State benefits

Veterans Benefits in Guam

Guam veterans are eligible for 8 state and federal benefit programs, including Employment, Tax, Transportation, and more. Most state programs require state residency and a VA-issued disability rating; eligibility thresholds vary by program. This page lists every benefit with source URLs and application paths.

8 programs4 categoriesOfficial source linked on every program

Employment

Which employment benefits does Guam offer to veterans?

Government of Guam Employment Veterans Preference Points (opens in a new tab)

Value: 5 points added to a passing civil service exam score; 10 for a disabled veteran

Veterans applying for Government of Guam jobs get five preference points added to a passing examination score, and veterans with a VA service-connected disability get ten. Qualifying service is at least 180 cumulative days of active duty with a discharge other than dishonorable. Members of the Guam Police Combat Patrol receive the same treatment.

Agency: Guam Department of Administration, Human Resources Division

Note: Points are added to a PASSING score only; the form states in capitals that preference cannot be used to qualify an otherwise unqualified applicant. Use Form A3, the Preference Points Request Form, which is separate from the job application, and file a fresh one for EVERY position or the credit is lost. The 10-point disabled-veteran claim needs a VA letter specifically stating entitlement to Civil Service Preference; a rating decision alone may not suffice, and no minimum percentage is specified. The standard is the broader other than dishonorable discharge. Statutory basis 4 GCA 4104.

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Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) at the Guam American Job Center (opens in a new tab)

Value: Intensive career and job placement services at no cost

The Guam Department of Labor stations DVOP specialists at the American Job Center to give intensive, individualized employment services to veterans facing barriers to work. Eligible veterans include those with 180 days or more of active duty and an honorable discharge, and those discharged because of a service-connected disability. Spouses and family caregivers of wounded, ill or injured service members are also served.

Agency: Guam Department of Labor, American Job Center

Note: Two steps: register online at HIREGUAM, then visit or call the American Job Center to schedule an appointment. Office at 414 West Soledad Avenue, Suite 300, GCIC Building, Hagatna, (671) 475-7000. Eligibility extends past the classic disabled-veteran category to recently separated veterans, homeless veterans, justice-involved individuals, and people aged 18 to 24 with educational or economic disadvantages. Framing note: DVOP is federally funded through Jobs for Veterans State Grants and every state and territory operates one, so this is Guam's local delivery of a national program.

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Tax

How does Guam handle veteran property tax exemptions?

100% Disabled Veterans, Surviving Spouse, and Legal Guardians Real Property Tax Exemption (opens in a new tab)

Value: Full real property tax exemption on the principal residence

A Guam veteran whom the VA rates 100 percent disabled, or pays at the 100 percent rate for individual unemployability, can have the real property tax lifted on the home they own and live in. The relief also reaches an unremarried surviving spouse and a legal guardian who manages the qualifying veteran's property. Only one residence per person qualifies.

Agency: Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, Real Property Tax Division

Note: HARD DEADLINE: the application must reach the assessor's office on or before March 15. Individual unemployability is treated the same as a schedular 100 percent rating. Any part of the property used commercially is carved out. The exemption lasts only while the rating persists, the surviving spouse remains unremarried, and the guardian remains lawfully vested. Obtain a VA Benefit Information letter from the VA office in Tiyan (648-0090). Statutory basis 11 GCA 24401.1. A separate Gold Star Spouses and Parents exemption sits at 11 GCA 24401.2.

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Transportation

Which transportation benefits does Guam offer to veterans?

Waiver of Motor Vehicle Driver's License Fees for Veterans (opens in a new tab)

Value: Driver's license issuance fee waived in full, all classes and endorsements

Guam charges no fee to issue a driver's license, across all classes and endorsements, to veterans of the US Armed Forces. The waiver reaches broadly: people currently serving, people who have served, reserve component members, and retirees all qualify. Spouses, legal guardians, surviving spouses and Gold Star parents are covered as well.

Agency: Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, License Division, certified by the Guam Veterans Affairs Office

Note: Character of service must be honorable, verified through a DD Form 214, DD Form 2, DD Form 1173, DD Form 2765, Common Access Card, or another document certified by GVAO. GVAO certifies only against records it actually holds, so register with GVAO first. Apply at the License Division of the Department of Revenue and Taxation. No disability rating is required. Codified at 16 GCA 3102.1, added by P.L. 28-079 and last amended by P.L. 33-096.

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Veterans Designation for Driver's Licenses and Identification Cards (opens in a new tab)

Value: No separate cost; Veteran printed on a Guam license or ID card on request

Any Guam driver's license or identification card applicant who is a veteran may request that the word Veteran be printed on the card, at initial issuance and at every renewal. It gives veterans an everyday proof of service they already carry, without needing to produce a DD-214.

Agency: Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, Driver's License and Identification Card Branch

Note: Granted at the applicant's request, not automatically, so ask for it at the counter. With documented consent the branch forwards proof of veteran status to the Office of Veterans Affairs within 30 days to update the Guam Veterans Registry, which is a convenient way to get registered with GVAO. That registration matters, because GVAO certification gates the vehicle registration and driver's license fee waivers. Pair this with the 16 GCA 3102.1 fee waiver in a single visit.

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Waiver of Annual Vehicle License and Registration Fees for Veterans (opens in a new tab)

Value: Annual vehicle license, registration and Street Light Fund fees waived on one vehicle

Guam waives the annual vehicle license and registration fee, plus the Street Light Fund Fee, on one non-commercial passenger vehicle for several categories of veterans and their families. Three separate doors lead in: a VA rating of 100 percent or individual unemployability, service in World War II, Korea or Vietnam regardless of any disability, or receipt of a top valor award.

