Residency for Tuition Purposes: All Policies & Exceptions
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.”
Residency for Tuition Purposes Calendar
All Undergraduate and Incoming Graduate Student Policies & Exceptions
Undergraduate One Year Rule Policy
The Undergraduate One Year Rule Policy is the most common policy undergraduate students use to reclassify as a resident for tuition purposes after completing a minimum of 12 months in Utah.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Utah Domiciliary Ties(see tie deadlines here)
- Valid Utah driver’s license
- Valid proof of active Utah voter registration via their voter registration card or a certified letter from the County Clerk’s office.
- Students with granted permanent resident status are exempt from this requirement and can submit a secondary Utah tie.
- Valid Utah vehicle registration, if the student has a vehicle in their name
- If the student is operating a vehicle in Utah that is not in their name, student must submit a copy of the other owner’s vehicle registration, from any U.S. state or territory, that the student is using in Utah
- Tax Independence Documentation
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- Either one of the following:
- The first two pages of the student’s federal tax return Form 1040, verifying they were not claimed as a tax dependent of any person, for the filing from most recently completed tax year, or
- Parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) Form 1040, verifying that they did not claim the student as a dependent, for the filing from most recently completed tax year
- Either one of the following:
- All tax documents must be verified for submission to the IRS by means of one of the following:
- Tax-payer’s signature on the second page of the 1040 (include IRS Identity Protection PIN if applicable)
- Proof of an e-signature
- If tax returns do not have a signature, other means of verifying submission of the tax return to the IRS will be required
- A copy of an IRS Tax Transcript can be submitted, in addition to the Form 1040, as proof of IRS submission
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Proof of Physical Presence in Utah
- Proof for 12 continuous months prior to the first day of class for the academic term they apply for resident student status
- No more than 29 days total with presence unaccounted for or outside of the state of Utah
- Any days that a student cannot prove their presence in Utah by one of the accepted methods will count against the 29 day total.
- Students are expected to report any days they leave the state of Utah.
- Acceptable proof of physical presence documents here
- Documents used must have 3 pieces of information per document:
- Student’s name
- Exact date or dates
- Event location
- ALL SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION for proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.
Marriage to a Utah Resident Policy
Requesting student marries a Utah resident who has been a resident for at least 12 continuous months prior to the date of the marriage.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s:
- Valid Utah driver’s license
- Active voter registration
- If applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Copy of the student’s marriage certificate verifying the date of the marriage
- Copy of the Utah resident spouse’s Utah state income tax return for the tax year prior to the year of the marriage
- If the spouse did not file state tax return because their parent(s) claimed the individual as a tax dependent, provide a copy of the spouse’s parents’ federal and state tax return(s) for the tax year prior to the year of marriage.
- Copy of the Utah spouse’s valid Utah driver’s license (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
See USHE R512-5.3.3 for details
Tax-dependent Student with Parents Domiciled in Utah Policy
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copy of the parents’ federal tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year showing the requesting student as a tax dependent of one of their parents (claiming parent does not need to be the Utah parent)
- Proof of Utah parents’ physical “bodily presence (see R512-3.2)” in Utah:
- A copy of their Utah state tax return TC-40 with “Full-yr Resident” marked “Y” for the filing from most recently completed tax year (see example here)
- For parents with Utah state tax returns TC-40 that answers “N” under “Full-yr Resident?” for the filing from most recently completed tax year:
- Additional documents proving the parents’ presence in Utah for a full 12-month period, with fewer than 29 days total unproven/out-of-state, will be required
- For parents with the Utah TC-40B Non and Part-year Resident Schedule that proves the timeline the parents’ were part-year residents of Utah:
- Additional documents proving the parents presence in Utah, in combination with the state tax return, will be required
- All documents, Utah TC-40B and others, must total a full 12-month period, with fewer than 29 days total unproven/out-of-state
- Any form of proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.
- For parents with Utah state tax returns TC-40 that answers “N” under “Full-yr Resident?” for the filing from most recently completed tax year:
- A copy of their Utah state tax return TC-40 with “Full-yr Resident” marked “Y” for the filing from most recently completed tax year (see example here)
- Copy of the Utah parent’s Utah valid driver’s license (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Copy of the Utah parent’s Utah valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
See USHE R512-5.4.1 for details
Move to Utah for Full-Time Employment Policy
This includes cases where the employment is for a spouse or parent of a student.
