Residency for Tuition Purposes

Determining Your Residency Status

Florida State University's Residency for Tuition Purposes process is governed by Florida Statute 1009.21 and Board of Governors Regulation 7.005

Your residency classification determines whether you are considered a Florida resident or non-resident for tuition purposes and directly affects your tuition rate. Your initial classification is assigned at the time of application based on the information you provide.

All students seeking classification as Florida residents for tuition purposes must complete the Residency Declaration form. Incomplete residency information or missing documentation may result in a non-resident classification. After reviewing your declaration, we may request additional documentation to support your residency claim.

Please note:

  • Residency classification does not affect your admission decision and is used only to determine your tuition rate.
  • Students currently enrolled and classified as out-of-state may request reclassification through the residency reclassification process.
  • Questions about the residency process may be directed to residency@fsu.edu.

 

Residency Declaration Form

Submit your initial residency documentation as part of your application.

 

Reclassification Request

Request a change from out-of-state to in-state after meeting eligibility.


 

Who is considered dependent vs. Independent?

 

IF YOU ARE Dependent

Eligible to be claimed on a parent's federal taxes, regardless of where you live.

DOCUMENTATION FROM

Your parent or legal guardian — their legal residence determines your classification.

HOW IT WORKS

For residency purposes, a dependent student's classification is based on the parent's legal residence. "Parent" includes one or both biological or adoptive parents, a legal guardian, or another individual acting in a parental role.

If the student is classified as dependent, the parent must complete the Florida Residency Declaration form and may be asked to provide documentation to verify Florida residency ties. Documentation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and tax returns may be requested if needed to confirm dependency.

IF YOU ARE Independent

You meet any one of the criteria below.

DOCUMENTATION FROM

Yourself — no parental information is required.

YOU QUALIFY IF ANY APPLY

You are 24 years or older by the first day of classes

You are married

You have dependents who live with you and you provide more than half of their financial support

You are enrolled as a graduate or professional student

You are actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or are a veteran

You are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent for federal tax purposes

You can demonstrate that you pay more than half of your own tuition and required fees

Both of your parents are deceased

 

 

What Documents Do You Need?

 

To establish Florida residency for tuition purposes, the student, or the student's parent if the student is dependent, must provide clear and convincing documentation of legal residence in Florida.

!
In most cases, two or more documents are required. All supporting documents must be dated, issued, or filed at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for the term in which residency is sought.

 

AT LEAST ONE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE FROM THE PRIMARY LIST BELOW
  • Florida voter's registration card.
  • Florida driver's license.
  • State of Florida identification card.
  • Florida vehicle registration.
  • Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's parent if the individual is a dependent child.
  • Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
    Considered a single, conclusive piece of evidence proving residency.
  • Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (2 or more 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 consecutive 12-month period.

 

 

MAY BE SUBMITTED IN COMBINATION WITH A PRIMARY DOCUMENT
  • Declaration of domicile in Florida.
  • Florida professional or occupational license.
  • Florida incorporation.
  • Document evidencing verifiable family ties to a Florida resident, as defined by tuition purposes.
  • Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization.
  • Any other documentation that supports the student's request for resident status. Including, but not limited to: utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.

 

 

Do You Qualify for A Residency Exception?

 

Certain applicants who do not meet the standard residency requirements may still qualify under statutory exceptions. Supporting documentation is required in all cases.

Florida Residency Exceptions
  • Beneficiaries of the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program
  • Individuals previously classified as Florida residents who re-enroll within 12 months (one-time eligibility)
  • Active duty U.S. military members stationed in Florida, and their spouses and dependents
  • Florida National Guard members and qualifying military personnel
  • Students attending institutions within 50 miles of qualifying out-of-state duty stations
  • U.S. citizens attending the FSU Panama Canal Branch, and their families
  • Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by Florida public institutions, and their families
  • Students from Latin America and the Caribbean receiving qualifying scholarships
  • Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market participants
  • Full-time employees of Florida state agencies receiving job-related training
  • McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists
  • U.S. citizens teaching abroad in Department of Defense or American International Schools
  • Canadian military members under the NORAD agreement and their families
  • Foreign military liaison officers and their families
  • Participants in Linkage Institutes

Note: These exceptions are authorized under the following Florida Statutes.

  • Section 1009.21 — governs residency classification for tuition purposes at public postsecondary institutions.
  • Section 1009.98 — pertains to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program.
  • Section 288.8175 — establishes Linkage Institutes between Florida postsecondary institutions and foreign countries.
How to Appeal a Residency Decision

Students who are denied classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Residency Appeal Committee, care of the Office of Admissions, and should include new or additional information that was not available or considered during the initial review.

Appeals should be submitted as soon as possible after notification of the decision and no later than the first week of classes for which residency classification is sought. All appeals are reviewed by the Residency Appeal Committee, whose decision is final at the institutional level.