How Do I Get My DD214? eVetRecs, Mail, and Emergency Requests

To get your DD214, submit a request to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. You can do this online through the eVetRecs portal, by mailing or faxing a completed Standard Form 180, or by sending a signed written request. The veteran or their next-of-kin can request the record; other people need signed authorization from the veteran.¹²

Who Can Request the Record

Military personnel files are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, so the records center will only release them to the veteran, the veteran’s next-of-kin, or a third party with the veteran’s signed authorization, such as an attorney or medical professional.³²

If you are requesting as next-of-kin of a deceased veteran, include proof of death. A copy of the death certificate, a published obituary, or a signed statement from a funeral home will satisfy this requirement, and the request cannot be processed without it.¹

What You Need Before You Start

Gather as much of the following as you can. The more identifiers you provide, the faster the center can locate the file:¹⁴

The veteran’s full name used while in the military
Social Security Number
Military service number
Branch of service
Dates of service
Date and place of birth

Standard Form 180 is designed to capture all of this in one place and is the recommended format, but a signed written letter containing the same information also works.¹

Requesting Online Through eVetRecs

eVetRecs is the official digital portal for these requests. You verify your identity through ID.me, and the system then walks you through entering service details and uploading any signatures or supporting documents.⁵⁶

Requesting by Mail or Fax

Mail a completed and signed Standard Form 180 to:

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

For quicker delivery, fax the form and any supporting documents to 314-801-9195. Make sure the writing is legible and that you have signed the request.⁷

Emergency and Burial Requests

For urgent situations like a burial at a national cemetery or a sudden medical emergency, use the dedicated emergency fax line at 314-801-0764. Mark the request clearly as urgent or as a burial request so staff can pull the file quickly. Funeral directors often submit these requests on behalf of families to help verify eligibility for military honors.⁸⁹¹⁰

How Long It Takes and How to Check Status

Processing time depends on the file and the current workload at the records center. The National Archives asks that you wait at least 90 days before sending a follow-up. You can check progress with the online status tool using the request number you received when you submitted. Completed records arrive by mail or electronically.¹¹

1
National Archives. Military Service Records
2
National Archives. Access to Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)
3
U.S. Department of Justice. The Privacy Act of 1974
4
National Archives. Military Personnel Records FAQ
5
National Archives. Military Service Records
6
National Archives. eVetRecs Help
7
National Archives. Military Service Records – Section: Where to Send My Request
8
National Archives. Emergency Requests and Deadlines – Section: For Burial Requests at a VA National Cemetery
9
National Archives. Information for Funeral Directors
10
National Archives. Archival Requests – Section: Emergency Requests
11
National Archives. Military Service Records – Section: Response Time