Florida Residency Requirements

Download and complete the Florida Residency Declaration for tuition purposes and submit with your residency documents to the Office of Enrollment Services.

In order to receive an in-state tuition rate, students should follow the guidelines below on claiming Florida residency for tuition purposes. A student may be classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes if the student or the dependent student’s parent or guardian has been a legal resident of the State for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residency is sought.

• All applicants for admission and re-admit must complete a Residency Declaration.
• Applicants must provide proof of dependence or independence and document legal residence.
• If a student is a dependent, the parent or guardian must provide proof of legal residence.

The Florida residency requirements are in compliance with Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.044.

Determination of Dependent or Independent Status

The determination of dependent or independent status is important because it is the basis for whether the student has to submit his/her own documentation of residency (as an independent) or his/her parent’s or guardian’s documentation of residency (as a dependent).

Independent Student

A student who meets any one of the following criteria shall be classified as an independent student for the determination of residency for tuition purposes:

(Evidence that the student meets one of these criteria must be provided)

• The student is 24 years of age or older by the first day of classes of the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution.
• The student is married.
• The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student;
• The student has other dependents who live with and receive more than half of their support from the student.
• The student is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces or is currently serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
• Both of the student’s parents are deceased, or the student is or was (until age 18) one of the following: (a) a ward/dependent of the court or (b) in foster care.
• The student is determined an unaccompanied homeless by a school district homeless liaison, emergency shelter or transitional housing program. The student is working on a master’s or doctoral degree during the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution.

Homeless Liaison & Foster Care Liaison:
Anthony Cardenas
386-754-4324
anthony.cardenas@fgc.edu

Dependent Student

All other students who do not meet the above definition of an independent student shall be classified as dependent students for the determination of residency for tuition purposes. The parent or legal guardian must provide evidence of Florida Residency for dependent students.

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Documents required for Evidence of Florida Residency

Following determination of the student’s status as it relates to independent or dependent, documentation supporting proof of residency for the requisite 12 consecutive month qualifying period prior to the first day of classes of the term for which residency is sought must be provided. The student and/or parent/guardian (if dependent) must provide at least two of the following documents that evidence the 12 month qualifying period. As some evidence is more persuasive than others, more than two may be required. No single piece of documentation will be considered conclusive.

Section A/First Tier

At least 1 of the 2 documents submitted must be from this list, you may provide more than one from this section:

• Florida Driver license (if known to be held in another state previously, must have relinquished) OR a State of Florida identification card (if evidence of no ties to another state)
• Florida voter registration
• Florida vehicle registration
• Proof of purchase of a permanent Florida home that is occupied as a primary residence of the claimant
• Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months
• Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida (one or more jobs for at least 30 hours per week for the past 12 consecutive months)

Section B/Second Tier

(May be used in conjunction with 1 document from Section A/First Tier)

• Declaration of domicile in Florida (12 months from the date the document was sworn and subscribed as noted by the Clerk of Circuit Court)
• A Florida professional or occupational license
• Florida incorporation
• Documents evidencing family ties in Florida
• Proof of membership in Florida-based charitable or professional organizations
• Utility bill and proof of past consecutive months of payments (Cell/mobile phones cannot be used; service must be current)
• Copy of lease agreement or a notarized letter from leasing agent/landlord and proof of past 12 consecutive months of payments
• Any other document that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties in Florida

Examples of documents that may not be used

• Hunting/fishing licenses
• Library cards
• Shopping club/rental cards
• Birth certificate
• Passport

Residency Appeals Committee

• In accordance with Florida Statutes, Florida Gateway College has established a residency appeals committee to consider student appeals of residency determinations.  In cases where the applicant expresses a desire to appeal the Admissions classification, the matter will be referred to the designated residency appeal officer or appropriate appeal committee, in accordance with the institution’s official appeal process.
• The residency appeal officer or committee will convey to the applicant the final residency determination and the reasons for the determination. The final residency determination will be provided to the student in writing upon request. All residency determinations will be subject to judicial review as “final agency action” in the appropriate District Court of Appeal.
• Students who wish to appeal the Admissions classification of residency for tuition purposes should begin by contacting Crystal Janasiewicz, Registrar and Chair of FGC’s Residency Appeal Committee at 386.754.4361 and/or via e-mail at Crystal Janasiewicz