Residency Information

California Residency Information

Residency For Tuition Purposes

California state law distinguishes between residents and nonresidents for tuition purposes. Students classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes pay an additional Non-Resident Tuition fee per unit. Refer to the Bursar’s Office site for the Tuition & Fees calendar for the current academic year).

The state requirements to establish residency for tuition purposes are independent from those of other types of residence (such as for tax purposes, jury duty, voting, or other state residence). A resident for tuition purposes is someone who meets the requirements set forth in the California Education Code (sections 68000-68085, 68120-68134, and 89705-89707.5) and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations (sections 41901-41915).

Under California law, San Francisco State University must determine the residency status for tuition purposes of all applicants and students.

  • Adult students (who will be at least 19 years old on the Residence Determination Date) may establish their own residence for tuition purposes. Minor unmarried students (who will be under the age of 19 on the Residence Determination Date) derive their legal residence from the parent with whom they reside or last resided.
  • A non-U.S. citizen may establish residence unless prohibited from establishing a residence in the United States by the Immigration and Nationality Act. Some examples of non-U.S. citizens who may establish residence include permanent residents, refugees, students granted asylum or temporary protected status, and students who hold certain non-immigrant visas.

To learn more, visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes

Initial Determination and Reclassification

Initial Determination

A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University campus as a first-time as a post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency, meet physical presence by the Residence Determination Date, and demonstrate intent to indefinitely remain in the state of California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date. If the student is under the age of 19 (with limited exceptions​), the student's residence status is derived from the parent's or from that of the legal guardian.

If you are classified as a nonresident (out-of-state), your will be charged an additional out of State tuition fee. If you are a California resident and believe you have been classified incorrectly, or if you wish to petition for residency reclassification the following needs to be established:

 

Eligible Immigration Status (US Citizen, Permanent Residents, US Nationals or Eligible Immigration Status)

Student must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or hold an eligible visa status.

If a student does not qualify as a California resident, the student may be eligible for certain exceptions and exemptions, such as California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540. Nonresident students (including US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals, including students with a T visa U visa, DACA, Humanitarian Parole (certain countries), Special Immigrant Juvenile, asylum, refugee, or Temporary Protected Status) may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition. Students seeking the AB 540 Exemption must satisfy attendance and graduation/transfer requirements from a California school (e.g., K-12, adult school, and community college).

To learn more, visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/continuing-students.aspx

 

Physical Presence

The student or parent/guardian must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated.

For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 2022 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2023, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2022.

Residence Determination Dates

  • Fall - September 20
  • Spring - January 25
  • Summer - June 1

 

Intent

California law stipulates the burden of proof rests with the student, and merely living in California for a year does not support a claim for residency for tuition purposes. The student, or in some cases a parent or legal guardian, must demonstrate intent to remain indefinitely in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD) and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence. If the student is under the age of 19, the student's residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian unless an exception applies. There must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) before the Residence Determination Date.

Documents must include the student's name, the student's California address, and a date at least one year and one day prior or on the RDD for the term. For example, if the student plans to submit a copy of their driver's license as evidence that they meet residency requirements, the driver's license must be dated before or on September 19, 2022, to meet residency requirements for Fall 2023.

For students under the age of 19, documents must be in the parent or legal guardian's name unless a limited exception applies. Also, a parent or legal guardian's immigration status does not preclude a student from establishing residency; therefore, the parent or legal guardian is not required to provide any immigration documents to demonstrate intent.

 

Documents Required

A minimum of three documents is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.

Options to meet the requirement: 

  • Option 1: One document from list A and two documents from List B
  • Option 2: Two documents from list A and one document from List B
  • Option 3: All three documents from list A (for example, CA driver's license, CA vehicle registration, and CA Voter Registration card)

List A:

  • California State Income Tax Return (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
  • Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
  • Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
  • Obtaining a California Driver's License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
  • Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
  • Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
  • Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
  • Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
  • Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year

List B:

  • Federal Income Tax Return with a California address (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
  • Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with the same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility bill will be accepted)
  • Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher's union) (must meet RDD)
  • Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
  • Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
  • Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
  • Selective Service Registration with a California address
  • Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)

Actions and/or documents that show residential ties to a State or country other than California may cause a denial of residency.

To submit a residency reclassification request, you must provide all the following items:

  1. CSU Residence Questionnaire: Complete and submit the CSU Residence Questionnaire: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/Documents/csu-residence-questionnaire.pdf
  2. Eligible Status Document (do not include this for US Citizens): Copy of your Current VISA (and sponsor’s VISA if applicable) or other status document, Change of Status Receipt from USCIS. Please note you must hold an eligible legal status by the Residency Determination date to qualify for residency reclassification. 
  3. Presence and Intent Documents:  A minimum of three documents is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.

List A:

  • California State Income Tax Return (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
  • Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
  • Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
  • Obtaining a California Driver's License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
  • Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
  • Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
  • Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
  • Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
  • Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year

List B:

  • Federal Income Tax Return with a California address (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
  • Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with the same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility bill will be accepted)
  • Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher's union) (must meet RDD)
  • Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
  • Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
  • Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
  • Selective Service Registration with a California address
  • Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)

Residence Determination Dates

Official documents must be dated one year and a day prior to the residency determination date. For example, if you submit a lease for the summer 2023 application, it must be dated no later than May 31, 2022.The Residence Determination Date for each term is listed below:

  • Fall - September 20
  • Spring - January 25
  • Summer - June 1

NINE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CALIFORNIA RESIDENCY

CSU Office of The Chancellor - Mandates for California Resident Status for Tuition purposes (NON NEGOTIABLE).

  1. California residency for tuition purposes eligibility criteria are established by State Law and the California Code of Regulations. California State University implements these Laws and Regulations.
  2. California State University cannot alter or waive the eligibility criteria for any reason.
  3.  Under California law, if you have moved to California primarily to attend a California institution of higher learning, then you are not eligible for in-state tuition.
  4. Living in California for 12 months is not an automatic qualification for in-state tuition.
  5.  You must prove through official and/or legal documents that you have moved to California permanently and are not merely living in California temporarily while you attend a California State University, however long your course of study may take.
  6. Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating California residency for tuition purposes eligibility.
  7. Legal ties that you maintain in another state or country (e.g., state tax liability, a driver's license, voter's registration, etc.) will disqualify you from residency reclassification, regardless of your reason(s) for maintaining these ties.
  8. Despite the length of time you attend California State University or live in California, you might not qualify for California residency for-tuition-purposes.
  9. Residency reclassification applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted during the term in which reclassification is requested.

A Residence Determination Date is set for each academic term and is part of the residency determination process. This date is not an application due date. Official documents must be dated one year and a day prior to the residency determination date. For example, if you submit a lease for the summer 2023 application, it must be dated no later than May 31, 2022.The Residence Determination Date for each term is listed below:

Semester

Residence Determination Date

Fall

September 20

Spring

January 25

Summer

June 1

  1. California law provides for specific exceptions to nonresident tuition. A full list of exceptions is available on the CSU Residency for Tuition Purposes webpage.
  2. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for California residency for tuition purposes, you may qualify for an exemption from nonresident tuition commonly known as AB 540. Please review the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption web page for detailed information on the eligibility requirements.
  3. WICHE: Eligible out-of-state students can now pay in state Tuition in selected Graduate Programs. Explore how through the Western Regional Graduate program: https://grad.sfsu.edu/content/western-regional-graduate-program