Establishing Residency for Tuition Purposes

All requests submitted by the dates below are guaranteed review prior to the term PAYMENT DEADLINE. Others will be reviewed in the order received.

• The Winter 2026 priority processing date for Residency Questionnaires will be November 26, 2025, and the Winter 2026 payment deadline is December 10, 2025 at 5 p.m..   
• The Spring 2026 priority processing date for Residency Questionnaires will be January 7, 2026, and the Winter 2026 payment deadline is January 20, 2026 at 5 p.m.. 

Submit your Residency Questionnaire as early as possible to ensure that it is reviewed prior to the semester payment deadline. Residency Questionnaires must be submitted by the first day of the semester for fees to be adjusted for that semester. 

Check out the slide deck from our Residency Webinar, register for the next session through the Workshops tab below. 

Residency Forms

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• Residency Questionnaire
• California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (AB 540)​
• Veterans Nonresident Enrollment Fee Exemption Form (VACA)

Join Admissions and Records staff at the following workshops!

Questions and/or comments may be addressed by emailing residency@smc.edu.

 

The Residency Reclassification Questionnaire and complete documentation (aka, proofs) must be submitted via the Dynamic Forms portal prior to the start of the term the student is requesting to be reclassified as a resident.

• Students are urged to submit all documents at least 4-6 weeks before the payment deadline for the term to ensure a timely decision is made. Our residency specialists cannot guarantee a timely review if documents are submitted late or are missing. Students will be dropped from any classes not paid for by the Payment Deadline.

• The Residency Questionnaire must be submitted via the Dynamic Forms portal. Supporting documentation can be uploaded and submitted at the same time the form is submitted.
  
  
• Documents will be reviewed in the order they are received and may take up to 14 business days to process. Students are encouraged to submit their documents as early as possible to avoid any delays in processing.

Legal Status, Physical Presence, Intent, & Financial Independence

To establish residency, a student needs to meet the three conditions below, subject to verification by submitting the Residency Reclassification Questionnaire and supporting documentation. The burden of proof to demonstrate legal status, physical presence, intent to establish residency in California, and financial independence is on the student (EC 68041).

• Legal Status that permits the establishment of domicile in the United States. Essentially, the student must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, eligible Temporary Resident, hold eligible Visa, etc. Legal status must be sustained for at least one year plus one day prior to the start of the term. This date is known as the Residency Determination Date (Title 5 § 54045).
  
  
• Physical presence is proved by being physically and continuously present in California for one year plus one day prior to the start of the term (the Residency Determination Date). (Title 5 § 54020 and § 54022).
  
  
• Intent is proven by providing evidence demonstrating intent to make California a permanent home of residence (see "Acceptable Proofs" section below). Taking any of these actions (not an exhaustive list) demonstrates a lack of intent to make California a permanent home of residence: filing or paying taxes in another state or country as a resident of that state or country; filing for divorce or a lawsuit in another state; paying resident tuition in another state; registering to vote or voting in another state. Moving to California for educational purposes alone does not grant residency (Education Code, Section 68062(d)).
  
  
• To establish or change a residence, a person capable of establishing residence must couple their physical presence with objective evidence that the physical presence is with intent to make California the home for other than a temporary purpose. EC §68062(d); Note: Physical presence alone is insufficient; intent alone is insufficient.

Definitions

Resident:
Unless precluded, a “resident” is a student who has been physically present in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date (one year and one day) for a term and has demonstrated an intent to make California a permanent home. EC § 68017

Nonresident:
A “nonresident” is a student who does not have residency in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date for a term. EC § 68018

Examples Precluding Establishing Residency

• Possessing a driver’s license or state identification, and/or vehicle registration in another state.
• Being a petitioner in a divorce or lawsuit as a resident in another state.
• Attending an out-of-state educational institution as a resident of that state.
• Declaring nonresidence for California income tax purposes.
• Presence in the United States as a citizen of another country with a nonresident visa.
• Filing or paying taxes as a resident of another state or country.

A student seeking reclassification, as a resident, who was classified as a nonresident shall be determined financially independent or dependent in accordance with Education Code section 68044 and title 5 section 54032.  The law requires that financial independence be “among the factors to be considered” in reclassification. 

A student shall be considered financially independent for purposes of this section if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

1. Has not and will not be claimed as an exemption for state and/or federal tax purposes by his or her parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application,
2. Has not and will not receive more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per year in financial assistance from his or her parent, in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application.
3. Has not lived and will not live for more than six weeks in the home of his or her parent during the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application.
4. Relevant documentation to support a finding of financial independence may include tax returns from the student to verify the student’s income and from parents to verify the student was not included as a dependent, W-2’s, apartment rental contracts for leases, and copies of other necessary financial documentation (bank statements, loans, trusts, etc.) to verify the sources of the student’s income/savings.  In terms of appropriate tax returns to use in review, you would provide the latest returns available (for example, for the 2022-23 academic year, including spring term reclassifications, you would at a minimum expect to provde tax returns for 2019, 2020, and 2021).

