Fill Out Mandatory Forbearance Request (SERV) Online
Mandatory Forbearance Request: Medical or Dental Internship/Residency, National Guard Duty, or Department of Defense Student Loan Repayment Program (SERV)
Federal Student Aid
Requests a mandatory forbearance for medical or dental internship or residency, National Guard duty, or Department of Defense loan repayment program service.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
The SERV Mandatory Forbearance Request covers three situations in one form: medical or dental internship or residency, qualifying National Guard duty, and service under a Department of Defense student loan repayment program. It applies to Direct Loans and FFEL Program loans, and when you qualify, your loan holder must grant the forbearance.
You can complete the borrower sections in the Universal PDF editor, download the PDF, and then obtain the authorized official's certification before sending the form to your loan servicer.
The three qualifying situations
Section 2 is split into three parts, and you complete only the one that applies:
- Part A, medical or dental internship or residency: you have been accepted into a program that required a bachelor's degree for admission, provides supervised training, and either leads to a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education, a hospital, or a health care facility, or is required before you can begin professional practice. This forbearance is only for borrowers who do not qualify for a medical or dental internship or residency deferment
- Part B, National Guard duty: you are a Guard member engaged in active state duty for more than 30 consecutive days, activated by a governor under state statute or the approval of the President or the Secretary of Defense, and you were activated no more than six months after you were last enrolled at least half time. It applies to duty that does not qualify for a military service deferment
- Part C, Department of Defense student loan repayment program: you are performing service that qualifies you for partial repayment of your loans under a DoD loan repayment program
How to fill out the form
Complete Section 1 with your identifying information, answer the questions in the applicable part of Section 2, and make your requests in Section 3, including whether you want to stop payments or make smaller payments and whether you want to pay interest during the forbearance.
Section 4 must be completed by an authorized official: an official of your internship or residency program for Part A, a commanding or personnel officer for Part B, or a Department of Defense official for Part C. For Part A programs that are required for licensure, you also attach a statement from the state licensing agency confirming that requirement.
How to submit it
Send the completed and certified form to your loan servicer, using the address printed on your copy if one is shown, and submit a separate request to each loan holder if your loans are held in different places.
The forbearance is granted in increments of up to 12 months, and you can reapply for as long as you continue to qualify. Your loan holder may also apply a forbearance to cover processing time or an existing delinquency.
Interest during the forbearance
Interest is charged on all loans during a forbearance, including subsidized loans. Unpaid interest may capitalize on FFEL Program loans that are not held by the Department. Making interest payments as you go, which the form lets you elect with a checkbox, keeps the balance from growing.
Frequently asked questions
The National Guard part of this forbearance exists for state activated duty that does not qualify for the military service deferment, which generally covers federal active duty during wars, military operations, or national emergencies. If you qualify for the deferment, use that instead, since deferments carry an interest benefit on subsidized loans.
This forbearance is specifically for borrowers who do not qualify for a medical or dental internship or residency deferment. Many residents also compare income-driven repayment, which can produce a low payment that counts toward forgiveness programs, before choosing forbearance.
It depends on the part you completed: an authorized official of the internship or residency program for Part A, a commanding or personnel officer for National Guard duty in Part B, or a Department of Defense official for Part C.
Up to 12 months per request. It ends on the earlier of the date you stop qualifying, 12 months from the start date, or the end date you requested. You reapply each year for as long as you remain eligible.
No. The SERV form applies to Direct Loan and FFEL Program loans only.
Related forms
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