Arlington National Cemetery is a military burial ground in Arlington, Virginia, run by the U.S. Department of Defense
Arlington National Cemetery sits on 639 acres across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is not open to the general public for burial. Only certain military members, veterans, and their families meet the criteria for interment there. The cemetery holds more than 400,000 graves and conducts roughly 25 to 30 burials on weekdays and 15 to 20 on weekends.
The cemetery is managed by the Secretary of the Army and operates under strict may be able to access rules set by federal law. Burial there is considered an honor, not a right. The process involves multiple steps and can take weeks or months from the time a death occurs to the actual funeral service.
Key Takeaways
- Active-duty service members, retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, and certain veterans are buried at Arlington; family members of those buried there may also be interred.
- You cannot request Arlington burial directly—a funeral home or the Department of Defense must submit the request on behalf of the deceased.
- Arlington requires a DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other military discharge documentation to verify service.
- The cemetery does not charge a burial fee, but families still pay for the funeral service, casket, and transportation through a funeral home.
- Burial at Arlington typically takes 4 to 12 weeks from the time the request is submitted, depending on the season and the cemetery's schedule.
Who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Active-duty service members from all branches of the military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—are buried at Arlington if they die while on active duty. This includes deaths from combat, illness, or accident while serving.
Military retirees who served at least 20 years and received a retirement pension are buried there. Retirees from the Reserve and National Guard who were called to active duty and retired under military retirement rules also may have access to.
Veterans who were discharged honorably and meet certain criteria may be buried at Arlington. The rules for veterans are narrower than for active-duty or retired service members. A veteran must have been discharged for a service-connected disability, received the Medal of Honor, or held high federal office (such as President or Vice President). Some veterans who served during specific wartime periods may also may have access to, but this depends on their rank and length of service at the time of discharge.
Family members of those already buried or may be able to access for burial at Arlington may be interred there as well. This includes spouses and unmarried children under age 21 (or up to age 23 if enrolled full-time in college). Adult children with disabilities may also be buried there. Dependent parents and parents-in-law of service members who died on active duty may be buried at Arlington too.
How to request burial at Arlington National Cemetery
You do not submit a burial request directly to Arlington. Instead, a funeral home or the military branch of the deceased must file the request. If the death occurs at a military hospital or facility, the Department of Defense typically initiates the process. If the death occurs in a civilian hospital or at home, the family's chosen funeral home will handle the paperwork.
The funeral home will need the deceased's military discharge papers, usually the DD Form 214. This document shows the branch of service, dates of service, rank, and type of discharge (honorable, general, dishonorable, or other). If the DD Form 214 is not available, the funeral home can request it from the National Archives or from the military branch where the person served.
Once the funeral home submits the request to Arlington, the cemetery's staff reviews it to confirm the deceased meets the burial criteria. This review can take 2 to 4 weeks. If approved, Arlington will contact the funeral home with available dates for the funeral service. The family then coordinates with the funeral home to select a date and time.
If the request is denied, Arlington will explain why in writing. The family can appeal the decision by providing additional documentation, such as a corrected discharge record or proof of service-connected disability.
What documents you need to provide
The funeral home will request several documents to support the burial request. The most important is the DD Form 214, which proves military service and the type of discharge. If this form is not in the deceased's personal files, the funeral home can obtain it from the National Archives by mail or online using the deceased's name, service number, and branch of service. The request typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Arlington also requires a death certificate, which the funeral home obtains from the vital records office in the state where death occurred. If the deceased was married and the spouse is requesting burial at Arlington later, a marriage certificate will be needed. For family members claiming burial rights, birth certificates and proof of relationship to the service member are required. If a veteran is claiming burial based on a service-connected disability, the VA disability rating letter or military medical records must be submitted.
| Document | Why it's needed | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) | Proves military service, rank, dates, and type of discharge | National Archives, military branch records, or the deceased's personal files |
| Birth certificate | Confirms identity and age | Vital records office in the state where the person was born |
| Death certificate | Official record of death and cause | Funeral home or vital records office in the state where death occurred |
| Marriage certificate (if applicable) | Establishes family relationship for spouse burial | Vital records office in the state where the marriage took place |
| Proof of disability (if claiming service-connected disability) | Establishes veteran's right to burial | VA disability rating letter or military medical records |
The cost of burial at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington does not charge a burial fee. The federal government covers the cost of the grave, opening and closing the grave, and the headstone or marker. This is one of the few cemeteries in the United States that does not bill families for these services.
