Residence for Tuition Purposes: Establishing Residence

  Appeals

  Contact information

  Dates and deadlines

  Establishing residence

  Exemptions and waivers

  FAQ

  Financial independence

  Forms

  Glossary

  Incorrect classification

  Intent

  Military

  Minors

  Noncitizens and aliens

  Registration fees

  Status change (nonresident     to resident)

  Temporary absence (reclaim     residence)

Residence for tuition purposes at the University of California is governed by the California Education Code and implemented by the Standing Orders of the Regents of the University of California order 110.2. Under these rules, adult citizens and certain classes of aliens can establish residence for tuition purposes. Decisions on residence status for tuition purposes are not made until after the student has been admitted to the University and has completed a Statement of Legal Residence and Statement of Intent to Register.

To establish California residence, an adult student at least 18 years of age must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, other immigrant, or eligible alien who meets all of the following requirements:

• has been physically present in the state for 366 days prior to the residence determination date (RDD) of the term for which he or she wishes to be considered a resident
• has the intent to make California his or her home (as opposed to coming to California for the purpose of attending school)
• is financially independent (see note) if his or her parents are not California residents as defined by UC.

Note: The financial independence requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduate students whose parents are not California residents, including students from community colleges and other post-secondary institutions within California, to qualify for classification as a resident at the University of California. Transfer students who were classified as residents of California at their previous school should not assume that they will be classified as residents at UCLA.

See Noncitizens and Aliens for more information regarding foreign student residence.

To establish residence the student must be physically present in California for more than one year and must have come here with the intent to make California his or her home (as opposed to coming to this state to go to school). Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes does not constitute the establishment of California residence, regardless of the length of stay. The student must demonstrate this intent by severing residential ties with the former state of residence and establishing those ties with California. If these steps are delayed, the one-year duration will be extended until both presence and intent have been demonstrated for one full year.

If the student's parents do not meet the requirements for residence for tuition purposes, the student must be financially independent in order to be a resident for tuition purposes.

Specific topics and detailed information can be found using the menu on the left side of this page, including important information about intent and financial independence. Specific rules apply to the residence classification of minors. The FAQ includes specific questions on establishing residence and may help readers determine what conditions apply to their own situations.

This website is not a complete explanation of laws and rules regarding residence. Changes may be made in residence requirements between the publication of material on this site and the relevant residence determination date. For questions not answered by information on this site, students may contact the campus residence deputy.