Important things to know about establishing Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes

• A student who comes to Florida to enroll full-time in a state institution of higher learning as an out-of-state resident and continuously  enrolls will not normally meet the Florida residency requirements for in-state tuition regardless of the length of time enrolled.

• Simply living in the state of Florida for a 12 month period or longer and or attending school in Florida does not automatically result in qualification for in-state residency.

• To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes you must be a U.S citizen, permanent resident alien, a legal alien  granted indefinite stay by the INS, or qualify under one the of the special categories outlined on the Residency Classification form.

• Documents supporting a student's claim for Florida residency must be dated, issued or filed at least 12 months before the first day of the semester for which residency is being sought.

• Students who are dependent on out-of-state parents are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents.

• Residence in the state of Florida must be for the purpose of establishing a permanent home and not merely incident to enrollment at an institution of higher education.

• A marriage license / certificate is required in all cases where a spouse is claiming residency on their  partner's behalf.

• Leases and employment verification show physical presence only. Additional information is required to show legal ties to the state of Florida in order to qualify for residency.

• Retaining legal ties to any state other than Florida is considered evidence that can disqualify a student from being considered as a bona fide resident of Florida. Example: having a license from another state is considered a legal tie to a state other than Florida.