All students who wish to claim Florida residency for tuition paying purposes must complete the residency declaration for tuition purposes form as part of the application for admission process. Depending upon the review of your declaration, additional documentation may be required to support your claim of residency for tuition purposes.
Please note: Under Florida law it is possible for U.S. Citizens with undocumented parents/guardians, lawful Permanent Residents, and certain non-U.S. Citizens to be classified as Florida residents for tuition paying purposes. In addition, undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students who graduate from a Florida high school may qualify for a waiver of out of state tuition fees.
Instructions
- When you apply for admission online, you will be prompted to complete the residency declaration. You do not have to submit the declaration at the same time as the application; however, it must be completed and submitted prior to the start of classes. Since each declaration is individually reviewed, it is in your best interest to submit the declaration as soon as possible. Additional documentation may be required to prove your claim of Florida residency for tuition purposes, so you want to make sure that you have enough time to submit the required items prior to the deadline.
- When the residency declaration arrives in the Office of Admissions, it is individually reviewed and a residency determination is made. This determination can be seen via the Online Status Check tool used by students to monitor their application progress. If the form is incomplete, or if additional documentation is required, the OSC will let you know what must be done to complete the residency determination process.
All declarations and supporting documentation should be delivered to:
Florida State University
Office of Admissions
A2500 University Center
282 Champions Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306-240
Reclassification for Currently Enrolled Students
An individual who was initially classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes. Reclassification requires an individual, or the parent or legal guardian of a dependent person, to present clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residence for the purpose of pursuing an education. Please note: Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents.
Reclassification Documentation
Documents supporting the establishment of residency for tuition purposes must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months prior to the first day of classes of the term for which reclassification is sought. All documentation is subject to verification. You should submit as much evidence of your Florida residency as possible. No single piece of documentation will be considered conclusive and the burden of proof is on the student to show: (1) residency in Florida for the requisite 12 month period; and (2) residency in the state was not merely temporary or incident to enrolling in a college or university located in Florida.
Required Documentation
It is recommended that you submit as many required documents as possible to justify your claim of Florida residency for tuition purposes; however, no claim of residency will be valid without at least one of the following documents and at least three documents total.
- Florida Driver's license or for non-drivers, a State of Florida identification card
- Florida voter registration card
- Florida vehicle registration
- Proof of purchase of a permanent home in Florida that is occupied as a primary residence of the claimant
- Proof of homestead exemption in Florida
- Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months
- Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12 month period (Graduate students on Assistantship should complete and submit the Graduate Assistant Verification Form)
Supporting Documentation
It is recommended that you submit as many supporting documents as possible to justify your claim of Florida residency for tuition purposes. While all documents are important, the most critical to obtain is the Declaration of Domicile. The Declaration of Domicile is available from the Clerk of Courts in the County Court House of the Florida County in which you reside. Please note: No claim of residency will be valid without at least two required documents and at least three documents total.
- Declaration of domicile in Florida ("filed date" must be 12 months prior to first day of classes)
- A Florida professional or occupational license
- Florida incorporation
- Documents evidencing family ties in Florida
- Proof of membership in Florida-based charitable or professional organizations
Any other documentation that supports the student's request for resident status, such as:
- Lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Bank records
- Benefit histories from Florida agencies or public assistance programs
- State, federal, or court documents evidencing legal ties to Florida
Please note: All residency reclassification requests are subject to Florida Statute 1009.21 and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.044 which was adopted by the Florida Board of Governors on September 6, 2006.
Instructions
- Complete and submit a Residency Reclassification Form at least one month prior to the term you wish to be reclassified and no later than the end of the fourth day of classes. This is a firm deadline as this is when financial aid is disbursed and tuition and fees are due. Since each residency reclassification request and residency declaration is individually reviewed, it is in your best interest to submit the forms and required documentation as soon as possible. Additional documentation and verification may be required to prove your claim of Florida residency for tuition purposes, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.
- When the residency reclassification request arrives in the Office of Admissions, it is individually reviewed and a residency determination is made. This determination will be emailed to you as soon as it is made. If the forms are incomplete, or if additional documentation is required, you will be notified by email as to what must be done to complete the residency determination process.