Residency for tuition purposes: UNDERGRADUATE POLICIES
Resources regarding Utah residency requirements and the reclassification process for in-state tuition rates.
Spring 2021 applications are now closed. Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 applications are now open.
RESIDENCY RECLASSIFICATION APPLICATION MILITARY SERVICE EXCEPTION FORM
Residency Reclassification Application Deadline by Semester
Fall Semester → July 1st
Spring Semester → November 1st
Summer Semester → April 1st
Domiciliary Tie Establishment Deadline by Semester
Fall Semester → May 1st
Spring Semester → October 1st
Summer Semester → February 1st
Mandatory Reading for All Residency Reclassification Applicants
1. University of Utah Institutional Policy on Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes
There are different tuition rates for Utah residents and for non-residents, based on Utah State Law, 53B-8-102 and Board of Regents R512 Policy. Your initial residency classification will be determined when your admissions application is reviewed. Once admitted, your official letter of acceptance will include your classification. If you are classified as a non-resident but meet the requirements of a policy or exception for resident status, you may apply to change your status.
The resources listed above describe the various ways in which students may be eligible for in-state (resident) tuition under the provisions of Utah state law. These documents explain the general rule of the law as well as exceptions that may make students eligible to waive the time requirement and apply for residency immediately. Review these materials carefully. Non-resident students who are eligible for reclassification of their residency status must submit a complete reclassification, certification, or military form by the applicable term deadline with all required supporting documentation.
Per University of Utah policy, incoming graduate students, including those in the Medical and Law programs, may apply under the Undergraduate policy or any other policy if they qualify prior to the start of their graduate studies. Graduate students who begin their graduate program as a non-resident are only eligible to reclassify under the Graduate policy, which includes completing 40 graduate-level semester hours prior to reclassification. Medical and Law students are ineligible to reclassify after beginning their program. Dental students admitted as non-residents are ineligible for reclassification at any time. The only exceptions to Graduate, Medical, Law, and Dental residency policy are for students proving eligibility through military or American Indian exceptions, or the House Bill 144 tuition waiver as described below.
UNDERGRADUATE POLICY (THE ONE YEAR RULE)
The Undergraduate Policy applies to most students looking to reclassify their residency status at the University of Utah.
- U.S. citizenship, granted permanent residency, or granted asylum or refugee status.
- Evidence that you relinquished domiciliary ties (driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration) held in any other state and established them in Utah by the Utah tie deadline.
- Verification of financial independence showing that you are not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
- If you are single and 23 years of age or younger, provide a copy of the first two pages of your federal tax return (Form 1040) for the tax year prior to the academic year for which you wish to qualify for resident student status.
- If you did not file a federal return, provide a copy of your parent(s) federal tax return(s) for the tax year prior to the academic year for which you wish to qualify for resident tuition.
- Proof of physical presence in Utah for at least the 12 continuous months immediately prior to the first day of class for the academic term you wish to be considered a resident student.
Residency Reclassification Application
Guidelines and policies are subject to change without notice.
Please check which policy you qualify for and then complete the Residency Reclassification Application if you meet the requirements:
Residency Reclassification Application
Please note, most of the exceptions on this application are for qualifying students who have not met the general requirements of the One Year Rule. If you are an undergraduate student or incoming graduate student, have completed at least a 12 month period of residence in Utah, and need to reclassify, you will need to show eligibility under the Undergraduate policy.
Please make sure to also check the term deadlines.
OTHER POLICIES
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Copy of marriage certificate verifying the date of the marriage (the spouse must have been a Utah resident prior to the date of marriage)
- Copy of Utah 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 his/her parent(s) claimed the individual as a tax dependent, provide a copy of the spouse’s parent(s)federal and state tax return for the tax year prior to the year of your marriage.
- Utah spouse’s Utah driver’s license
- Copy of most recent federal tax return showing you as a tax dependent of one of your parents. (Does not need to be the Utah parent.)
- Copy of most recent Utah state tax return for the Utah parent.
- Copy of Utah driver’s license for the Utah parent.
- Copy of Utah vehicle registration for the Utah parent.
