Residency for Tuition Purposes: Active Military Servicemembers & Veteran Policies
Military Service and Veterans Residency Exceptions
Read on to learn about residency requirements, deadlines, and everything you need to know about residency for tuition purposes for military servicemembers, veterans and their family member students here at the U.
If you are classified as a nonresident but meet the requirements for a policy or exception for resident status, you may apply to change your status by means of a residency addendum, see details here.
Mandatory Reading for All Residency for Tuition Purpose Applicants
The resources listed here describe the various ways in which you may be eligible for in-state (resident) tuition under the provisions of Utah state law and University of Utah Institutional Policy. Review these materials carefully.
Please note that retroactive residency for past semesters is not granted,
“R512-5.2.1 Application Deadline: Students must meet institutional application deadlines for each term…institutions may not accept applications for resident student status or supporting documentation after the third week of the semester or term for which the student seeks resident student status.”
Military/Veteran Exception Application Deadline Change
Starting Summer Semester 2024 onward, all Exception and Addendum applications for Residency (Military/Veteran, American Indian, Olympic Athlete, USHE Transfer Student, and State of Utah Exceptions, Addendum) will have the same deadlines as all Residency Reclassification applications for the following dates:
- Application Open
- Domiciliary Tie Establishment Deadline
- On-Time Application Deadline
- Application Closes
- Document Submission Deadline
- Incomplete Applications Removed
Residency for Tuition Purposes Calendar
Active Military & Veteran Residency Exceptions
These exceptions apply to active military and veterans and their immediate family members (dependent spouses or children). To apply for an active military or veteran exception, please fill out a Military Service Exception Form and submit all required documentation.
Please check the sections below to see if you qualify under any of the following military exceptions, then complete the Application for In-State Tuition Based Upon Military Service Exceptions.
For this policy, “Military Service Member” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.4 “Military Service member”:
- 3.4.1 Serving active duty in the United States Armed Forces within the state of Utah;
- 3.4.2 A member of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces assigned in
Utah; - 3.4.3 A member of the Utah National Guard
- 3.4 “Military Service member”:
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Copy of the official military orders placing the service member in Utah on active duty assignment (see 3.4)
- Copy of the military service member’s military ID card (See United States Title 18 U.S.C. § 701 “except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law”, and also see Utah State Law 53B-8-S102 (8)(a)(i) and (8)(b)(i)(A) and (B))
For this policy, “Military Service Member” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.4 “Military Service member”:
- 3.4.1 Serving active duty in the United States Armed Forces within the state of Utah;
- 3.4.2 A member of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces assigned in
Utah; - 3.4.3 A member of the Utah National Guard
- 3.3 Immediate family member is defined as the current spouse or unmarried dependent child of the U.S. military veteran
- 3.4 “Military Service member”:
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Copy of the official military orders placing the service member in Utah on active duty assignment (see 3.4)
- Copy of the military service member’s military ID card or a copy of the requesting student’s military privilege card (See United States Title 18 U.S.C. § 701 “except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law”, and also see Utah State Law 53B-8-S102 (8)(a)(i) and (8)(b)(i)(A) and (B))
- If you are the spouse or dependent child of a U.S. military service member, a copy of the military service member’s most recent federal tax return verifying they claimed you as a tax co-signee/dependent
For this policy, “Military Veteran” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.5 “Military Veteran”:
- 3.5.1 Has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 180 days: (1) on active duty;
or (2) in a reserve component, to include the National Guard; or - 3.5.2 Has incurred an actual service-related injury or disability while in the United States
Armed Forces regardless of whether the individual completed 180 days and was separated or
retired under conditions characterized as honorable or general.
- 3.5.1 Has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 180 days: (1) on active duty;
- 3.5 “Military Veteran”:
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Copy of all U.S. military veteran’s official military documents showing both of the following:
-
- Proof of honorable or general discharge
- At least 180 days of active service (see 3.5.1) (see also Utah Code 68-3-12.5 (37)(a)(i)(A))
- If less than 180 days of honorable or general discharge, veteran’s who incurred an actual service-related injury or disability while in the United States Armed Forces (see 3.5.2) may provide documentation in addition to their DD-214 of the service-related injuries and/or disability
- These may include one or all of the following, so long as they all meet the discharge and minimum days of service criteria above:
-
-
-
- DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 256, Discharge Certificate, for Guard and Reserve members
- NGB Form 22, proof of service for National Guard members
-
- Signed written declaration, on the Military Service Exception Form, that you have relinquished residency in any other state and do not maintain any residency ties elsewhere
- Objective evidence that you have demonstrated an intent to establish residency in Utah, which may include any one of the following:
- Utah voter registration card
- Utah driver’s license or identification card
- Utah vehicle registration
- Evidence of employment in Utah
- Rental agreement showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
- Utility bills showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
For this policy, “Military Veteran” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.5 “Military Veteran”:
- 3.5.1 Has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 180 days: (1) on active duty;
or (2) in a reserve component, to include the National Guard; or - 3.5.2 Has incurred an actual service-related injury or disability while in the United States
Armed Forces regardless of whether the individual completed 180 days and was separated or
retired under conditions characterized as honorable or general.
