Florida Residency

When applying for college in the state of Florida, it must be determined if you are a resident for tuition purposes. 

• Florida State Statute 1009.21: Determination of resident status for tuition purposes
• Florida Residency Determination by Visa Type

Florida Residency Affidavit Form

This form must be signed digitally. Download the form and open with Adobe Acrobat to apply your digital signature.

Residency Classification

To be considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes, you must have lived in the state of Florida for at least the previous 12 consecutive months; all documentation proving Florida residency must be at least 12 consecutive months old or older and must be current/valid including Florida driver license, Florida vehicle registration, and Florida voter registration.

Acceptable Documents To Support Claim of Florida Residency

Per s. 1009.21(3)c, Florida Statutes, the residency determination must be documented by the submission of written or electronic verification that includes two or more of the documents identified below. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.

A. Claimant must provide at least one of the following documents:

• Florida Voter Registration Card
• Florida Driver License
• Florida State Identification Card
• Florida Vehicle Registration
• Proof of permanent home occupied as a primary residence for 12 consecutive months prior to the student’s enrollment. (Required: document such as a deed or other evidence of title to property used as primary residence, a homeowner’s policy, a title insurance policy, evidence of property tax payment on the primary residence, multiple leases reflecting a Florida address, or a lease of multiple years’ duration.)
• Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida. (Required: document from the county tax collector demonstrating the application of a homestead exemption to the claimant’s primary residence.)
• Official transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (2 or more years), if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.
• Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12 month period. (Required: pay stubs or W-2 form for past 12 consecutive months and/or a letter from current employer on company letterhead, and/or an IRS 1099 with verification of employment for the past 12 consecutive months from an employer.)
• Student is a qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-paid Post-secondary Expense program. In this case, the student would only need to provide documentation from Florida Pre-paid to claim Florida residency.

B. Claimant may provide one or more documents from the following list to demonstrate residency in Florida (to be used in conjunction with one document from above):

• Declaration of domicile in Florida in accordance with s. 222.17, Florida Statutes
• Florida professional or occupational license
• Florida incorporation
• Document evidencing family ties in Florida
• Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization.
• Any other documentation that supports your request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.

No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.    

All documentation must be submitted prior to the published deadlines in the college academic calendar. 

Documentation from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or proof of homeless status may be considered for Florida residency for tuition purposes. Documentation is required.

Pursuant to s. 1009.21, F.S., applicants may qualify for residency based on the following permitted exception:

• I am a qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Prepaid College Program (s. 1009.98, Florida Statutes). Copy of Florida Prepaid Recipient card required.
• 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. Copy of marriage certificate and/or other documents required).
• 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. Evidence of previous enrollment as a Florida resident required.
• I was previously enrolled at a Florida state postsecondary institution and classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. I abandoned by Florida domicile less than 12 months ago and an 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. Copy of military orders or DD2058 showing home of record required.
• 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. Copy of military orders required.
• 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. Copy of marriage certificate or proof of dependency required.
• Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by state public schools and institutions of higher education and their spouses and dependent children. Employment verification required.
• 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. Proof of scholarship and Latin America/Caribbean residency required.
• Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market graduate students attending Florida’s state universities. Certification letter from State Academic Common Market required.
• Full-time employees of state agencies or political subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivisions for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training. Employment verification/payment agreement required.
• McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are U.S. citizens. Verification from graduate studies required.
• U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. 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. Proof of enrollment in graduate program for FL teaching certificate required.
• 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. Proof of active duty membership required.
• 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 institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed. Proof of active duty membership required.

Residency Reclassification

Reclassification to Florida Resident

Pursuant to Florida School Code (SB 20-E) Section 1009.21 Florida Statues, an individual who is initially classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may apply to become eligible for reclassification to a Florida resident by presenting documentation and completing the residency reclassification application.

The evidentiary requirement for reclassification goes beyond that for an initial classification. An individual who is initially classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes only if that individual, or his or her parent of that individual is a dependent, presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for the past 12 consecutive months.

Required Documentation

To satisfy documentation requirements, the student, or his or her parent if that student is a dependent, must provide photocopies of all of the following:

1. A signed Residency Reclassification Application,
2. A minimum of two (2) documents from Tier One, and
3. One (1) document that is from either Tier One or Tier Two.
   
   All documents must be dated at least twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the deadline for submission for residency documentation (photocopies must be attached and submitted with the residency reclassification application).

To submit your Residency Reclassification Application, the document must be sent the Office of the Registrar.

• Scan and email to Registrar@SCF.edu

Residency Appeal Process

If a student believes that his or her residency classification is incorrect once a residency status has been determined by SCF personnel, he or she may submit a residency status appeal form and attach all supporting documentation to the Office of the Registrar. The appeal is reviewed by the Residency Appeal Committee.

The student will receive a letter in the mail, indicating the decision, and the decision of the committee is final.

Submit your Residency Statement

To submit your Residency Statement and supporting documentation, please connect with us in one in person at one of our campuses.

• Scan and email to residency@scf.edu
• Fax: 941-727-6024
• Mail to:
  SCF Admissions
  5840 26th St. W.,
  Bradenton, FL 34207