CF Admissions
Residency Process
All applicants for admission to the College of Central Florida — degree-seeking or non degree-seeking, full-time or part-time — are required to complete a Florida Residency Affidavit. If the applicant is under 24 years of age and unmarried, the statement also must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. These guidelines implement Sections 1009.21, Florida Statutes, and Rule 6A-10.044, Florida Administrative Code, for the purpose of determining residency status for tuition purposes in public community colleges and universities.
View Guide for Completing Residency
Florida Residency Classification
A Florida “resident for tuition purposes” is a person who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, established and maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for the term in which residency status is sought. Anyone not establishing residency by this date may apply for reclassification in a following term. Other persons not meeting the 12-month legal residence requirement may be classified as Florida “residents for tuition purposes” only if they fall within one of the limited special categories authorized by the Florida Legislature. All other persons are ineligible for classification as a Florida “resident for tuition purposes.”
Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence. Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents. Residence in Florida must be for the purpose of establishing a permanent home and not merely incidental to enrollment at an institution of higher education. Documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued or filed 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought.
A copy of the most recent tax return or other documentation may be requested to establish dependence/independence. A dependent is defined as a person for whom 50% or more of his or her support is provided by another as defined by the Internal Revenue Services. An independent is defined as a person who provides more than 50% of his or her own support as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.
A Florida “resident for tuition purposes” must qualify in one of the following categories. Documentation is required.
Independent
1. (a). A person (over the age of 24) must have established legal residence in Florida and must have maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought. Anyone not establishing residency by this date may apply for reclassification the following term.
Dependent
1 (b). The biological or adoptive parents or legal guardian of a person (under the age of 24) that is a dependent child, must have established legal residence in Florida and must have maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought. Anyone not establishing residency by this date may apply for reclassification the following term. (Adoption or legal guardianship paperwork is required.)
2. A dependent person who has resided for five years with an adult relative other than his or her biological or adoptive parents or legal guardian, and whose said relative has maintained legal residence in Florida for a least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought, provided the dependent has resided continuously with this relative for five years prior to enrollment. (Proof of dependency for said time period required.)
Exceptions (as provided for in Florida Administrative Code and Florida Statute)
3. A married person who, or whose spouse, has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought, has established legal residence, intends to make Florida his or her permanent home and who has relinquished legal ties to any other state. (Copy of marriage license if student is under the age of 24 and copy of marriage license and spouse’s residency documentation if the student is using that person to establish residency must be provided.)
4. Persons who were enrolled as Florida residents for tuition purposes at a Florida public institution of higher education, but who abandon Florida residency and then re-enrolled in Florida within 12 months of the abandonment. (Copy of transcript required.)
5. Active duty members of the armed services of the United States, residing or stationed in Florida, and active members of the Florida National Guard who qualify under S.250.10 (7) and (8) for the tuition assistance program, (and spouse/dependent child) or military personnel not stationed in Florida, whose home of record or state of legal residence certificate, DD Form 2058, is Florida. (Copy of DD214 required.)
6. Active duty members of the armed services of the United States, and their spouses attending a public community college or university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed, if such military establishment is within a county contiguous to Florida.
7. United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their spouses and dependent children. (Copy of transcript required.)
8. Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the state public school system, community colleges and institutions of higher education (and spouse/dependent children.) (Copy of employment verification required.)
9. Students from Latin American and the Caribbean who receive scholarships from the federal or state government. The student must attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education.
10. Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the state public school system, community colleges and institutions of higher education (and spouse/dependent children.) (Copy of employment verification required.)
11. United States citizens living outside of the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enrolled in a Florida State Board of Education – approved graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate.
12. Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Expense Program per s. 1009.98(2) (a) 1. (Copy of card required.)
13. A dependent child, whose parents are divorced, separated or otherwise living apart will be considered a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida, regardless of which parent claims the minor for tax purposes.
14. Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in Florida under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a public community college or university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed.
Eligible Non-Citizen Categories
15. Resident aliens, parolees, asylees, refugees, or other persons married to U.S. citizens and temporary or permanent residents.
16. Visa categories eligible for in-state status: A, E, G, H-1B. H-1C, I, K, L, N, NATO 1-7, O-1, R, S, T, U and V.
Documents for Proof of Residency
The documents supporting the establishment of legal residency must be dated, issued or filed 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought. These supporting residency documents must be received in the Registrar’s office by the end of the regular posted add/drop period for that term. All documentation is subject to verification. Additional documentation, other than what is stated below, may be requested in some cases. A minimum of two documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which a Florida residency classification is sought. All documentation is subject to verification. NO SINGLE DOCUMENT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE. Major semesters are Fall, Spring, and/or Summer semesters.
Documents
- Valid Florida driver’s license (“Florida Only” not acceptable)
- Valid Florida vehicle registration
- Valid Florida voter’s identification card
- Proof of purchase of permanent primary home in Florida
- Proof of Homestead exemption
- Declaration of Domicile filed in Florida
- Rent receipts and/or lease in Florida (used as proof of physical presence only)
- Proof of state of Florida unemployment or state aid
- Letter of employment in Florida on official company letterhead
Petition for Reclassification
If you believe you qualify for Florida residency for tuition purposes, complete a Florida Residency Declaration for Tuition Purposes Form, attach all requested copies of documentation and submit to the Office of Admissions and Records. A minimum of three documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which a Florida resident classification is sought. All documentation is subject to verification. No single piece of documentation shall be conclusive.
Veterans Fee Waiver
HB 7015, Congressman C. W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver program, authorizes an out-of-state fee waiver for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Reserve Forces or the National Guard who physically reside in Florida. Click for program information.
Waiver of Out-of-State Fees
Florida House Bill 851 provides for the waiver of out-of-state fees for students based on certain attendance, graduation and enrollment requirements; prohibiting denial of classification as a resident for tuition purposes based on certain immigration status, etc. To qualify, the student must:
- Have attended secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years immediately prior to high school graduation;
- Have applied to a higher-education institution within two years after graduation; and
- Submit an official Florida High school transcript as evidence of residence
- Submit a request for the fee waiver in writing each semester
Contact the Admissions Center at the CF campus nearest you for details.
Additional Information