To qualify for this policy, the Residency office must see that the move to Utah for full-time employment came four (4) months, or more, prior to the requesting student’s final submission of the current admissions application to the University of Utah (see Utah Code 53B-8-102(14)(b)(v).
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Signed and dated letter on company letterhead from the Utah employer verifying (see sample letter here):
- Full-time employment
- Verification of employer-requested job transfer or recruitment
- The dates when Utah employment was first:
- Considered, meaning when they applied for the job
- Offered
- Accepted
- Date of move to Utah
- All of these dates concerning the motivation for the move, showing the student applied for school four (4) months, or more, afterwards, shall be considered (see Utah Code 53B-8-102(14)(b)(v).
- If the requesting student is under 24 years old and not married, they must provide proof that they were not claimed as a tax dependent by out of state parents or guardians on their federal tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year
- For parent employment, the requesting student must provide a copy of their parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year verifying they were claimed as a dependent
See USHE R512-5.4.1 and also Utah Code 53B-8-102(14) for details.
Utah Resident – Away Policies (for school, ecclesiastical service, government service, temporary employment)
For School:
To qualify for this policy, the requesting student must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving the state for educational purposes.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration, and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Verification of the requesting student’s non-residency status at the out-of-state school and payment of non-resident tuition
- Copy of the requesting student’s Utah state tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state
- If the requesting student was required to complete Form TC40-B, they must provide a copy of it.
- If applicable, a student who is a tax dependent of Utah parents, the student must provide copies of their Utah parents’ federal tax return proving they are a tax dependent, and Utah parents’ state tax returns for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state
For Ecclesiastical Volunteer Service:
To qualify for this policy, the requesting student must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving the state for ecclesiastical volunteer purposes.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration, and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Letter verifying the requesting student’s service beginning date and return to Utah date from:
- The student’s local ecclesiastical leader
- Or from the returning student’s ecclesiastical mission organization leadership
- Copy of the requesting student’s Utah state tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state.
- If the requesting student was required to complete Form TC40-B, they must provide a copy of it
- If applicable, a student who is a tax dependent of Utah parents, the student must provide copies of their Utah parents’ federal tax return proving they are a tax dependent, and Utah parents’ state tax returns for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state
For Government Volunteer Service:
To qualify for this policy, the requesting student must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving the state for volunteer purposes.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration, and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Letter verifying the requesting student’s service beginning date and return to Utah date from the government organization
- Copy of the requesting student’s Utah state tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state.
- If the requesting student was required to complete Form TC40-B, they must provide a copy of it
- If applicable, a student who is a tax dependent of Utah parents, the student must provide copies of their Utah parents’ federal tax return proving they are a tax dependent, and Utah parents’ state tax returns for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state
For Temporary Employment:
To qualify for this policy, the requesting student must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving the state for temporary employment.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration, and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Letter, on company letterhead, from the temporary employer detailing work beginning date and return to Utah date (additional documentation may be requested).
- Copy of the requesting student’s most Utah state tax return for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state.
- If the requesting student was required to complete Form TC40-B, they must provide a copy of it
- If applicable, a student who is a tax dependent of Utah parents, the student must provide copies of their Utah parents’ federal tax return proving they are a tax dependent, and Utah parents’ state tax returns for the filing from most recently completed tax year and for all years that the requesting student resided out of state
See USHE R512-5.3.5.3 for details.
Extenuating Circumstances Policy (necessitating relocation to Utah, or refugee placed directly in Utah)
A student who relocates to Utah for reasons related to divorce, the death of a spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities for the student’s spouse, parent, sibling, or child
There is no provision for students who are living in Utah, trying to establish their residency for tuition purposes, who then need to be outside of the state of Utah for longer than 29 days due to unfortunate circumstances.
For moving to Utah due to divorce, death of spouse, or long-term health-care responsibilities, the following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Copies of the requesting student’s valid Utah driver’s license, active voter registration, and, if applicable, valid vehicle registration (See Domiciliary Tie Deadlines here)
- Documentation of the extenuating circumstance for situations such as divorce, death of spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities of family members necessitating relocation to Utah:
- All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Documentation should support and verify that the student’s relocation to Utah is for reasons other than higher education.
- Specific circumstances for qualification are listed in R512, Determination of Resident Status.
