How Do I Qualify for Florida Resident Tuition?

• Basic Qualifications

  To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, the student (if over 24 years of age) OR claimant (younger than 24 years of age) must have established and maintained legal residence and physical presence in Florida for at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residency is being sought.

  The law allows U.S. citizens, permanent resident aliens, or legal aliens granted indefinite stay by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to be classified as a Florida resident if the applicant, or the claimant in cases where the student is dependent, has met the requirement of residency in the state for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes.

  Individuals who do not meet the following requirements may be classified as a Florida resident only if they qualify within one of the Florida Residency Exceptions as noted in Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes.

• Florida Residency Exceptions

  There are some classifications that allow for residency for tuition purposes exception as provided in the Florida College system residency provisions. If you qualify for residency based on permitted exception documentation will be required. The following exceptions are applicable to both initial and residency reclassification.

  • I am a qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Prepaid College Program (s. 1009.98, Florida Statutes.) (Required: Copy of Florida Prepaid Recipient card.)
  • I am married to a person who has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least the past 12 consecutive months. I now have established legal residence and intend to make Florida my permanent home. (Required: copy of marriage certificate and/or other documents required to establish residency.)
  • I was previously enrolled at a Florida state postsecondary institution and classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. I am transferring to another Florida state postsecondary institution within 12 months of the previous enrollment.
  • I was previously enrolled at a Florida state postsecondary institution and classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. I abandoned my Florida domicile less than 12 months ago and am now re-establishing Florida legal residence.
  • Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States residing in this state and their spouses and dependent children, and active drilling members of the Florida National Guard. (Required: Copy of military orders or DD2058 showing home of record.)
  • Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States and their spouses and dependents attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed, if such military establishment is within a county contiguous to Florida. (Required: Copy of military orders.)
  • Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed. (Required: proof of active duty membership for specified purpose.)
  • Active duty members of a foreign nation’s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed. (Required: proof of active duty membership for specified purpose.)
  • United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their spouses and dependent children. (Required: Copy of marriage certificate or proof of dependency.)
  • Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by state public schools and institutions of higher education and their spouses and dependent children.
  • Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who receive scholarships from the federal or state government. Any student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. (Required: proof of scholarship and Latin America or Caribbean residency.)
  • Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market graduate students attending Florida’s state universities. (Required: Certification letter from State Academic Common Market Coordinator.)
  • Full-time employees of state agencies or political subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.
  • McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens. (Required: Verification from graduate studies.)
  • United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enroll in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate.