Classification as a Resident

Continuing nonresident students who feel they meet UC requirements may petition to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes.

Continuing nonresident UCLA students seeking resident status, who feel they have met all UC residence requirements, may petition for a change of status for tuition purposes by filing a Petition for Residence Classification. A student who is in California solely for educational purposes is not eligible for California residence for tuition purposes.

Establishing California Residence

Students who hope to establish California residence should consider three key factors. More details about these factors accompany the residence petition.

Physical Presence

Students must be continuously physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date (generally the first day of classes).

Actions throughout the Year

Summer actions count! Student actions during the entire year, including the summer, affect the determination made regarding residence status for tuition purposes. A student who is in California solely for educational purposes is not eligible for California residence for tuition purposes, regardless of the length of stay. If a student returns to the former place of residence (outside California), that student is presumed to be in California solely for educational purposes and only strong evidence to the contrary can refute this presumption. A student seeking to establish California residence who accepts employment or conducts research outside of California will be questioned regarding attempts to find employment and/or conduct research within California.

Leaving the state for a unique research opportunity or for special circumstances (such as a medical emergency) may not preclude the student from being classified as a resident, but the burden is on the student to provide convincing evidence that leaving California was not inconsistent with a claim of permanent residence.

Intent

Students must intend to make California their permanent home. This intent can be demonstrated by relinquishing legal ties to the former home state and establishing legal ties to California.

Financial Independence

The financial independence requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduate students whose parents are not California residents, including students from community colleges and other post-secondary institutions within California, to qualify for classification as a resident at the University of California. Transfer students who were classified as residents of California at their previous school should not assume that they will be classified as residents at UCLA.

Students are cautioned that financial independence for purposes of tuition and fees is determined separately and only by the campus residence deputy, and that outcome may differ from financial independence as determined by Financial Aid and Scholarships based on the FAFSA.

Required Documentation

Documentation necessary to support the petition is described on its instruction page. All documentation is subject to the residence deputy’s approval. Personal information such as account, Social Security, and license numbers should be redacted (blocked out). If a document cannot be submitted with the petition, the student should attach an explanation of that document instead. Should the document be required, the student will be contacted by the residence deputy.

If a student fails to provide any or all of the required documentation by the end of the applicable term, the petition will not be processed and the student will not be classified as a resident for that term. Documentation is not accepted after the last day of the applicable term.

Filing Periods and Deadlines

Submit the completed petition and documentation to the Registrar’s Office through the Message Center. Late petitions are not accepted. Students are encouraged to submit the petition at least three weeks in advance of the deadline. Classification decision response time is approximately two weeks. Students are responsible for payment of all fees by the applicable fee-payment deadline.