Florida resident classification for tuition purposes
All admitted students who plan to enroll and believe they are a Florida resident for tuition purposes must complete a residency affidavit and supply proof of physical and legal Florida residence.
What are the requirements for establishing Florida residency? The rules are set forth in Florida state statute Section 1009.21. Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence for tuition purposes. All students, or their claimants, must complete this process before enrollment. Students who do not complete this process will be classified as a non-Florida resident and be billed for out of state tuition (even if you’ve lived here your entire life).
For new Freshman and Transfer students this affidavit will be found in the OwlDone portal for new students during the onboarding process. Click on the tab “verify Florida residency”. The form must be completed in one sitting and students can upload the requested forms of proof and documentation.
Here are some helpful suggestions when uploading your information:
- Submit your OwlRes form all at once! The form times out after 30 minutes of inactivity and cannot be saved.
- If you qualify as a dependent on a parent’s federal income taxes, you are considered a dependent student and one of your parents must complete the form as a “claimant.”
- You are required to provide a minimum of two documents showing proof of residency in Florida for the last 12 months. Supporting documents can include: copy of the claimant’s driver’s license, voter’s registration or vehicle registration.
- For non U.S. citizens under 24-years-old, you must additionally upload a copy of your Permanent Resident Card and claimant’s (parent’s) Permanent Resident Card or eligible visa, etc.
Students returning to FAU after a period of absence, and those seeking a second bachelor degree should log into the residency portal to complete the affidavit and upload forms of proof.
When you apply to the university, your initial residency classification is determined by the Office of Admissions based on information you provide with your application. If we do not receive enough information to determine your residency, you will be classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes. It’s very important to respond to requests for information about your residency as soon as possible.
You have until the first day of classes in your first term to request a re-evaluation of your initial residency status by providing sufficient documentation. However, if your residency status is listed as non-Florida at the time that classes begin, you will be assessed out-of-state tuition charges.
Once you have completed your first term at FAU, you can request a reclassification of your residency status from the Office of the Registrar.
For more information, visit the FAU Registrar’s Office.