For moving to Utah due to refugee status placed directly in Utah, the following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Documentation of the extenuating circumstance for refugee status placed directly in Utah:
- INS Document Number I-94
- Written confirmation from a refugee placement agency that assisted their move to Utah, such as:
- International Rescue Committee
- Catholic Community Services of Utah
- Asian Association of Utah
All Graduate Student Policies & Exceptions
Graduate Residency Reclassification Policy
The Graduate Policy applies to most graduate students who have started their graduate programs and are looking to reclassify their residency status at the University of Utah, except for medical, law and dental students (see below and the Institutional Policy for specific policies for these schools.)
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Students must complete at least 40 graduate credit hours prior to the requested term of reclassification (see University of Utah Institutional Policy here)
- All hours must be graduate credit hours, and must be completed at the University of Utah.
- Withdrawn, failed or dropped courses will not count towards the 40 credit requirement.
- Utah Domiciliary Ties(see tie deadlines here)
- Valid Utah driver’s license
- Valid proof of active Utah voter registration via their voter registration card or a certified letter from the County Clerk’s office.
- Students with granted permanent resident status are exempt from this requirement and can submit a secondary Utah tie.
- Valid Utah vehicle registration, if the student has a vehicle in their name
- If the student is operating a vehicle in Utah that is not in their name, student must submit a copy of the other owner’s vehicle registration, from any U.S. state or territory, that the student is using in Utah
- Tax Independence Documentation
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- Either one of the following:
- The first two pages of the student’s federal tax return Form 1040, verifying they were not claimed as a tax dependent of any person, for the filing from most recently completed tax year, or
- Parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) Form 1040, verifying that they did not claim the student as a dependent, for the filing from most recently completed tax year
- Either one of the following:
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- All tax documents must be verified for submission to the IRS by means of one of the following:
- Tax-payer’s signature on the second page of the 1040 (include IRS Identity Protection PIN if applicable)
- Proof of an e-signature
- If tax returns do not have a signature, other means of verifying submission of the tax return to the IRS will be required
- A copy of an IRS Tax Transcript can be submitted, in addition to the Form 1040, as proof of IRS submission
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Proof of Physical Presence in Utah
- Proof for 12 continuous months prior to the first day of class for the academic term they apply for resident student status
- No more than 29 days total with presence unaccounted for or outside of the state of Utah
- Any days that a student cannot prove their presence in Utah by one of the accepted methods will count against the 29 day total.
- Students are expected to report any days they leave the state of Utah.
- Acceptable proof of physical presence documents here
- Documents used must have 3 pieces of information per document:
- Student’s name
- Exact date or dates
- Event location
- ALL SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION for proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.
School of Medicine Students
Initial Residency Classification
Initial residency classification for MD and MD-PhD programs is completed at the time of application evaluation.
Residency status is determined by the state of legal residence listed by the student on AMCAS.
Students are required to fill out the Utah Residency Application as part of the secondary application if any of the following apply:
- List Utah as their legal state residence on their AMCAS application
- Have graduated from a Utah high school, college, or university
- Enlisted in the military
- Have American Indian heritage
The School of Medicine Utah Residency Application requires submission of the following information but is not limited to:
- Driver’s license/state ID
- Tax information
- Activities for the past 3 years
- Military experience
- American Indian heritage
If information gathered by the Utah Residency Application is not sufficient to approve Utah residency, a preliminary non-resident status may be assigned.
Applicants who meet all in-state residency requirements at the time of acceptance, listed Utah as their legal state of residency on AMCAS, and were initially classified as a non-resident at time of application, may be eligible to petition for in-state classification with the Residency division in the Office of Admissions upon admittance.
Students wishing to appeal their first year residency status must receive written approval from the School of Medicine prior to requesting a status change with the Residency office.
Varying documentation proving Utah residency may be requested by the Residency Office, including but not limited to:
- Driver’s license/state ID
- Voter registration
- Federal and state tax information
- Documentation of past activities (transcripts, pay stubs, etc)
- Military ties (DD-214, military privilege card, etc)
- American Indian heritage (Certificate of Blood)
All requests and documentation must be submitted by the specified deadlines.
Change of status is not guaranteed even with approval from the School of Medicine.
Medical students who list a state besides Utah, Idaho, Montana or Wyoming will be classified as non-residents for tuition purposes.