- 3.5.1 Has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 180 days: (1) on active duty;
- 3.5 “Military Veteran”:
-
- 3.3 Immediate family member is defined as the current spouse or unmarried dependent child of the U.S. military veteran
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Copy of all U.S. military veteran’s official military documents showing both of the following:
- Proof of honorable or general discharge
- At least 180 days of active service (see 3.5.1) (see also Utah Code 68-3-12.5 (37)(a)(i)(A))
- If less than 180 days of honorable or general discharge, veteran’s who incurred an actual service-related injury or disability while in the United States Armed Forces (see 3.5.2) may provide documentation in addition to their DD-214 of the service-related injuries and/or disability
- These may include one or all of the following, so long as they all meet the discharge and minimum days of service criteria above:
-
-
- DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 256, Discharge Certificate, for Guard and Reserve members
- NGB Form 22, proof of service for National Guard members
-
- Signed written declaration, on the Military Service Exception Form, that you have relinquished residency in any other state and do not maintain any residency ties elsewhere
- Objective evidence that you have demonstrated an intent to establish residency in Utah, which may include any one of the following:
- Utah voter registration card
- Utah driver’s license or identification card
- Utah vehicle registration
- Evidence of employment in Utah
- Rental agreement showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
- Utility bills showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here
- If you are the spouse or dependent child of a U.S. military service member, a copy of the military service member’s most recent federal tax return verifying they claimed you as a tax co-signee/dependent
For this policy, “Eligible Person” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.7 “Eligible Person” means an individual entitled to benefits under Title 38 United States
Code – Veterans’ Benefits.
- 3.7 “Eligible Person” means an individual entitled to benefits under Title 38 United States
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Evidence of eligibility under Title 38 U.S. Code:
- Chapter 30, Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 33 – Post- 9/11 Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 35 – Dependent Education Assistance Program
- You may obtain verification from the VA or online through the eBenefits account.
- If you have questions on how to go about this, the University of Utah Office of the Registrar Veteran Services can assist with this process.
- Signed written declaration, on the Military Service Exception Form, that the requesting student will utilize G.I. Bill benefits
- Objective evidence that you have demonstrated an intent to establish residency in Utah, which may include any one of the following:
- Utah voter registration card
- Utah driver’s license or identification card
- Utah vehicle registration
- Evidence of employment in Utah
- Rental agreement showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
- Utility bills showing the requesting student’s name and Utah address
For this policy, “Military Service Member” who maintains residency in Utah:
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.4.4 Maintaining domicile in Utah, as described in subsection 5.3.2.6, but is assigned outside of Utah pursuant to federal permanent change of station orders.
-
- 3.3 Immediate family member is defined as the current spouse or unmarried dependent child of the U.S. military veteran
Accepted methods of proof require the following:
- Copy of the requesting student/active military service member’s military identification card (See United States Title 18 U.S.C. § 701 “except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law”, and also see Utah State Law 53B-8-S102 (8)(a)(i) and (8)(b)(i)(A) and (B))
- If you are a dependent child or spouse, a copy of the military privilege card can be submitted instead.
- Copy of the requesting student/active military service member’s most recent official military orders placing the service member outside of Utah on active duty assignment (see 3.4)
- Objective evidence that the requesting student/active military service member has not relinquished residency ties to Utah, which may include any one of the following:
- Utah voter registration card
- Utah driver’s license or identification card
- Utah vehicle registration
- Copy of a Utah income tax return in the requesting student/active military service member’s name and/or their current spouse’s name, filed as a Utah resident
- Proof that the requesting student/active military service member and/or their current spouse owns a home in Utah, including a property tax notice for property owned in Utah by the requesting student/active military service member and/or their current spouse.
See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here
- If you are the spouse or dependent child of a U.S. military service member, a copy of the military service member’s most recent federal tax return verifying they claimed you as a tax co-signee/dependent
Ready to apply?
Post Submission Form
If you have already submitted your residency application form and have additional documents you wish to turn in for evaluation, please attach the documents using the:
Exceptions and Restrictions
If you are requesting residency for a spring term, all of the above documentation is required.
For the federal tax return requirement, the you can submit:
- The first two pages of your federal tax return for the most recent tax filing year verifying that you were not claimed as a tax dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.
- Copy of your out of state parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) for the most recent tax filing year verifying that they did not claim you as a dependent.
- A signed and dated letter on letterhead from a licensed CPA with contact information, verifying that you will not be claimed on federal taxes for the previous year as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.
- Example: If you are applying for residency for Spring 2024, you can submit either your or your parents’/guardians’ filed federal tax return for 2022 federal taxes verifying that you were not claimed as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians, or a signed and dated letter on letterhead from a licensed CPA with contact information, verifying that you will not be claimed on federal taxes for the 2022 tax year as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.
Late Application Submissions
An application is considered late if it is submitted after the deadline (see “Residency for Tuition Purposes Calendar” above).
The hard late deadline for application submission is the tuition deadline. No application will be accepted after the tuition deadline for the requested term of reclassification.
Late applications must be submitted with a late petition explaining why you did not submit by the deadline, and there is no guarantee of application acceptance nor a decision by the tuition deadline for the requested term of reclassification.
Late Documentation
Required documentation (proof of physical presence documents, submission of Utah ties, proof of tax independence documents, etc.) will be accepted through the census deadline of the requested term of reclassification at the latest. Documentation should be submitted as soon as possible prior to this deadline. No documentation will be accepted after the census deadline for the requested term of reclassification.
Students submitting documentation must have a residency reclassification application on file that was submitted by the hard application deadline.
Have Questions?
Residency Office Contact Information
Visit us at:
201 S 1460 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Office Hours (All times are Mountain Time Zone):
- Monday – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- Tuesday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (Staff Meetings every Tuesday morning 8:00 to 10:00 A.M.)
- Wednesday – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- Thursday – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- Friday – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Closed all holidays and University Office Closure days (click here to see our calendar)
Call us:
801-581-8761, Option 5 to speak with a Residency staff member
Email us:
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