does not reserve a space.
Eligibility is checked again at the time of burial.
Official references
5. Use the scheduling process when burial is needed
The person arranging burial contacts the scheduling office.
Provide the pre-need letter and follow the scheduling instructions.
Why this matters
The letter is not a scheduled service.
Official action:
Open burial scheduling instructionsThe cemetery confirms the burial arrangements.