Requirements for Financial Independence

You are considered “financially independent” if one or more of the following apply:

(1)  you are at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the calendar
      year for which you are requesting residence classification;

(2)  you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;

(3)  you are a ward of the court or both parents are deceased;

(4)  you have legal dependents other than a spouse;

(5)  you are married, or are a graduate or professional student, and you
      were not claimed as an income tax deduction by your parents or any
      other individual for the tax year immediately preceding the term for
      which you are requesting resident classification; or

(6)  you are a single undergraduate student and were not claimed as an
      income tax deduction by your parents or any other individual for the two
      tax years immediately preceding the term for which you are requesting
      resident classification and you can demonstrate self-sufficiency for
      those two years.

(Note that financial dependence is not a factor in residence status for graduate student instructors, graduate student teaching assistants, research assistants, junior specialists, postgraduate researchers, graduate student researchers, and teaching associates who are employed 49 percent or more of full-time in the term for which classification is sought.)

Establishing Intent to Become a California Resident

Indications of your intent to make California your permanent residence can include the following:

(1)  registering to vote and voting in California elections;

(2)  designating California as your permanent address on all school and
      employment records, including military records if you are in the
      military service;

(3)  obtaining a California driver’s license or, if you do not drive, a
      California identification card;

(4)  obtaining California vehicle registration;

(5)  paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on
      income earned outside California from the date you establish residence;

(6)  establishing a California residence in which you keep your personal
      belongings; and licensing for professional practice in California.

The absence of these indicia in other states during any period for which you claim residence can also serve as an indication of your intent. Documentary evidence is required, and all relevant indications will be considered in determining your classification. Your intent will be questioned if you return to your prior state of residence when the university is not in session.

General Rules Applying to Minors

If you are an unmarried minor (under age 18), your residence is considered to be the residence of the parent with whom you live. If you have a parent living, you cannot change your residence by your own act, by the appointment of a legal guardian, or by the relinquishment of your parent’s right of control. If you live with neither parent, your residence is that of the parent with whom you last lived. Unless you are a minor alien present in the United States under the terms of a nonimmigrant visa that precludes you from establishing domicile in the United States, you may establish your own residence when both your parents are deceased and a legal guardian has not been appointed. If you derive California residence from a parent, that parent must satisfy the one-year durational residence requirement.

Specific Rules Applying to Minors

Divorced or Separated Parents

You may be able to derive California resident status from a California resident parent if you move to California to live with that parent on or before your 18th birthday.

Parent of Minor Moves from California

You may be entitled to resident status if you are a minor U.S. citizen or eligible alien whose parent(s) was/were a resident of California who left the state within one year of the residence determination date if:

(a)  you remained in California after your parent(s) departure,

(b)  you enroll in a California public postsecondary institution within one
      year of your parent(s) departure, and

(c)  once enrolled, you maintain continuous attendance in that institution.

      Financial independence is not required in this case.

Exceptions to the Rules Applicable to Minors

1.   Deceased parents
      Even though you are a minor, you may establish your own residence
      if both of your parents are deceased and a legal guardian has not been
      appointed for you.

2.   Divorced/separated parents
      You may derive residence from a California resident parent if you
      move to California to begin residing with your California resident parent
      before you reach age 18. In addition, you may be eligible for an
      exemption from the nonresident tuition if you are the dependent child of
      a California resident parent. (See the Exemptions section for more
      details.)

3.   Parent of minor moves from California
      If your parent left California to establish a residence elsewhere and
      you remained in California, you may be entitled to be a resident as
      long as you enroll at a community college, a state university or a UC
      campus within one year of your parent’s departure and attended
      continuously until you became an adult.

4.   Self-support
      Student must document his or her income and verify that he or
      she was not claimed as an exemption by parents or anyone else for the
      two years prior to the request for residence. The student is also
      required to present a budget showing how he or she is able to be
      supported by the funds claimed. Self-support is defined as money the
      student has earned through his or her own employment or loans
      obtained with the student's own credit, without a cosigner. A gift or loan
      to the student from a parent, grandparent, or other family member does
      not constitute self-support regardless of the terms.

5.   Two-Year Care and Control
      You may be entitled to resident status if you are a U.S. citizen or
      eligible alien and you have lived continuously with an adult who is not
      your parent for at least two years prior to the residence determination
      date. The adult with whom you are living must have been responsible for
      your care and control for the entire two-year period and must have been
      living in California during the one year immediately preceding the
      residence determination date.

