Current Florida Residents. If you are currently a Florida resident, you must submit to the Admission’s Office before the first day of classes the Residency Affidavit then click ‘Initial Classification’ in order to be considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes during your first year of study.
Non-Florida Residents: Establishing Florida Residency. Because out-of-state tuition waivers are available only for the first year of graduate school it is imperative that you take the appropriate steps for establishing residency. To apply for Florida residency for tuition purposes, follow the procedures found in the Residency Affidavit under the 'Reclassification' section. The process takes 12 months and begins before the first day of classes of your first year of study and must be completed prior to the beginning of your second year of study. You must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident alien, or a legal alien granted indefinite stay by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to qualify as a Florida resident.
Your strongest case for establishing Florida residency will be made if you have declared domicile (see below), as well as switched all legal ties to the state of Florida, including your (1) driver’s license, (2) voter registration and (3) vehicle registration before the first day of classes of your first year.
Steps for establishing Florida residency
1. Declaring domicile. Before the first day of classes of your first year, you must go to the Bay County Courthouse (Room 101, Recording Department, 300 E. 4th St., 850-747-5100) if you live in Panama City, or the Leon County Court House (313 Calhoun Street, Recording Department; 850-577-4030) if you live in Tallahassee. Bring a valid driver's license (any state) or state-issued ID and $15 to declare domicile in Florida. You will also need to know the date of your move to Florida.
2. Voter registration. Before the first day of classes of your first year, register to vote online in Bay County (Panama City) or Leon County (Tallahassee) or Bay County (Panama City).
3. Driver's license. Obtain a Florida Driver License or Identification Card before the first day of classes of your first year. Detailed information can be found at the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. This site also explains what to bring.
4. Vehicle registration. Register your vehicle in Florida before the first day of classes of your first year. Note that out-of-state residents must have proof of Florida auto insurance before obtaining a license plate.
5. Income tax records. In order to declare residency, it is important for you to be independent for federal and state tax purposes for the full tax year prior to the year in which reclassification is requested. See the ‘Residency Reclassification Form’ (mentioned in #7 below) for further information.
6. Housing receipts. When you go to apply for residency at the Registrar's Office prior to the fall semester of your second year, you should bring your mortgage or lease agreement to show that you've been living in Florida for one year.
7. Submission of Residency Reclassification Form. You must submit to the Admission’s Office before the first day of classes of your second year the Residency Reclassification Form (pdf). The Residency Reclassification form will be the form you take to the Registrar’s Office with the appropriate documentation for establishing Florida residency prior to the beginning of the fall semester of your second year of study. The "Graduate Assistant Verification Form” will be completed by the department's Graduate Office and given to you early in the summer after your first year of study.
8. Guidance through the process. It is strongly recommended that you go to the Registrar's Office during your first term at FSU (but after the 2nd week of classes) and speak to a staff person in Admissions and Records (850-770-2160 in Panama City or 850-644-5006 in Tallahassee) about applying for residency at the end of your first year. Each situation is different, and various methods of proving residency may be used. Guidance at this early date may preclude problems that will be difficult to remedy later.