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.

All students who wish to claim Florida residency for tuition purposes must complete the residency declaration. The residency form is not required for application review; however, it must be completed prior to the start of the first term of enrollment. Depending upon the review of your declaration, additional documentation may be required to support your claim of residency for tuition purposes. If you have any questions regarding the residency process, please contact our office at 850.644.6200 or residency@fsu.edu.

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.

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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

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 one required document 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.