- This status will be confirmed upon acceptance and cannot be changed for at least the first year of enrollment except in situations where the applicant meets the requirement for a military, American Indian, or Utah high school graduate exception.
Residency Reclassification
- The School of Medicine residency reclassification policy applies to students in the MD and MD-PhD programs who enrolled on or after June 1, 2020.
- The School of Medicine policy supersedes all other policies except for military exceptions, American Indian exceptions, and House Bills 118 and 144.
- Residency status may be changed or updated based on information conveyed from the School of Medicine, regardless of any reclassification requested by the student.
- Students who indicated residency in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming are not eligible for residency reclassification.
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Reclassification application
- Students must complete at least two full time consecutive terms of enrollment at the School of Medicine (see University of Utah Institutional Policy here)
- All hours must be completed at the University of Utah.
- Withdrawn, failed or dropped courses will not count towards residency requirements.
- Utah Domiciliary Ties(see tie deadlines here)
- Valid Utah driver’s license
- Valid proof of active Utah voter registration via their voter registration card or a certified letter from the County Clerk’s office.
- Students with granted permanent resident status are exempt from this requirement and can submit a secondary Utah tie.
- Valid Utah vehicle registration, if the student has a vehicle in their name
- If the student is operating a vehicle in Utah that is not in their name, student must submit a copy of the other owner’s vehicle registration, from any U.S. state or territory, that the student is using in Utah
- Students MUST relinquish domiciliary ties (driver’s license, voter registration, and vehicle registration) held in any other state and establish them in Utah by the Utah tie deadline.
- Tax Independence Documentation
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- Either one of the following:
- The first two pages of the student’s federal tax return Form 1040, verifying they were not claimed as a tax dependent of any person, for the filing from most recently completed tax year, or
- Parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) Form 1040, verifying that they did not claim the student as a dependent, for the filing from most recently completed tax year
- Either one of the following:
- All tax documents must be verified for submission to the IRS by means of one of the following:
- Tax-payer’s signature on the second page of the 1040 (include IRS Identity Protection PIN if applicable)
- Proof of an e-signature
- If tax returns do not have a signature, other means of verifying submission of the tax return to the IRS will be required
- A copy of an IRS Tax Transcript can be submitted, in addition to the Form 1040, as proof of IRS submission
- Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- For not-married students under 24 years old:
- Proof of Physical Presence in Utah
- Proof for 12 continuous months prior to the first day of class for the academic term they apply for resident student status
- No more than 29 days total with presence unaccounted for or outside of the state of Utah
- Any days that a student cannot prove their presence in Utah by one of the accepted methods will count against the 29 day total.
- Students are expected to report any days they leave the state of Utah.
- Acceptable proof of physical presence documents here
- Documents used must have 3 pieces of information per document:
- Student’s name
- Exact date or dates
- Event location
- ALL SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION for proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.
School of Dentistry Students
For dental students, residency status is determined by the state/province of residence as indicated on the AADSAS application.
Dental applicants who indicate Utah as their legal state of residence on AADSAS must qualify for Utah residency through the institutional policy for residency for tuition purposes to be eligible for resident tuition.
Students who indicate any state/province other than Utah as their state of legal residence on AADSAS are not eligible for residency reclassification, except in situations where the student meets the requirement for a military, American Indian, or permitted Utah high school graduate exception.
College of Law Students
Students admitted to the College of Law as non-residents are not eligible for residency reclassification once they begin their studies at the College of Law.
The only exceptions to this policy for non-residents is in situations where the applicant meets the requirement for a military, American Indian, or permitted Utah high school graduate exception.
However, if admitted candidates are initially classified as non-residents and will qualify for Utah resident status under any policy prior to the start of their law studies, they may apply for residency reclassification prior to the start of their law studies but may not do so after courses have commenced.
Certification Form for Resident Exceptions for Tuition Purposes
Please check the sections below to see if you qualify under any of the following exceptions. Please be sure to check the term deadlines. Complete the Certification Form for Resident Exceptions for Tuition Purposes here.
Exception for Membership of a Utah American Indian Tribe; Tribal Lands partly or wholly within, or contiguous with, Utah’s borders
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Exceptions Certification Form application
- Enrollment documentation for*:
- Núuchi-u (Ute)
- Shoshone
- Pannakwatɨ (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes)
- Goshute Western Shoshone
- Paiute
- Diné (Navajo Nation)
- Hopituh Shi-nu-mu (Hopi)
- A:shiwi (Zuni)
- By means of any of the following:
- Certificate of Indian Blood
- Tribal Membership Card
- Tribal Identification Card
- By means of any of the following:
*Enrollment documents must say either Ute, Shoshone, Shoshone-Bannock, Goshute, Paiute, Navajo, Hopi, or Zuni.
