AFTER you have Applied and been approved for VA Health Care you can get yourself a VHIC.
Benefits of the VHIC
The VHIC has various benefits:
Allows for quicker check-ins to your appointments at your VA medical center (VAMC), at the self-help kiosks.
Can be used to show proof of Veteran status to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants.
Veterans whose VHIC says 'service connected' can use the ID to Access to military installations, commissary, exchange and MWR retail privileges.
REAL ID compliant form of identification.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The VHIC is NOT a credit or insurance card! It does NOT pay co-pays or authorize care at non-VA facilities!
If you are using your VHIC to access a military installation go to the visitor center first! That way you can be registered into their systems. That said, be sure to plan ahead and plan on this first go delay!
This is a per-installation process!
You CAN sponsor people (let them on base with you), though they will likely need to get a visitor pass. However, some bases will not allow you to sponsor anyone other than your VA recognized Caregiver (VA will have issued a letter showing them as such).
If you are trying to go to an overseas base it is at the base commander’s discretion and the standing SOFA agreement as to if you can yourself get on base or sponsor people.
Obtaining a VHIC
There are two ways to obtain a VHIC:
Online; or
In-person.
Online
1. Click Here.
2. Upload a color picture of yourself.
Pictures MUST meet ALL of the following criteria:
Taken within the last 6 months;
White or off-white background;
Eyes are open, without your hair covering your eyes or ears;
Full front view of your face (no hats, head coverings, face coverings, headphones, or eyeglasses); and
Be cropped: Picture should be a square shape from your shoulders up (like a passport photo).
3. Upload a picture of your valid Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The address on your ID MUST match the address that the VA has for you!
If your address is out of date click Here to update it.
Pictures must be saved as a .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .tiff file.
In-person
Schedule an appointment with your Nearest VA Medical Center's enrollment coordinator.
Bring a valid Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth to your appointment.
Note:
If your ID doesn’t show your CURRENT address, you’ll need to bring a separate document to confirm your address. This could be a utility bill, voter registration card, or another mailed letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Around 2 weeks if you live in the US. If you live overseas, it can easily take over a month.
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If you made an online request, you can call the VA at 877-222-8387. If you went in-person, you should call the VAMC that you went to.
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You can request a new one HERE.
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Nope, you just need to renew/replace the card. Follow the same instructions as above for requesting a new card.
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Yes, as your new card can allow you access to post, commissary, etc.
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No, as there is nothing different from being 0% or 100% Perm and Total with a VHIC.
Though, if you are 100%, you should click HERE to learn about the Disabled American Veteran ID which is a separate card with additional benefits.