Nov 15, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 College Catalog

Establishing Residency

A Florida resident for tuition purposes must qualify in one of the following categories:

  1. If a dependent child has been residing continuously with a legal resident adult relative other than the parent for at least three years immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term which Florida residency is sought, the dependent child may provide documentation from the adult relative or from the parent. Both the dependent child and the adult relative or the parent must meet the consecutive 12-month legal residence requirement [s. 1009.21 (2)(b), F.S.].
  2. The legal residence of a dependent child whose parents are divorced, separated, or otherwise living apart will be considered Florida if either parent is a legal resident of this state - regardless of who claims the dependent individual for federal income tax purposes. [s. 1009.21(2)(c), F.S.]
  3. For a dependent child, the legal residence of his/her parents is prima facie evidence (i.e., evidence that establishes a fact if uncontested) of the child’s legal residence; however, the evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age and general circumstances of the dependent child, by the other evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the dependent child. [s. 1009.21(4), F.S.]
  4. For a dependent child, the legal residence of his/her parents who are domiciled outside this state is not prima facie evidence (i.e., evidence that establishes a fact if uncontested) of the child’s legal residence if that child has lived in this state for five consecutive years prior to enrolling or reregistering at a higher education institution. [s. 1009.21(4), F.S.]
  5. A person who physically resides in the state may be classified as a resident for tuition purposes if he or she marries a person who meets the 12-month requirement and who is a legal resident. [s. 1009.21(5), F.S.].
  6. A person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes and who marries a legal resident of the state or marries a person who becomes a legal resident of the state may, upon becoming a legal resident of the state, become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes upon submitting evidence of his or her own legal residency in the state, evidence of his or her marriage to a person who is a legal resident of the state, and evidence of the spouse’s legal residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for reclassification. [s.1009.21(6)(d), F.S.]
  7. An individual shall not lose his or her resident status solely by reason of his/her service or parent’s service in the Armed Forces outside this state. [s. 1009.21(7), F.S.]
  8. For individuals who have been classified properly as residents for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled, lose resident tuition status because he/she or his/her parents establish domicile or legal residence elsewhere, shall have the benefit of in-state tuition for a 12-month grace period (extended to the end of the term in which the 12 months is reached). [s.1009.21(8), F.S.]
  9. Persons who were enrolled as Florida residents for tuition purposes at a Florida public IHE, but who abandon Florida domicile and then re-enroll in Florida within 12 months of the abandonment - provided that he/she continuously maintains the re-established domicile in Florida during the period of enrollment. (This benefit only applies one time.) [s.1009.21(9), F.S.].
  10. Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States residing or stationed in Florida (and spouse/dependent children) and active drilling members of the Florida National Guard [s. 1009.21(10)(a), F.S.]; or military personnel not stationed in Florida whose home of record or state of legal residence certificate, DD Form 2058, is Florida (and spouse/dependent children). [s. 1009.21(2)(a), F.S.].
  11. Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States and their spouses/dependent children attending a public college or university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed, if such military establishment is within a county contiguous to Florida. [s.1009.21(10)(b), F.S.].
  12. 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. [s. 1009.21(10)(c), F.S.].
  13. Full time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the State of Florida public school system and Florida public IHE (and spouse/dependent children). See Appendix A, Frequently Asked Questions, for definition of instructional and administrative personnel. [s. 1009.21(10)(d), F.S.].
  14. Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who receive scholarships from the federal or state government. The student must attend, on a fulltime basis, a Florida public IHE. See Section 7.0, Immigration and International Student Issues, for more information on the qualifying scholarships. [s.1009.21(10)(e), F.S.].
  15. Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market graduate students attending Florida’s state universities. [s. 1009.21(10)(f), F.S.].
  16. 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. [s.009.21(10)g), F.S.].
  17. McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens. [s.1009.21(10)(h), F.S.].
  18. 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. [s. 1009.21(10)(i), F.S.].
  19. 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 public community college or university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed. [s. 1009.21(10)(j), F.S.].
  20. 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 community college or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed. [s. 1009.21(10)(k), F.S.].
  21. Qualified beneficiaries under the Stanley G. Tate Florida Pre-Paid College Program per s. 1009.98, F.S. (Pre-Paid ID Card Required). [s. 1009.98(2)(b)1, F.S.].
  22. Linkage Institute participants receiving partial or full exemptions from s. 1009.21, F.S., based on criteria approved by the Florida Department of Education per s. 288.8175(5), F.S., which establishes linkage institutes between postsecondary institutions in this state and foreign countries. See Section 7.0, Immigration and International Student Issues, for more information on Linkage Institutes. [s.288.8175(5), F.S.]

NOTE: Documentation in support of the above qualifications is required.