Exception for Member of a Federally Recognized Tribe That Has Graduated From a Utah High School
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Exceptions Certification Form application
- Copy of the requesting student’s enrollment on the tribal rolls by means of any of the following:
- Certificate of Indian Blood
- Tribal Membership Card
- Tribal Identification Card
- Copy of the requesting student’s high school diploma or official transcript verifying graduation from a Utah high school
USHE Transfer Students Residency Reciprocity
Student Who Has Attended Another Utah School (in the USHE System) Within the Past Year Classified as a Utah Resident for Tuition Purposes
The following criteria is required:
- Residency Exceptions Certification Form application
- Copy of the requesting student’s valid and unexpired Utah driver’s license.
- Letter sent directly from another Utah institution verifying resident status and dates of enrollment.
Utah State Social or Rehabilitation Services Agency Assistance Recipient Receiving Full Tuition and Fees Allowance
The following criteria is required:
- Exceptions Certification Form application
- Letter from the requesting student’s Social Services counselor providing official verification that the agency is covering all education expenses.
Utah Job Corps Student
The following criteria is required:
- Exceptions Certification Form application
- Official letter verifying the requesting student’s current participation in Utah Job Corps.
Foreign Service Members* and/or their immediate family members
The following criteria is required:
- Exceptions Certification Form application
- Official appointment documentation from either the White House or Congress verifying the participation as a Foreign Service Member* for these qualifying positions:
- Chiefs of mission
- Ambassadors at large
- Members of the Senior Foreign Service
- Foreign Service officers
- Foreign Service personnel
- Foreign national employees, foreign nationals appointed under section 22 USC 3943: Appointments by the Secretary
- Consular agents
- For immediate family members, a copy of the foreign service member’s federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year verifying they claimed the applying student as a married filing tax signee or a tax dependent
*Members of a qualifying federal service means a member of the:
- Armed forces (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code); or
- Foreign Service (as defined in section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903)) who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days.
Participant in Olympic Athlete Training Program in Utah
The following criteria is required:
- Exceptions Certification Form application
- Letter from the USOPC verifying the requesting student’s eligibility. Note that this letter MUST come from USOPC and cannot come from a coach or team
Application for In-State Tuition Based Upon Military Service Exceptions
Please check the sections below to see if you qualify under any of the following military exceptions. Please check the term deadlines. Complete the Application for In-State Tuition Based Upon Military Service Exceptions here.
U.S. Military Veteran and/or their immediate family members
For a veteran student who is applying, the following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- Copy of proof of service as evidenced by providing one or more of the following:
- DD Form 214
- DD Form 256 Discharge Certificate, for Guard and Reserve members
- NGB Form 22, proof of service for National Guard members
- Note: These forms must indicate:
- 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
- Note: These forms must indicate:
- Objective evidence of intent to establish residency in Utah; 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
For the immediate family member (Spouse or Dependent Child) of a U.S. Military Veteran who is applying, the following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- Copy of proof of service as evidenced by providing one or more of the following:
- DD Form 214
- DD Form 256 Discharge Certificate, for Guard and Reserve members
- NGB Form 22, proof of service for National Guard members
- Note: These forms must indicate:
- 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
- Note: These forms must indicate:
- Copy of the military service member’s federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year verifying they claimed you as a tax co-signee or dependent
- Note: Other forms of official documentation of immediate family member of a U.S. veteran may be considered on a case by case basis.
- Objective evidence of intent to establish residency in Utah; 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
Eligible Military Members, Veterans, or Dependents using Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Education Benefits
The following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- Evidence of eligibility for one or more of the following VA educational benefits:
- Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 33 – Post- 9/11 Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 35 – Dependent Education Assistance Program
- Note: Students may obtain verification from the VA or online through their eBenefits account. Link: Home – VA/DoD eBenefits
- 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.
