Residency Requirements

Classification of residency for tuition purposes is defined by Florida Statute 1009.21. Students shall be classified as residents or nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in public community colleges and universities.

1. According to Florida Statute 1009.21:
   1. "Dependent child" means any person, whether or not living with his or her parent, who is eligible to be claimed by his or her parent as a dependent under the Federal Income Tax Code.
   2. "Initial enrollment" means the first day of class at an institution of higher education.
   3. "Institution of higher education" means any community college as defined in s. 1000.21(3) or state university as defined in s. 1000.21(6).
   4. "Legal resident" or "resident" means a person who has maintained his or her residence in this state for the preceding year, has purchased a home which is occupied by him or her as his or her residence, or has established a domicile in this state pursuant to s. 222.17.
   5. "Nonresident for tuition purposes" means a person who does not qualify for the in‐state tuition rate.
   6. "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.
   7. "Resident for tuition purposes" means a person who qualifies as provided in this section for the in‐state tuition rate.
      
2. 1. To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:
      1. A person or, if that person is a dependent child, his or her parent or parents, must have established legal residence in this state and must have maintained legal residence in this state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to his or her initial enrollment in an institution of higher education.
      2. Every applicant for admission to an institution of higher education shall be required to make a statement as to his or her length of residence in the state and, further, shall establish that his or her presence or, if the applicant is a dependent child, the presence of his or her parent or parents, in the state currently is, and during the requisite 12 month qualifying period was, for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence
         or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education.
   2. However, with respect to a dependent child living with an adult relative other than the child's parent, such child may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative is a legal resident who has maintained legal residence in this state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the child's initial enrollment in an institution of higher education, provided the child has resided continuously with such relative for the 5 years immediately prior to the child's initial enrollment in an institution of higher education, during which time the adult relative has exercised day‐to‐day care, supervision, and control of the child.
   3. The legal residence of a dependent child whose parents are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart will be deemed to be this state if either parent is a legal resident of this state, regardless of which parent is entitled to claim, and does in fact claim, the minor as a dependent pursuant to federal individual income tax provisions.
      
3. 1. (a) An individual shall not be classified as a resident for tuition purposes and, thus shall not be eligible to receive the in‐state tuition rate until he or she has provided such evidence related to legal residence and its duration or, if that individual is a dependent child, evidence of his or her parent's legal residence and its duration, as may be required by law and by officials of the institution of higher education from which he or she seeks the in‐state tuition rate.
   2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, evidence of legal residence and its duration shall include clear and convincing documentation that residency in this state was for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to a student's initial enrollment in an institution of higher education.
   3. Each institution of higher education shall affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the residency requirements of this section at the time of initial enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by the submission of written or electronic verification that includes two or more of the documents identified in this paragraph. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.
      1. The documents must include at least one of the following:
         1. A Florida voter's registration card.
         2. A Florida driver's license.
         3. A State of Florida identification card.
         4. A Florida vehicle registration.
         5. 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.
      2. The documents may include one or more ofthe following:
         1. A declaration of domicile in Florida.
         2. A Florida professional or occupational license.
         3. Florida incorporation.
         4. A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
         5. Proof of membership in a Florida‐based charitable or professional organization.
         6. 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 or 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.
            
4. With respect to a dependent child, the legal residence of such individual's parent or parents is prima facie evidence of the individual's legal residence, which evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age and general circumstances of the individual, by the other evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the individual. However, the legal residence of an individual whose parent or parents are domiciled outside this state is not prima facie evidence of the individual's legal residence if that individual has lived in this state for 5 consecutive years prior to enrolling or registering at the institution of higher education at which resident status for tuition purposes is sought.
   
5. In making a domiciliary determination related to the classification of a person as a resident or nonresident for tuition purposes, the domicile of a married person irrespective of sex, shall be determined, as in the case of an unmarried person, by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary intent. For the purposes of this section:
   1. A person shall not be precluded from establishing or maintaining legal residence in this state and subsequently qualifying or continuing to qualify as a resident for tuition purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled outside this state, even when that person's spouse continues to be domiciled outside of this state, provided such person maintains his or her legal residence in this state.
   2. A person shall not be deemed to have
      established or maintained a legal residence in this state and subsequently to have qualified or continued to qualify as a resident for tuition purposes solely by reason of marriage to a person domiciled in this state.
   3. In determining the domicile of a married person, irrespective of sex, the fact of the marriage and the place of domicile of such person's spouse shall be deemed relevant evidence to be considered in ascertaining domiciliary intent.
      
6. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education, such as documentation of full‐time permanent employment for the prior 12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residency therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an institution of higher education.
   2. If a person who is a dependent child and his or her parent move to this state while such child is a high school student and the child graduates from a high school in this state, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes when the parent submits evidence that the parent qualifies for permanent residency.
   3. If a person who is a dependent child and his or her parent move to this state after such child graduates from high school, the child may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes after the parent submits evidence that he or she has established legal residence in the state and has maintained legal residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months.
   4. A person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes and who marries a legal resident of the state or marries person who becomes a legal resident of the state may, upon becoming legal resident of the state, become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes upon submitting evidence of his or her own legal residency in the state, evidence of his or her marriage to a person who is a legal resident of the state, and evidence of the spouse's legal residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for reclassification.
      
7. A person shall not lose his resident status for tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such person is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent's or parents' serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state.
   
8. A person who has been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an institution of higher education in this state, loses his or her resident tuition status because the person or, if he or she is a dependent child, the person's parent or parents establish domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue to enjoy the in‐state tuition rate for a statutory grace period, which period shall be measured from the date on which the circumstances arose that culminated in the loss or resident tuition status and shall continue for 12 months. However, if the 12‐month grace period ends during a semester of academic term for which such former resident is enrolled, such grace period shall be extended to the end of that semester or academic term.
   
9. Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who graduates from an institution of higher education while classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall be permitted to re‐enroll at an Institution of higher education in this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the necessity of meeting the 12‐ month durational requirement of this section if that person has re‐established his domicile in this state within 12 months of such abandonment and continuously maintains the re‐established domicile during the period of enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall not be accorded more than once to any one person.
   Please consult the Admissions and Records Office for additional statue exceptions regarding classification as a resident for tuition purposes.
   An applicant who wishes to appeal his or her residency determination may do so by submitting a written petition to the Residency Appeal Committee. The Residency Appeal Committee will render a final written decision that includes the reason for the determination.
   After a period of 24 months of non‐enrollment, students will be required to apply for admittance to the college and re‐submit documentation for classification as a resident for tuition purposes. An applicant should be aware that a false statement regarding residency status is punishable as a misdemeanor under Section 837.06. Florida Statues.