Residency

Exception Categories

In rare cases, state statute allows you to receive temporary classification for in-state tuition purposes provided supporting documentation is submitted. You should only request reclassification under one of these categories if you do not meet the requirements as either an independent or dependent student.

You must submit the supporting documentation along with your Request for Reclassification prior to the deadline for residency reclassification. All letters of verification must include a contact name and telephone number to allow University staff to confirm the information provided.

I am a dependent person who has resided for three years with an adult relative other than my parent/legal guardian and my relative has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months.

A copy of your adult relative's federal income tax returns for the past three years establishing the familial relationship and indicating you are claimed as a dependent, AND

Three legal ties held by your adult relative. Three legal ties must be issued 12 months prior to the start of the term for which you are applying for reclassification. Acceptable legal ties can be found on the Request for Reclassification form.

I was previously enrolled at a Florida state institution and classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. I abandoned my Florida domicile less than 12 months ago and I am now re-establishing Florida legal residence.

You must demonstrate you have relinquished any and all legal ties with your state of most recent residence and that you have re-established at least three legal ties with the State of Florida. Acceptable legal ties can be found on the Request for Reclassification form.

You may be asked to provide evidence of previous issues dates for these items, such as a transcript from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Please email the Office of the Registrar for more information.

I am a member of the U.S. Forces and I am stationed in Florida on active military duty pursuant to military orders, or whose home of record is Florida, or I am a member's spouse or dependent child.

A copy of your military orders or DD2058 showing home of record, AND

For a spouse, a copy of your marriage license

For a dependent child, a copy of the claimant's most recent federal tax return indicating student was claimed as a dependent.

I am an active member of the Florida National Guard who qualifies under Florida Statutes s.250.10(7) and (8) for tuition assistance.

Your Interstate Transfer Contract, NGB Form 22-5-R-E, if you are an active National Guardsman who has been transferred to Florida from another state,
OR
Your Enlist/Reenlist Document of the Armed Forces of the US, DD 4/1 and 4/2, if you have left the active armed services and have entered the National Guard.

I am living on the Isthmus of Panama and have completed 12 consecutive months of college at The Florida State University Panama Canal Branch or I am the student's spouse or dependent child.

A copy of your transcript OR a letter of enrollment certification from FSU verifying enrollment at the Panama Canal Branch for the past three terms, AND

For a spouse, a copy of your marriage license

For a dependent child, a copy of the claimant's most recent federal tax return indicating student was claimed as a dependent.

I am a full-time instructional or administrative employee of a Florida public school, community college, or institution of higher education, or I am the employee's spouse or dependent child.

A letter from your employer on letterhead verifying employment as a full-time instructional or administrative employee, AND

For a spouse, a copy of your marriage license

For a dependent child, a copy of the claimant's most recent federal tax return indicating student was claimed as a dependent.

I am part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship program.

A copy of your active passport from a a Latin American or Caribbean nation.


Note: To qualify under this category, you must be a citizen of a Latin American or Caribbean nation, receiving a qualifying scholarship. A qualifying scholarship must be at least $500 per semester and must be funded from State of Florida funds appropriated to State of Florida Universities or from federally authorized scholarships. Universities may use equal matching funds from private businesses, foundations, and public agencies. In addition, you must be registered full-time each term, including the summer semester (i.e. enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours as an undergraduate or 9 hours as a graduate student). Please know, some scholarships may require you to be in at least 15 credit hours as an undergraduate to be eligible to receive the scholarship The requirements for this residency exception are monitored each term. Therefore, you will only continue to qualify if the scholarship and full-time enrollment criteria are met. If these requirements are not met, your residency will revert back to your original out-of state status.

I am a Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market graduate student.

A letter of certification from the State Coordinator for the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market.

I am a full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or correction training.

A letter of verification on letterhead from your employer indicating you are (a) a full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision and (b) your are enrolling in courses for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.

I am a McKnight Fellowship recipient.

A letter of verification from Graduate Studies certifying you are a McKnight Fellowship recipient.

I am a qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-Paid Post-Secondary Expense Program.

A copy of the front and back of your Florida Pre-Paid Post Secondary Expense Card,
OR
A copy of your Florida Pre-Paid Benefits Letter.

According to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), I am a permanent resident granted indefinite stay and I have maintained a domicile in Florida for at least 12 months.

Permanent residents granted indefinite stay by ICE may be considered for reclassification provided the appropriate documentation is submitted. In all cases the student must also meet the criteria set forth under Qualifying for In-State Residency.

For a permanent resident, acceptable documentation includes:

     - A copy of the front and back of your Resident card, OR

     - Proof of issuance of an I-551, OR

     - A copy of your I-485 indicating approval for a change in status.

For an international student, proof of visa status is required. Only the following categories of visa holders are eligible for consideration for reclassification. All others are considered ineligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes

Visa category A - Government Official
Visa category E - Treaty trader or investor
Visa category G - Representative of international organization
Visa category H-1B - Temporary worker performing in a specialty occupation
Visa category H-1C- Temporary worker performing professional nursing services
Visa category H-4 - Only if spouse or child of alien classified H-1
Visa category I - Foreign information media representative
Visa category K - Fiancé, affiance, or a child of a United States citizen
Visa category L - Intracompany transferee (including spouse or child)
Visa category N - Parent or child of alien accorded special immigrant status
Visa category NATO I-7 - Representatives of NATO and their families
Visa category O-1 - Workers of "extraordinary" ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
Visa category O-3 - Only if spouse or child of alien classified O-1
Visa category R - Religious workers
Visa category S - Witnesses and Informants 
Visa category T - Victims of trafficking, who cooperate with federal authorities in prosecutions of traffickers, and their spouses and children.
Visa category U - Victims of crime
Visa category V - Spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.

Non-U.S. citizens who fall within the following categories shall also be considered eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes:

     - Citizens of Micronesia
     - Citizens of the Marshall Islands
     - Cuban-Haitian Entrant Category One / Two / Three / Four
     - Eligible individuals granted withholding of deportation status
     - Eligible individuals granted suspension of deportation status or cancellation of removal
     - Eligible individuals granted a stay of deportation status
     - Eligible applicants for adjustment of status
     - Asylum applicants with ICE receipt or Immigration Court stamp

You can find the full list of eligible categories and the required documentation on page 28/C-1 of the Florida Residency Guidelines.

I am married to a person who has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months. I have now established legal residence and intend to make Florida my permanent home.

A copy of your marriage license, AND

Three legal ties held by your spouse. Three legal ties must be issued 12 months prior to the start of the term for which you are applying for reclassification. Acceptable legal ties can be found on the Request for Reclassification form.