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.
To be eligible for Florida residency for tuition purposes, Florida law requires students to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the United States. Students must submit acceptable documentation to verify their citizenship or lawful presence as part of the residency review process.
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
GET ANSWERS.
Call Enrollment Services
407-582-1507
For general enrollment questions, assistance is available at First Stop.
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 9am – 10pm ET
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 5pm ET
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 8am – 5pm 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 old or older by the first day of classes for the term requested.
- You are married.
- You have children or other dependents who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.
- You are enrolled in a graduate or professional program.
- You are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard or are a veteran.
- You are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent by a parent or legal guardian under IRS rules.
- You can demonstrate that you pay more than half of your tuition and required fees.
- Both of your parents are deceased.
Proving Financial Independence
Students under age 24 may qualify as independent for residency purposes if they can demonstrate that they pay more than 50% of their tuition and required fees.
To qualify under this option, you must submit documentation showing earnings of more than $1,803 within the past 12 months. Acceptable documentation may include your most recent federal income tax return, W-2 forms, recent pay stubs, or a combination of these documents.
The Proof of Independence threshold is calculated using a standard formula to ensure consistency across all students. The amount is based on IPEDS Annual FTE (30 credits) multiplied by Valencia College resident tuition and required fees and divided by two, which represents the portion of tuition and fees a student must demonstrate they are able to pay.
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.
GET ANSWERS.
Call Enrollment Services
407-582-1507
For general enrollment questions, assistance is available at First Stop.
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 9am – 10pm ET
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 5pm ET
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm ET
Friday: 8am – 5pm 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.
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.
Returning Students – Reclassification
If you were previously classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes, you may request to be reclassified as a Florida resident if your circumstances have changed. To qualify for reclassification, you (or your parent or legal guardian, if you are a dependent student) must provide the required documentation showing that you have established and maintained permanent legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months for reasons other than attending college.
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.
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.
NOTE: 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.
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 VC account, you can log into your account to complete this step.
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 MyVC, 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 Academic Calendar, your residency will be processed for the next available term.
In accordance with Florida Statutes, Valencia 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 residency classification, the matter will be referred to the appeals committee.
The residency appeal officer or committee will convey to the applicant the final residency determination and the reasons for the determination within 20 business days. The final residency determination will be provided to the student in writing.
Students who wish to appeal the classification of Florida Residency for tuition purposes should submit the Florida Residency Appeal Checklist form citing the basis for the appeal. Copies of all documentation supporting the appeal for residency reclassification should be included with the request. Students may visit the First Stop if they have questions or need guidance on completing the form. The request form and all supporting documentation can be submitted to admissionshelp@valenciacollege.edu.