- Objective evidence of intent to establish residency in Utah; 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
U.S. Military Service Member on Active Duty in Utah and/or their Immediate Family Member (Spouse or Dependent Child)
For service member students on duty in Utah, the following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- Copy of the military orders placing you in Utah on active-duty assignment (see 3.4)
- Copy of your current military ID card
For immediate family members (Spouse or Dependent Child) of service member students on duty in Utah, the following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- Copy of the military orders placing service member in Utah on active-duty assignment (see 3.4), or military documents for reservists or National Guard members.
- Copy of military service member’s current military ID card
- Proof of immediate family connection to service member:
- A copy of your military dependent card;
- Or a copy of the military service member’s federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year verifying they claimed you as a married joint tax co-signee or tax dependent
- Utah Resident Serving on Active Duty Outside of Utah (Includes Immediate Family Member/Military Dependent)
Utah Resident Serving on Active Duty Outside of Utah (Includes Immediate Family Member/Military Dependent)
The following criteria is required:
- Military Service Exception Form application
- A copy of the military service member’s current military ID card
- For immediate family members:
- A copy of dependent’s military identification card;
- Or the military service member’s federal tax return filing from most recently completed tax year verifying they claimed you as a married joint tax co-signee or tax dependent
- For immediate family members:
- A copy of the military service member’s most recent official military orders placing the service member outside of Utah
- Objective evidence that the 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 filing from most recently completed tax year 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 filing from most recently completed tax year for property owned in Utah by the requesting student/active military service member and/or their current spouse.
Application for Nonresident Tuition Waivers
Please check the sections below to see if you qualify under any of the following tuition waivers. Please check the term deadlines. Complete the corresponding application, found listed below.
House Bill 144
The following criteria is required:
- House Bill 144 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver application
- Utah official high school transcript/transcripts verifying:
- Minimum attendance of 3 academic years at Utah high school/high schools
- Completed graduation date from Utah high school
House Bill 118
The following criteria is required:
- House Bill 118 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver application
- Utah official high school transcript/transcripts verifying:
- Minimum attendance of 3 academic years at Utah high school/high schools
- Completed graduation date from Utah high school
- Copy of active U.S. Immigration non-immigrant visa
Border Waiver Tuition Reduction Program
The following criteria is required:
- Border Waiver application
- Proof of domicile address being within approximately 100 highway miles of the University of Utah
- Proof of domicile address for the following towns that have been assigned to the University of Utah by USHE accepted:
- Lyman, Wyoming
- Mountain View, Wyoming
- Evanston, Wyoming
- West Wendover, Nevada
- Proof of domicile address for the following towns that have been assigned to the University of Utah by USHE accepted:
Please speak to the Residency office directly to inquire about this program, and to apply.
see R513–5 Waiver of Nonresident Tuition 5.4 “Border Waiver”
Ready to apply?
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 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.
Non-citizens that have been granted permanent U.S. resident status, have obtained asylum or refugee status under U.S. immigration law, or who are eligible under a status in Utah House Bill 102, are classified for purposes of resident status according to the same criteria as U.S. citizens.
These students must submit verification of status with their residency application.
Residency reclassification will not be granted to non-citizens without proof of:
- Granted permanent residency
- Granted asylum or refugee status
- Special Immigrant Visa
- Humanitarian Parole
- Temporary Protected Status
- Or good faith evidence of a submitted application for refugee status, humanitarian parole, temporary protected status, or asylum under United States immigration law
- Status cannot be expired, or removed.
- “Good Faith Evidence” requires verified documentation
- Students with granted permanent residency, granted asylum or granted refugee status must submit valid and unexpired documentation.
- Students on other types of visas not listed above are ineligible for residency reclassification but may qualify for a tuition waiver if they have 3 years and completed graduation in a Utah high school.
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 filing from most recently completed tax 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) filing from most recently completed tax 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 filing from most recently completed tax 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.
Please note that per the Board of Regents and University of Utah Institutional Policy, no time spent during the 12 months prior to the term for which resident student status is being sought* on the following programs can be used towards Undergraduate One Year Rule or Graduate Policy residency reclassification requirements:
- Western Undergraduate Exchange
- Western Regional Graduate Program
- Professional Student Exchange Program
- Utah Tech Good Neighbor Program
- International Student Exchange
- Alumni Legacy Scholarships
- Other programs as specified by the state or institution
- More information can be found in the mandatory reading of the University of Utah Institutional Policy and the Board of Regents Policies, R512.