Agency: Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, Motor Vehicle Division, certified by the Guam Veterans Affairs Office

Note: No rating threshold is encoded because the war-era and valor paths carry none. Paths: (A) VA-rated 100 percent or individually unemployable with GVAO certification, OR any WWII, Korean War or Vietnam War veteran registered with GVAO regardless of disability; (B) spouse, legal guardian, surviving spouse or Gold Star parent; (C) recipients of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Coast Guard Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star with V, or Purple Heart. The war-era expansion is new, signed as Public Law 38-36 on August 18, 2025. Registration with GVAO is a prerequisite for the war-era path.

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Other

Which additional benefits does Guam offer to veterans?

Guam Veterans Cemetery Burial and Interment (opens in a new tab)

Value: Territorial cemetery interment or inurnment with military honors

Guam operates its own veterans cemetery in Piti, the resting place of more than 5,000 service members, veterans and family members. Honorably discharged veterans qualify, as do honorably discharged veterans of allied nations who served during war eras, along with spouses and qualifying children. The Guam Veterans Affairs Office coordinates interment, inurnment and military funeral honors.

Agency: Guam Veterans Affairs Office / Guam Veterans Cemetery

Note: TIMING CATCHES FAMILIES OUT: military honors must be requested 4 to 5 days before the burial date, and all documents must be finalized with GVAO 2 days before. Overall processing runs from several weeks to several months, so this is not a same-week arrangement. Dependent children qualify if under 18, under 23 while enrolled in higher education, or over 18 if certified medically disabled and receiving full support. Start with a local funeral home, then call GVAO at (671) 475-8388. No fee schedule is published, so cost is UNCONFIRMED. This is a territorial cemetery distinct from a VA national cemetery; federal burial allowances and headstones are claimed separately.

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Guam Veterans Affairs Office Counseling and Claims Assistance (opens in a new tab)

Value: Counseling and claims assistance at no charge to the veteran

GVAO is Guam's own veterans agency, helping veterans and their families establish claims and entitlements under federal veterans benefits regulations. Staff make home and hospital visits to veterans too incapacitated to come into the office. The office also processes veterans and dependents for interment at the Guam Veterans Cemetery and coordinates military honors.

Agency: Guam Veterans Affairs Office (GVAO)

Note: Register with GVAO through the e-Registration form even if you do not need help today, because GVAO certification is a prerequisite for the vehicle registration and driver's license fee waivers and it certifies only against records it already holds. Office at 172 S. Marine Corps Drive, Asan, Guam 96910; (671) 475-8388. Note the distinction: GVAO is a territorial agency that helps you file, while the VA itself decides the claim. The Guam VA clinic and VA benefits office are separate federal facilities.

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“HARD DEADLINE: the application must reach the assessor's office on or before March 15. Individual unemployability is treated the same as a schedular 100 percent rating. Any part of the property used commercially is carved out. The exemption lasts only while the rating persists, the surviving spouse remains unremarried, and the guardian remains lawfully vested. Obtain a VA Benefit Information letter from the VA office in Tiyan (648-0090). Statutory basis 11 GCA 24401.1. A separate Gold Star Spouses and Parents exemption sits at 11 GCA 24401.2.”

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What benefits does Guam offer to disabled veterans?

Guam offers 8 veteran benefit programs spanning Employment, Tax, Transportation, Other. Eligibility requirements vary by program — most require a VA-issued disability rating and state residency.

Do I need a specific disability rating to qualify for Guam veteran benefits?

Many Guam benefit programs require a minimum VA disability rating — commonly 10%, 50%, or 100%. Some programs, such as education assistance or employment preference, have no rating requirement. Check each benefit listing on this page for the specific threshold.

Do I need to be a Guam resident to claim state veteran benefits?

Most Guam state benefits require current state residency. Some programs require continuous residency for one or more years. Federal VA benefits are available to all eligible veterans regardless of state of residence.

Can I stack Guam benefits with federal VA benefits?

Yes — in most cases, state and federal veteran benefits are stackable. For example, a property tax exemption from Guam does not reduce your federal VA disability compensation. Some federal needs-based programs may offset certain state payments; review each program's terms.

Where do I apply for Guam veteran benefits?

Applications for Guam state benefits are typically submitted through the Guam Department of Veterans Affairs or the administering state agency. Application links are listed directly on each benefit card on this page. Federal VA benefits are applied for at VA.gov.

Does Guam offer a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?

Yes — Guam has at least one property tax benefit listed for veterans. Eligibility typically requires a minimum disability rating and state residency. See the Tax section on this page for the current threshold and application link.

Is an honorable discharge required to qualify for Guam veteran benefits?

Most Guam state benefit programs require an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. Most federal VA benefits require a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable, but the GI Bill is stricter: the Montgomery GI Bill for active duty requires an honorable discharge, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill ordinarily does too. With an other-than-honorable discharge, VA makes a character-of-discharge determination, and some benefits may still be available; consult a VSO or accredited claims agent for individual eligibility.

Sources & Authorities

1.
Guam Department of Administration, Human Resources Division (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Employment benefit source — Guam
2.
Guam Department of Labor, American Job Center (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Employment benefit source — Guam
3.
Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, Real Property Tax Division (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Tax benefit source — Guam
4.
Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, License Division, certified by the Guam Veterans Affairs Office (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Transportation benefit source — Guam
5.
Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, Motor Vehicle Division, certified by the Guam Veterans Affairs Office (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Transportation benefit source — Guam
6.
Guam Veterans Affairs Office / Guam Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Other benefit source — Guam
7.
38 CFR Part 3 — Adjudication (opens in a new tab)
CFR · Federal regulations governing VA disability compensation and pension
8.
VA.gov Benefits Navigator (opens in a new tab)
Agency · Official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits portal

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