Students who have not been living in California with intent to make it their permanent home for more than one year immediately before the residence determination date for each term in which they propose to attend UCLA must pay nonresident supplemental tuition in addition to all other fees. The residence determination date is the day instruction begins at the last of the University of California campuses to open for the quarter; for schools on the semester system, it is the day instruction begins for the semester.

Who Is a Resident

Persons who are adult students (at least 18 years of age) may establish residence for tuition purposes in California if they are

1. a U.S. citizen
2. a permanent resident or other immigrant, or
3. a nonimmigrant who is not precluded from establishing a domicile in the U.S. These include holders of valid visas of the following types: A, E, G, H-1B, H-4, I, K, L, N-8, N-9, NATO 1-7, O-1, O-3, P-1, R, T, U, or V

To establish residence in California, students and/or parents must be physically present in California for more than one year, and they must have come here with the intent to make California their home as opposed to coming to this state to go to school.

Graduate students can establish eligibility independently from their parents.

Undergraduate students under 24 years of age must prove their eligibility as well as their parents’ unless if the student proves financial independence. Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes does not constitute the establishment of California residence, regardless of the length of stay.

Students and/or parents must demonstrate their intention to make California their home by severing any and all residential ties with their former state of residence and establishing those ties with California. If these steps are delayed, the one-year durational period is extended until students and/or parents have demonstrated both presence and intent for one full year.

If their parents are not California residents (over one year of physical presence with intent to remain in the state), students are required to be financially independent in order to be a resident for tuition purposes. Their residence cannot be derived from their spouse, registered domestic partner, or their parents.

Requirements for Financial Independence

A student is considered financially independent if one or more of the following apply. The student

1. is at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the academic year for which residence classification is sought
2. is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces  or serving in the U.S Armed Forces, including reserve components of these forces
3. is or was a ward of the court or foster youth, or both parents are deceased, or has an eligible legal guardian
4. has been declared by a court to be an emancipated minor
5. has legal dependents other than a spouse
6. is married or has a registered domestic partner as of the residence determination date of the term for which resident classification is sought
7. has been determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless pursuant to federal financial aid rules
8. has received an independent student determination by the UC campus financial aid office, including qualifying dependency override
9. is a graduate or professional student (of any age)
10. is a single undergraduate student and was not claimed as an income tax deduction by their parents or any other individual for the one tax year immediately preceding the term for which they are requesting resident classification, and demonstrates self-sufficiency for one full year prior to the residence determination date of the term for which resident classification is sought
11. is a minor who reached the age of majority while in California and while their parents were California residents for UC tuition purposes, after which time the parents left California to establish residence elsewhere but the student continued to reside in California after the parents’ departure; confirmation of parents’ eligible residency prior to their relocation outside California required

Establishing Intent to Become a California Resident

Indications of student intent to make California their permanent residence can include the following:

1. registering to vote and voting in California elections
2. designating California as their permanent address on all school and employment records, including military records if they are in the U.S. Armed Forces
3. obtaining a California Driver License or, if they do not drive, a California Identification Card
4. obtaining California vehicle registration
5. paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on income earned outside California from the date they establish residence
6. establishing a California residence in which they keep their personal belongings
7. licensing for professional practice in California

Maintaining these indicia in other states during any period for which students claim residence can also serve as an indication of their intent. Documentary evidence is required, and all relevant indications are considered in determining the classification. Intent is questioned if students return to their prior state of residence when UCLA is not in session.

Temporary Absences

If persons are nonresident students who are in the process of establishing a residence for tuition purposes and they return to their former home during noninstructional periods, their presence in the state is presumed to be solely for educational purposes and only convincing evidence to the contrary rebuts this presumption. Students who are in the state solely for educational purposes are not classified as residents for tuition purposes regardless of the length of their stay.

If persons are students who have been classified as residents for tuition purposes and they leave the state temporarily, their absence could result in the loss of their California residence. The burden is on students (or their parents if they are minors) to verify that they did nothing inconsistent with their claim of a continuing California residence during their absence. Steps that students (or their parents) should take to retain a California residence include the following:

1. maintain a domicile in California
2. continue to use a California permanent address in all records—educational, employment, military, etc.
3. continue to satisfy California Resident tax obligations. If a student claims California residence, they are liable for payment of income taxes on their total income from the date they establish their residence in the state, including income earned in another state or country
4. retain California voter registration and vote by absentee ballot
5. maintain a California driver license and vehicle registration. If it is necessary to change the driver license or vehicle registration, the student must change them back within the time prescribed by law

Privacy Notice

All information requested on the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) form is required for determining whether or not students are legal residents of California for tuition purposes. Registration cannot be processed without this information. The Registrar’s Office on campus maintains the requested information. University of California policies governing residence for tuition purposes are established by the Regents pursuant to and implemented by regulations established by the president, in consultation with the general counsel (Regents Policy 3105). Students have the right to inspect University records containing the residence information requested on the SLR form.