*Any student wishing to reclassify as a resident for tuition purposes after completing 12 months of residence in Utah must not have spent time during the same 12 months on any of the above programs.
“Domiciled” is defined by Utah law as:
- R512-3.2 Definitions “Domicile”:
- “(1) bodily presence; (2) fixed permanent home and principal establishment to which if absent, the [domiciled] intends to return; and (3) concurrent intent to voluntarily reside permanently in that location, not for a special or temporary purpose.
- see also R512-5.3.9 “Parent Domiciled in Utah for at Least One Full Year”
“Extenuating Circumstances” are situations such as divorce, death of spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities of family members necessitating relocation to Utah (see USHE R512-5.4.2)*, or refugee placed directly in Utah.
“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”:
“Immediate family member” is defined as
- R512-3 Definitions
- 3.3 …the current spouse or unmarried dependent child of the U.S. military veteran [or Active Duty Military Service Member]
GI Bill “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
“Military Service Member” assigned to duty in Utah 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”:
“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.
- United States Title 18 U.S.C. § 701 states:
-
- §701. Official badges, identification cards, other insignia
Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law (emphasis added), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 731; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(E), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title18/part1/chapter33&edition=prelim
- §701. Official badges, identification cards, other insignia
- The copying of military ID cards is authorized by the regulations pursuant to law Title 32 Subtitle A Chapter I Subchapter F Part 161—Identification (ID) Cards for members of the Uniformed Services, their dependents, and other eligible individuals (B)(1):
- (b) The guidelines and restrictions of this paragraph apply to all forms of DoD ID cards.
- (1) Any person willfully altering, damaging, lending, counterfeiting, or using these cards in any unauthorized manner is subject to fine or imprisonment or both, as prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 499, 506, 509, 701, and 1001. Section 701 of 18 U.S.C. prohibits photographing or otherwise reproducing or possessing DoD ID cards in an unauthorized manner, under penalty of fine or imprisonment or both. Unauthorized or fraudulent use of ID cards would exist if bearers used the card to obtain benefits and privileges to which they are not entitled. Examples of authorized photocopying include photocopying of DoD ID cards to facilitate medical care processing, check cashing, voting, tax matters, compliance with 50 U.S.C. appendix 501 (emphasis added) (also known as “The Service member’s Civil Relief Act”), or administering other military-related benefits to eligible beneficiaries (emphasis added). When possible, the ID card will be electronically authenticated in lieu of photographing the card.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/subtitle-A/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-161
- (1) Any person willfully altering, damaging, lending, counterfeiting, or using these cards in any unauthorized manner is subject to fine or imprisonment or both, as prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 499, 506, 509, 701, and 1001. Section 701 of 18 U.S.C. prohibits photographing or otherwise reproducing or possessing DoD ID cards in an unauthorized manner, under penalty of fine or imprisonment or both. Unauthorized or fraudulent use of ID cards would exist if bearers used the card to obtain benefits and privileges to which they are not entitled. Examples of authorized photocopying include photocopying of DoD ID cards to facilitate medical care processing, check cashing, voting, tax matters, compliance with 50 U.S.C. appendix 501 (emphasis added) (also known as “The Service member’s Civil Relief Act”), or administering other military-related benefits to eligible beneficiaries (emphasis added). When possible, the ID card will be electronically authenticated in lieu of photographing the card.
- (b) The guidelines and restrictions of this paragraph apply to all forms of DoD ID cards.
- Under Utah law we are required to photocopy military ID’s because we are administering military-related benefits of having Utah residency for tuition purposes under Utah state law.
- Utah Code 53B-8-102 says:
- (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an institution within the state system of higher education shall grant resident student status for tuition purposes to:
- (a) a military service member, if the military service member provides:
- (i) the military service member’s current United States military identification card (emphasis added); and
- (ii)(A) a statement from the military service member’s current commander, or equivalent, stating that the military service member is assigned in Utah; or
- (B) evidence that the military service member is domiciled in Utah, as described in Subsection (9)(a);
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53B/Chapter8/53B-8-S102.html?v=C53B-8-S102_2016051020160701
- (a) a military service member, if the military service member provides:
- (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an institution within the state system of higher education shall grant resident student status for tuition purposes to:
- Utah Code 53B-8-102 says:
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
Have Questions?
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.
2024-2025 Holiday Schedule
Call us:
801-581-8761, Option 5 to speak with a Residency staff member