Arlington National Cemetery is a military burial ground run by the U.S. Department of Defense, not a public cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery sits on 639 acres in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a federal military cemetery, which means burial there is restricted to certain members of the military, veterans, and their family members. The cemetery does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis — the Department of Defense determines who is buried there based on specific may be able to access rules.

Unlike a civilian cemetery where you can purchase a plot, Arlington does not charge for burial. However, space is limited, and the cemetery has stopped accepting new burials for some categories of people. Understanding who can be buried there, what the process requires, and how long it takes matters if you are planning ahead for yourself or a family member.

Key Takeaways

  • Arlington accepts active-duty service members, retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, and certain veterans and their spouses and children, but has closed to other veteran categories since 2020.
  • You cannot request Arlington directly — the military branch or the Department of Veterans Affairs must nominate the deceased or submit the request on behalf of the family.
  • The Arlington National Cemetery office reviews each case and makes the final decision about whether the person meets current may be able to access rules.
  • The burial process typically takes several weeks from the time the military or VA submits the request, and the cemetery coordinates directly with the funeral home.
  • If someone does not meet Arlington's criteria, state veterans cemeteries and other federal cemeteries offer burial options at no cost to may be able to access veterans and their families.

Who can be buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington accepts the following categories: active-duty service members from any branch of the military; retirees who served on active duty; Medal of Honor recipients; former spouses of service members under certain conditions; and the spouses and unmarried children of people in these categories. Dependent parents of service members may also be buried there.

However, Arlington stopped accepting new burials for most other veterans in January 2020. This means that veterans who were not on active duty, did not retire from the military, and do not fall into one of the other named categories are no longer buried there, even if they served honorably. The cemetery made this decision because it was running out of space and projected it would reach capacity within decades.

The specific rules for spouses and children depend on the service member's status and the date of marriage or birth. For example, a spouse married to a retiree before the retiree's death is may be able to access, but the rules differ for former spouses and for children born after retirement. The Arlington National Cemetery website lists the full may be able to access criteria, and the cemetery's office can answer questions about individual situations.

How the burial request process works

You do not contact Arlington National Cemetery directly to request a burial. Instead, the military branch where the person served, or the Department of Veterans Affairs, must submit the request on behalf of the family. If the person died on active duty, the military handles the request automatically. If a retiree or veteran dies, the family typically works with the funeral home, which then contacts the appropriate military branch or the VA to initiate the process.

The funeral home is usually the first point of contact after a death. Tell the funeral director that you want to explore Arlington burial, and they will reach out to the military or VA on your behalf. The funeral home will need a copy of the discharge papers (called a DD Form 214 for most veterans) and other documents proving military service and may be able to access. The military or VA will then submit the request to Arlington's office.

Arlington's office reviews each request and decides whether the person meets current may be able to access rules. This review can take time, and the cemetery may request additional documents if the service record is unclear. Once Arlington approves the request, the cemetery coordinates with the funeral home to schedule the burial service. The entire process from death to burial typically takes several weeks.

What happens if someone does not meet Arlington's criteria

If the person does not meet Arlington's may be able to access rules — for example, if they are a veteran who served but did not retire and fell outside the categories Arlington still accepts — burial at Arlington will not be an option. However, other burial grounds exist specifically for veterans and their families.

The Department of Veterans Affairs runs 155 national cemeteries across the United States, separate from Arlington. These cemeteries accept a broader range of veterans: anyone who served on active duty and received an honorable or general discharge is usually buried there at no cost. Spouses and dependent children of may be able to access veterans can also be buried in VA cemeteries. The VA website has a cemetery locator tool that shows which national cemetery is closest to a given location.

Many states also run their own veterans cemeteries, which accept state residents who are veterans or their family members. State cemeteries often have shorter wait times than Arlington and may be closer to where the family lives. A funeral home can help identify which state or VA cemetery is an option for a particular person.

Military funeral honors and the burial service itself

If someone is buried at Arlington, the military provides funeral honors as part of the service. This typically includes a rifle team, a bugler, and a flag-folding ceremony. The specific honors depend on the person's rank and service record. Active-duty service members and retirees receive full military honors; other may be able to access people may receive a smaller ceremony depending on their status.

Arlington's grounds are open to the public during visiting hours, and families can attend the burial service. The cemetery is a working military installation, so visitors must pass through security screening at the gates. The cemetery staff can provide information about where a burial will take place and what to expect during the service.

Documents and information needed to start the process

To request burial at Arlington, the funeral home or family will need to gather specific documents. The most important is the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which proves military service and the type of discharge. If the discharge papers are lost, the National Archives can issue a replacement.

The family will also need the person's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service. If the person was married, the spouse's name and date of marriage are required. If the request is for a spouse or child of the service member, additional documents proving the relationship may be needed.

The funeral home typically collects these documents and submits them as part of the burial request. If you are planning ahead for your own burial, you can gather your discharge papers and share them with your family now so the process moves faster after your death.

Timeline and what to expect after approval

After the military or VA submits the burial request to Arlington, the cemetery's office reviews it within a few business days to a week. If Arlington approves the request, the cemetery notifies the funeral home and provides available dates for the burial service. The family then works with the funeral home to choose a date that works for them.

From approval to the actual burial service, the timeline is usually one to three weeks, depending on how quickly the family can arrange the service and how busy the cemetery is. Arlington performs multiple burials each day, so scheduling is coordinated with other services. The cemetery will provide the family with the specific time and location of the service and information about where to park and enter the grounds.

If the request is denied, Arlington's office will explain why and may suggest alternative cemeteries. The family can appeal a denial if they believe new information or a different interpretation of the may be able to access rules applies, though appeals are uncommon and rarely successful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be buried at Arlington if I was dishonorably discharged?

No. Arlington requires an honorable discharge or, in some cases, a general discharge under honorable conditions. A dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge disqualifies someone from burial at Arlington and most other military cemeteries. The type of discharge appears on the DD Form 214.

What if my family member was cremated — can their ashes be buried at Arlington?

Yes. Arlington accepts cremated remains and has a columbarium (a structure with niches for urns) as well as in-ground burial options for ashes. The may be able to access rules are the same whether the person is buried or cremated. The funeral home can discuss which option works best for your family.

How much does it cost to be buried at Arlington?

There is no charge for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. The military covers all costs. However, families may choose to hire a funeral home to handle arrangements, and those services have separate fees that vary by provider.

Can I transfer someone already buried in another cemetery to Arlington?

Reinterment at Arlington is possible in rare cases, but it is not routine. The person must meet current may be able to access criteria, and Arlington's office must approve the request. Reinterment is most common when new information about military service becomes available or when a family member's status changes. Contact Arlington's office directly to discuss whether reinterment is an option.

What if I want to be buried at Arlington but I am still living — how do I reserve a spot?

Arlington does not reserve burial spaces in advance. However, if you meet the may be able to access criteria, you can provide your family with your discharge papers and let them know your preference. When the time comes, your family can work with a funeral home to submit the request, and Arlington will review it based on the may be able to access rules in effect at that time.