Exemptions from Nonresident Tuition: You may be entitled to an exemption from nonresident tuition if one of the following applies to you:

1.   Member of the military
      Members of the military stationed in California on active duty, except
      those assigned for educational purposes, may be exempt from
      nonresident tuition until they have resided in California for the minimum
      time necessary to establish residence.

2.   Spouses, registered domestic partner and dependent children of
      military personnel 

      Undergraduate
      The spouse, registered domestic partner and dependent children of a
      member of the military stationed in California on active duty may be
      exempt from nonresident tuition indefinitely.

      Graduate
      Graduate students may be exempt from nonresident tuition only for the
      minimum time necessary to establish residence -- one year from the
      date they arrive in California.

3.   Spouses, registered domestic partner and children of a UC faculty
      member
      If funds are available, the spouse, registered domestic partner and
      unmarried dependent children under age 21 of a member of the UC
      faculty who is a member of the Academic Senate may be eligible for a
      waiver of the nonresident tuition.

4.   Spouses, registered domestic partner and children of a UC
      employee employed outside of California
      The spouses, registered domestic partner and dependent children of a
      full-time UC employee who is assigned to work outside of California
      may be exempt from nonresident tuition as long as the employee
      remains a full-time UC employee.

5.   Spouses, registered domestic partner, children and step children
      of a deceased police officer or fire fighter
      The spouse, registered domestic partner, children and step children of
      a deceased law enforcement officer or fire fighter who was a California
      resident at the time of his/her death, and who was killed in the course
      of his/her official duties, may be exempt from nonresident tuition.

6.   Dependent child of a California resident
      The dependent child of a California resident may be exempt from
      nonresident tuition until she/he has resided in California for the
      minimum time necessary to establish a residence. The parent must
      have been a California resident for more than one year. Once enrolled,
      the student must maintain continuous attendance at a community
      college, a state university or a UC campus.

7.   Native American graduates of a BIA school
      A student who is a graduate of a California school operated by the
      federal Bureau of Indian Affairs may be exempt from nonresident
      tuition.

8.   Employee of California public school district
      A student holding a valid credential authorizing service in California
      public schools and employed by a school district in a full-time
      certificate position may be exempt from nonresident tuition.

9.   Student athlete in training at U.S. Olympic Training Center,
      Chula Vista
      An amateur student athlete in training at the U.S. Olympic Training
      Center in Chula Vista may be exempt from nonresident tuition until
      she/he has resided in California the minimum time necessary to
      become a resident.

10. Graduate of California high school
      A student who attended high school in California for three or more
      years (9th grade included) and graduated from a California high
      school (or attained the equivalent) may be exempt from nonresident
      tuition. Nonimmigrant students are not eligible for this exemption. The
      application and affidavit can be downloaded from here.

11. Undergraduate surviving dependents of a California resident who was 
      killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 
      Undergraduate students who are the surviving dependents of a
      California resident who was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist
      attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon or the crash of United
      Airlines Flight 93 are eligible for an exemption from nonresident tuition
      and mandatory student’s fees. (Eligible students must meet the
      financial need requirements for the Cal Grant A program).

12. Undergraduate recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
      An undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Congressional
      Medal of Honor or who is the child of a recipient of the Congressional
      Medal of Honor are eligible for an exemption from nonresident tuition
      and mandatory system wide fees. The recipient of the Medal of Honor
      must be a California resident or must have been a California resident
      at the time of his or her death. The student may not be older than 27,
      and the student's annual income may not exceed the national poverty
      level.

Temporary Absences

If you are a nonresident student who is in the process of establishing residence for tuition purposes and you return to your former state during non instructional periods, your presence in California will be presumed to be solely for educational purposes and only convincing evidence to the contrary will rebut this presumption. Students who are in the state solely for educational purposes will not be classified as residents for tuition purposes regardless of the length of their stay.

If you are a student who has been classified as a resident for tuition purposes and you leave the state temporarily, your absence could result in the loss of your California residence. The burden will be on you (or your parents if you are a minor) to verify that you did nothing inconsistent with your claim of a continuing California residence during your absence. Steps that you (or your parents) should take to retain a California residence include:

(1)  continuing to use a California permanent address in all records.

(2)  continuing to satisfy California tax obligations. If you are claiming
      California residence, you are liable for payment of income taxes on
      your total income from the date you establish your residence in
      California, including income earned in another state or country.

(3)  retaining your California voter’s registration and vote by absentee ballot.

(4)  maintaining a California driver’s license and vehicle registration. If it is
      necessary to change your driver’s license or vehicle registration, you
      must change them back within the time prescribed by law.