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Letter, on company letterhead, from the Utah employer, verifying the full-time employment, including hire date and verification of employer-requested job transfer or recruitment.
- If you are single and 23 years of age or younger, you must provide proof that you were not claimed as a tax dependent on your out-of-state parent(s) most recent federal tax return.
- For parent(s) employment, you must provide a copy of your parent’s most recent federal tax return verifying you were claimed as a dependent. In order to qualify, our office must see the offer of employment came prior to your earliest application for admission to a University in Utah.
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Documentation of the extenuating circumstance. (Specific circumstances that qualify are listed in R512, Determination of Resident Status.) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Refugees who were placed directly in Utah should submit proof of their refugee status (INS Document Number I-94) and written confirmation from the agency that assisted in their move to Utah, such as the International Rescue Committee or Catholic Community Services of Utah.
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Verification of your residency status at the out-of-state school and payment of non-resident tuition.
- A copy of your most recent Utah state tax return. If you were required to complete Form TC40-B, provide a copy of it.
- If you did not file a tax return and you are a tax dependent of Utah parents, provide a copy of your parent(s) most recent federal and state tax returns.
- Please note that you must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving for your education
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Letter from appropriate organization verifying your dates of service. (Must include the beginning and end dates.)
- A copy of your most recent Utah state tax return.
- If you did not file a tax return and you are a tax dependent of Utah parents, provide a copy of your parent(s) most recent federal and state tax returns.
- Please note that you must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving for your service
- Copies of your Utah driver’s license, voter registration, and, if applicable, vehicle registration.
- Letter from the applicant explaining the nature of the temporary employment and reason for doing this employment out of Utah. (Based on your explanation, be aware that we may ask for additional documentation.)
- Copy of all state tax returns filed during the temporary absence from Utah. If you filed Form TC40-B with a Utah state tax return, include a copy of the TC40-B.
- Please note that you must have been a resident of Utah for at least 12 continuous months prior to leaving for your temporary employment period
If you have already submitted your residency application form and have additional documents not previously submitted to turn in for evaluation, please use the post submission form below to attach the requested documentation.
Term Deadlines to Submit Application / Certification / Military Forms
All students must submit their residency form by the date listed below. Students will be able to submit additional documents as requested proving physical presence after initial submission. Please note: Applications submitted after the deadline are not guaranteed a decision by the tuition due date.
Term Deadlines to Establish Domiciliary Ties
Students applying under the Undergraduate Policy (One Year Rule) or Graduate Policy must establish their Utah domiciliary ties (driver’s license, voter registration, and vehicle registration) by the deadlines listed below. * Failure to establish ties by the listed deadlines will require students to provide proof of additional Utah ties.
Residency Application Submission Deadline by Semester
Domiciliary Tie Deadline by Semester
* Examples of additional ties, if requested, include:
- Proof of Utah employment, including part-time employment for at least 90 days.
- A copy of a Utah State Income Tax Return filed as a part-year or full-year Utah resident.
- A copy of a lease/rental agreement in Utah for at least twelve months prior to the start of the term you are applying for reclassification.
- Copies of utility bills in your name for at least twelve months prior to the start of the term you are applying for reclassification.
Residency for Non-Citizens
Foreign nationals that have been granted permanent U.S. resident status or have obtained asylum or refugee status under U.S. immigration law are classified for purposes of resident status according to the same criteria applicable to U.S. citizens. These students must submit verification of status with their residency application. Residency reclassification will not be granted to foreign nationals without proof of permanent resident, asylum, or refugee status in the United States.
Tuition waivers for non-residents
Information on special tuition waivers for foreign nationals and other non-residents can be found in Board of Regents Policy R513.
- The House Bill 144 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver is explained in R513-13 Exemption for Certain Students with Utah High School Graduation. Information on House Bill 144 is also available here on the admissions website.
- The House Bill 118 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver is explained in R513-14 Exemption of Nonresident Tuition for Certain Foreign Nationals. Information on House Bill 118 is also available here on the admissions website.
(801) 581-8761, Option 5
residency@utah.edu