You can earn a degree from a university in Manila, Madrid or Seoul on the GI Bill, if the program is approved.
GI Bill at foreign schools
- The program must be VA-approved and lead to at least an associate-equivalent degree.
- Distance learning and independent study at foreign schools aren't approved.
- Search approved programs in the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Only schools can request approval.
Post-9/11 students at foreign schools get a housing allowance and tuition up to an annual cap. Check VA's rates page for current amounts.
Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E)
The Pittsburgh Regional Office runs VR&E for veterans in most foreign countries; Manila covers the Philippines. With a referral from your VR&E case manager, the Foreign Medical Program can cover care you need for your rehab plan.
Get answers from vets who've done it
The VA Benefits Abroad channel is free. Ask about your country, your claim or your hospital.
Step by step: starting a degree abroad
- Confirm the program is approved in the GI Bill Comparison Tool before you apply or pay a deposit.
- Apply for benefits. Apply online, or mail VA Form 22-1990 to Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 5215, Janesville, WI 53547.
- Get a Certificate of Eligibility for the foreign school. VA says to request it through Ask VA and include your foreign mailing address and phone number, the school's full name and location, and the degree or program.
- Give your COE to the school so it can certify your enrollment with VA.
- Check your remaining entitlement on VA.gov before each new term.
Common mistakes
- Enrolling before confirming approval. Only the school can request approval, and it isn't instant.
- Picking an online or independent-study option. Those aren't approved at foreign schools.
- Expecting VA to handle visas. Your student visa or residence permit is between you and the host country.
- Not budgeting above the cap. Tuition at foreign schools is paid up to an annual limit. Check the current rates page.
- Changing programs without a new COE. VA says you need proof of eligibility when you change schools or programs.
- Waiting on paper mail. Give VA an email address and check Ask VA for replies, since letters to a foreign address can take weeks.
Documents to keep
| Certificate of Eligibility | Current copy for the school and immigration office |
|---|---|
| Enrollment certification | Each term's confirmation from the school |
| Tuition invoices and receipts | To check what VA paid against what you were billed |
| Passport and student visa | Renewal dates in your calendar |
Who to call
| GI Bill questions | 1-888-442-4551 (U.S. toll-free), or Ask VA online from abroad |
|---|---|
| VR&E | Pittsburgh Regional Office at +1-412-395-6272, or Manila for the Philippines |
Several members have studied in Europe and Asia on the GI Bill. Join the free OCONUS Veterans community to ask how they handled approval and housing.
How this helps in real life
Example scenario (composite, not a real person): A Post-9/11 veteran living in Seoul finds an approved bachelor's program in the Comparison Tool, applies online, then requests a COE for the foreign school through Ask VA with the university's full name and his Korean address. He keeps a folder of each term's enrollment certification and tuition invoices.
Questions about your situation?
Ask in the VA Benefits Abroad channel. Vets who've filed from your country answer fast.
Last reviewed November 2026. Information only. Confirm with the official sources.
