Steps to Request Florida Residency

All students who wish to claim Florida residency for tuition purposes must complete the Florida Residency Form and upload the necessary documentation.

Determine What Type of Student You Are

In most circumstances, students are either Dependent or Independent. The determination of dependent or independent student status is important because it tells you whose documents you will need to gather to prove residency – your parent’s or guardian’s (as a dependent) or yours (as an independent).

In some cases, dependent students may be required to submit proof of relationship if their claimant is someone other than their parent. Acceptable documentation for proof of relationship may include:

birth certificate(s)
marriage certificate (if name differs from birth certificate)
your claimant's prior year's tax documents
a combination of these documents may be required if a single form of proof is inconclusive.

NOTE: U.S. Citizens who are dependent upon undocumented parents - A dependent child may not be denied classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes based solely upon the immigration status of his or her parent.

Florida Residency

What is Florida Residency?Steps to Request Florida Residency Florida Residency Alternatives Florida Residency Glossary Residency FAQs

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Call Enrollment Services

407-582-1507

Standard Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 9am – 10pm ET
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 5pm ET

Dependent Students

You are under the age of 24.

All other students who do not meet the definition of an independent student shall be classified as dependent students for the determination of residency for tuition purposes.

This status is the most common for recent high school graduates.

Independent Students

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

You are 24 years of age or older prior to the Proof of Florida Residency Deadline listed in the Academic Calendar.
You are married. (Copy of marriage certificate required.)
You have a child, or other dependent, who lives with you and receives their support from you. (A copy of your most recent federal tax return that lists your child, or person(s), as a dependent will be required to show that the dependent receives more than half their support from you.)
You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. (Copies of military documents required.)
Your parents are deceased, and you are, or were until age 18, a ward of the court. (Copies of court documents required.)

Students who do not meet any of the criteria outlined above may be classified as independent only if they submit documentation that demonstrates financial independence (see below).

Proving Financial Independence

If you feel you qualify as an independent student because you provide 50% or more of your own support, you must prove that you are self-supporting (especially true for those who are under the age of 24). This means showing evidence that you have earned 50% or more of the cost of attendance, for independent, in-state students as defined by the Office of Financial Aid (exclusive of federal, state, and institutional aid or scholarships), within the last 12 months. You can document your earnings by submitting your most recent federal income tax returns, W-2 forms, pay stubs, or a combination of these documents.

Our Admissions team will evaluate your independence eligibility based on the supporting documentation submitted to determine whether you meet requirements for being considered financially independent for the purposes of establishing residency for tuition purposes.

College Cost

Cost of attendance (COA) is an estimate of expenses you might encounter while attending Valencia College. Your COA includes more than just tuition and fees.

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QUESTIONS?
GET ANSWERS.

Virtual Answer Center

Call Enrollment Services

407-582-1507

Standard Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 9am – 10pm ET
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 5pm ET

Collect Documents that Establish Florida Residency

If you are a dependent student, you will need to collect your parent or guardian’s documents. If you are an independent student, you will need to collect your own documents. Keep in mind, if you are an international student or a Permanent Resident Alien, additional documentation regarding your visa or permanent resident status will also be required.

All documentation is subject to verification. If the documents you provided to prove residency cannot be verified, your residency status may not change. Additional documentation may be required to support your claim of residency for tuition purposes.

New Students – Initial Classification

You need TWO documents that are not expired or inactive, with ISSUE DATES at least 12 months before the start of the term you’re starting school:

Two documents from the Tier 1 Document list (valid ID numbers required), OR
One document from the Tier 1 Document list and one document from the Tier 2 Document list (must upload documents)

Note: Proof of Homestead is considered a single conclusive piece of evidence proving residency. No additional Tier 1 or Tier 2 documentation is needed when submitting valid Homestead information (must still meet 12-month criteria) - House Bill 1285.

Tier 1 Document

Two documents from the Tier 1 Document list (valid ID numbers required)

A Florida voter's registration card.
A Florida driver's license or Florida identification card.
A Florida vehicle registration.
Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's parent if the individual is a dependent child.
Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (if Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within last 12 months).*
Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for the most recent and consecutive 12-month period.

*GED must be accompanied by official high school transcripts showing multiple years of attendance in a Florida high school.

Tier 2 Document

Or, One document from the Tier 1 Document list and one document from the Tier 2 Document list

A Declaration of Domicile in Florida (12 months from the date the document was sworn and subscribed as noted by the Clerk of Court).
A Florida professional or occupational license.
A Florida corporation as evidenced by Department of State filings.
Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization that requires that the member reside in Florida as a condition of membership.
Benefit histories from Florida agencies or public assistance programs.

Any other documentation that supports the student's request for resident status (may include utility bills in the name of the claimant and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement in the name of the claimant and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida for the 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment.

Returning Students – Reclassification

An individual who was initially classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes. Reclassification requires an individual, or the parent or guardian of a dependent person, to present clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residence for the purpose of pursuing an education.

You need THREE documents that are not expired or inactive, with ISSUE DATES at least 12 months before the start of the term you’re starting school:

One document must be from Tier 1 Document list
Two documents may come from either the Tier 1 Document list OR Tier 2 Document list
Please refer to the form itself, or the documentation table tab above, to review the list of acceptable documents.

Unacceptable Documents

The following items are not acceptable forms of documentation to establish that one has been living in Florida for 12 months:

Birth certificate
Social Security card
Passport
Shopping club/rental cards
W2 or Tax return

Bank statements
Cell phone bills
Hunting/fishing permit
Concealed weapons permit
Credit card bills

Vessel, Boat, Dune buggy or other recreational vehicles
Medical bills or doctor's notes
Library Card

Complete Your Florida Residency Form

Submit Proof of Florida Residency Form and Documents

Now, you’ll need to fill out your Florida Residency Request form and upload the necessary documentation. After you’ve created your Atlas account, you can log into your account to complete this step:
(Atlas Students Tab > Student Forms > Admissions & Records > Florida Residency Request)

Submit Proof of Florida Residency

TIP: When uploading documentation to prove your residency classification, please upload documents in PDF or JPG format.

Check Your Florida Residency Classification Status

After completing these steps, you can check your Florida Residency classification status to ensure you’re paying the lowest rate possible for tuition and fees. To do this, log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab then under the Registration window select Payment and Admissions then click Florida Residency Status and submit for the term.

If your request for Florida Residency and the necessary documentation is not received prior to the Proof of Florida Residency Deadline as listed in the Important Dates and Deadlines calendar, your residency will be processed for the next available term.

Florida Residency Alternatives

If you don’t meet the 12-month legal residency requirement or are unable to provide the required documents to qualify for Florida Residency, review the Florida Residency Alternatives details to see if you are eligible for any of the statutory exceptions or waivers.

Florida Residency