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Guide

How to get a DD-214, free

Last checked 2026-10-18. Written in plain English by Veteran Records Finder; not legal advice.

Short answer: If you are the veteran, or the next of kin of a veteran who has died, you can get a copy of the DD-214 free from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis. (Files of veterans who left service more than 62 years ago are archival: anyone can order them for a $25 or $70 copy fee.) You can ask online, by mail or by fax. You do not need to pay a company to do it.

Veteran Records Finder is independent. We are not part of the VA, the National Archives or the Department of Defense. We just want to make this easier.

What a DD-214 is

The DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is the one-page summary a service member gets on leaving active duty. It shows dates of service, rank, job, the last unit, awards, and the type of discharge. It is the paper most often needed for veterans' benefits, burial honors, home loans and many job and tax programs.

The DD-214 started in 1950. If your veteran served in World War II, the paper looks different. Army veterans usually got a WD AGO 53-55 (enlisted) or WD AGO 53-98 (officers). Navy veterans usually got a NAVPERS 553, "Notice of Separation." These count the same way for most purposes. Ask for "separation documents" and NPRC will send what exists.

Who can ask

  • The veteran, for any record.
  • Next of kin of a deceased veteran: a surviving spouse who has not remarried, a father, mother, son, daughter, sister or brother.
  • Anyone at all, once the record is "archival." Records become public 62 years after the veteran left the service. In 2026 that means roughly anyone who left in 1964 or earlier. Archival copies have a fee (see below).

Grandchildren, nieces and nephews are not on the next-of-kin list. If the record is not yet archival, ask a parent, aunt or uncle who is on the list to sign the request, or ask the veteran's own permission if he or she is living.

Three ways to ask

  1. Online (eVetRecs). Go to the National Archives "Request Military Service Records" page and choose Start Request Online. As of 2026 the online system asks you to verify your identity with ID.me.
  2. By mail. Fill out Standard Form 180 (SF-180) and mail it to: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138.
  3. By fax. Fax the signed SF-180 to 314-801-9195.

Recently separated veterans can often download their own DD-214 through the Defense Department's milConnect website.

Don't forget the county courthouse. After they came home, many veterans recorded their discharge papers with the county clerk where they lived. A copy may be sitting in the deed records today. Rules on who can see it vary by state, so call the clerk first.

What to include

The more you know, the faster it goes. NPRC asks for:

  • The full name used in service
  • Service number (and Social Security number, if service was after the early 1970s; we never ask for it, but NPRC may)
  • Branch of service and rough dates of service
  • Date and place of birth
  • For next of kin: proof of death, such as a death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary
  • A signature and date

If the veteran was Army (discharged 1912 to 1960) or Air Force (discharged 1947 to 1964), the record may have been hurt in the 1973 fire. Add the place of discharge, last unit, and place of entry if you know them. See our guide What the 1973 fire means for your family.

What it costs and how long it takes

  • Free for the veteran and next of kin, for records that are not yet archival.
  • Archival records (62+ years since discharge) are open to anyone for a copy fee. NARA lists $25 for a file of 5 pages or fewer and $70 for 6 pages or more. Most files are 6 or more.
  • Timing: NARA has said most routine requests for separation papers are answered in under a week, and other requests within about 20 working days, but times vary. NARA asks you not to send a follow-up request before 90 days.

Watch out for paid "DD-214 services"

Some companies charge to order a DD-214 for you. NARA itself warns that this is a free service. Never pay to request your own or your parent's DD-214. And never use the emergency line unless there is a real emergency, like a funeral this week.

Need it for a funeral? For burial in a VA national cemetery, the funeral home or family can call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117; they work with NPRC directly. For other burials, NPRC accepts urgent requests by fax at 314-801-0764 with proof of death.

While you wait

The official file can take weeks. While you wait, you can search for your veteran free and we will email you a private, cited report built from public archives, like WWII enlistment records, Navy muster rolls and VA burial records. It often turns up the service number and unit, which make the official request go faster.

Common questions

Is a DD-214 free?

Yes, for the veteran and next of kin. Archival records (62+ years since discharge) cost $25 or $70 for a copy from NARA.

Can a grandchild request a grandparent's DD-214?

Not as next of kin. A grandchild can order the file once it is archival (62+ years after discharge), or ask a parent, aunt or uncle to sign.

What if my veteran served in WWII?

There may be no DD-214. Ask for "separation documents"; NPRC will send the WD AGO 53-55, 53-98 or NAVPERS 553 if it exists.

How do I prove I am next of kin?

Send proof of death (a death certificate, funeral home letter or published obituary) and sign the request.

Do I need the Social Security number?

No. It helps for later service, but a full name, branch, dates and birth date are often enough.

Start with what's public. Type a name and what you know, and we'll email a private, cited report built from free archives. Search for your veteran, free

Sources

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Veteran Records Finder is independent: not part of the VA, the National Archives or the Department of Defense.