However, families still pay for services provided by the funeral home, including transportation of the remains, embalming, the casket, and the funeral service itself. These costs vary widely depending on the funeral home and the type of service chosen. A basic funeral can cost $3,000 to $5,000, while a full service with viewing and reception may cost $7,000 to $12,000 or more.
Some military families are may have access to to a military funeral honors ceremony at no cost. This includes a flag presentation, rifle volley, and taps played by military personnel. Families should ask their funeral home whether the deceased qualifies for these honors.
Timeline from death to burial at Arlington
The process typically unfolds over 4 to 12 weeks, though the exact timeline depends on several factors: the time of year, how quickly the funeral home submits paperwork, how fast Arlington's staff can review the request, and the family's preferred burial date.
Week 1: Death occurs. The funeral home takes custody of the remains and begins gathering military discharge documents. If the DD Form 214 is not available, the funeral home requests it from the National Archives or military records office.
Weeks 2 to 4: The funeral home submits the burial request to Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington's staff reviews the paperwork to confirm the deceased meets burial criteria. During this time, the family may hold a viewing or memorial service elsewhere if they wish.
Weeks 4 to 8: Arlington notifies the funeral home of approval and provides available dates for the funeral. The family and funeral home coordinate to select a date. Families often choose dates 2 to 4 weeks out to allow time for relatives to travel.
Week 8 to 12: The funeral service takes place at Arlington. The remains are transported to the cemetery, and the burial ceremony is conducted. Military honors are rendered if the deceased qualifies.
Requests submitted during the winter months (November through February) may take longer because Arlington conducts fewer burials on weekends and the cemetery experiences higher demand. Summer requests typically move faster.
What happens if someone does not meet Arlington's criteria
If the deceased does not meet Arlington's burial criteria, the family has other options. Most states operate state veterans cemeteries that are open to honorably discharged veterans and their families. These cemeteries charge little to no burial fee and offer military honors ceremonies. The National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, runs 155 national cemeteries across the country that are open to may be able to access veterans.
A funeral home can help the family identify which state or national cemetery the deceased may be buried in. The family can also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly to learn about cemetery options in their state. Private cemeteries are another option, though they charge burial fees and do not automatically provide military honors. Families can choose any private cemetery they prefer and arrange for military honors through the local Veterans Service Officer or the deceased's military branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be buried at Arlington if I was dishonorably discharged?
No. Arlington requires an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions. A dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or other-than-honorable discharge disqualifies you from burial there. You may still be buried in a state veterans cemetery or national cemetery run by the VA, depending on your state's rules.
What if I cannot find my DD Form 214?
The funeral home can request it from the National Archives using the deceased's name, service number, and branch of service. The request takes 2 to 4 weeks. You can also request it yourself before death by contacting the National Archives at 1-866-272-6272 or visiting archives.gov. Having it on hand before death speeds up the burial process.
Can my spouse be buried at Arlington if I am buried there?
Yes. Spouses of those buried or may be able to access for burial at Arlington may be interred in the same grave or in an adjacent grave. You do not need to be buried at Arlington first—your spouse can request burial there after your death if you meet the criteria. The same process applies: the funeral home submits the request and Arlington reviews it.
Does Arlington offer a military funeral ceremony?
Yes, if the deceased qualifies. Military funeral honors include a flag presentation, rifle volley (three shots), and taps played by military personnel. These honors are provided at no cost to the family. Not all deceased service members may have access to—the funeral home will determine may be able to access based on rank, branch, and type of discharge.
What if Arlington denies my burial request?
Arlington will send a written explanation of the denial. You can appeal by submitting additional documentation, such as corrected military records or proof of service-connected disability. The appeal process takes 2 to 4 weeks. If the appeal is denied, you can request burial at a state veterans cemetery or national cemetery instead.