 

Current Tuition Exemptions

Certain students may qualify for a nonresidence tuition exception under the circumstances below, provided relevant documentation is presented:

• Any students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents of the U.S., and aliens who are not nonimmigrants (including those who are undocumented), may be exempt from paying nonresident tuition if they meet one of the following requirements:
• Total attendance of, or attainment of credits earned while in California equivalent to three or more years of full-time attendance or attainment of credits at any of the following: (a) California high schools; (b) California high schools established by the State Board of Education; (c) California adult schools established by either a county office of education, unified or high school district, or The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; (d) campuses of the California community colleges; or (e) a combination thereof; or
  Three or more years of full-time high school coursework, and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, or a combination of California elementary and secondary schools.
  Additionally, the following requirements must be met:
• Graduation from a California high school or attainment of the equivalent thereof; or completed an Associate degree from a California Community College; or completed the minimum requirements at a California Community College, or fulfill the minimum transfer requirements established for the University of California or the California State University for students transferring from a campus of the California Community Colleges;
  Registration or enrollment in a course offered by any college in the District for any term commencing on or after January 1, 2002,
  Completion of a questionnaire form prescribed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and furnished by the District of enrollment, verifying eligibility for this nonresident tuition exemption; and
  In the case of a student without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit that the student has filed an application to legalize his/her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he/she is eligible to do so.
  Documents and information obtained in implementing this exemption are confidential.
  A student who is a minor and remains in this state after the parent, who was previously domiciled in California and has established residence elsewhere, shall be entitled to retain resident classification until attaining the age of majority and has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident, so long as continuous attendance is maintained at an institution.
  A student who is a minor and who provides evidence of being entirely self-supporting and actually present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date with the intention of acquiring a residence therein, shall be entitled resident classification until he/she has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
  A student who has not been an adult for one year immediately preceding the residence determination date for the semester for which the student proposes to attend an institution shall have the immediate pre-majority-derived California residence, if any, added to the post-majority residence to obtain the one year of California residence.
  A student holding a valid credential authorizing service in the public schools of this state, who is employed by a school district in a full-time position requiring certification qualifications for the college year in which the student enrolls in an institution, shall be entitled to resident classification if each student meets any of the following requirements:
• He/she holds a provisional credential and is enrolled in courses necessary to obtain another type of credential authorizing service in the public schools.
  He/she holds a credential issued pursuant to Education Code Section 44250 and is enrolled in courses necessary to fulfill credential requirements.
  He/she is enrolled in courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for a fifth year of education prescribed by subdivision (b) of Education Code Section 44259.
• A student holding a valid emergency permit authorizing service in the public schools of this state, who is employed by a school district in a full-time position requiring certification qualifications for the academic year in which the student enrolls at an institution in courses necessary to fulfill teacher credential requirements, is entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees for no more than one year. Thereafter, the student’s residency status will be determined under the other provisions of this procedure.
• A student who is a full-time employee of the California State University, the University of California or a community college, or of any state agency or a student who is a child or spouse of a full-time employee of the California State University, the University of California or a community college, or of any state agency may be entitled to resident classification, until the student has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
• A student who is a natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in this state on active duty and is attendance at, or has been admitted to the District shall be entitled to resident classification. If the member of the armed forces of the United States later transfers on military orders to a place outside this state, or retires as an active member of the armed forces of the United States, the student dependent shall not lose his/her resident classification, so long as he/she remains continuously enrolled in the District.
• A student who is a member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in this state on active duty, except a member of the Armed Forces assigned for educational purposes to a state-supported institution of higher education, is entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees. If the student later transfers on military orders to a place outside this state, the student shall not lose his/her resident classification, so long as he/she remains continuously enrolled in the District.
• A veteran who was discharged or released from at least 90 days of active service and his/her dependents, regardless of the veteran’s state of residence is entitled to a non-resident tuition exemption.
  An individual who is the child or spouse of a person who, on or after September 11, 2001, died in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces who resides in California.|
• An individual who is entitled to a transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill program benefits by virtue of their relationship to a member of the uniformed services who is serving on active duty.
• A student who is a minor and resides with his/her parent in a district or territory not in a district shall be entitled to resident classification, provided that the parent has been domiciled in California for more than one year prior to the residence determination date for the semester, quarter or term for which the student proposes to attend.
• A student who is a Native American is entitled to resident classification for attendance at a community college if the student is also attending a school administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs located within the community college district.
• A student who is a federal civil service employee and his/her natural or adopted dependent children are entitled to resident classification if the parent has moved to this state as a result of a military mission realignment action that involves the relocation of at least 100 employees. This classification shall continue until the student is entitled to be classified as a resident, so long as the student continuously attends an institution of public higher education.
• A student who resides in California and is 19 years of age or under at the time of enrollment, who is currently a dependent or ward of the state through California's child welfare system, or was served by California's child welfare system and is no longer being served either due to emancipation or aging out of the system, may be entitled to resident classification until he/she has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident.
• A student who lives with a parent who earns a livelihood primarily by performing agricultural labor for hire in California and other states, and the parent has performed such labor in this state for at least two months per year in each of the two preceding years, and the parent resides in this District and the parent of the student has claimed the student as a dependent on his state or federal personal income tax return if he/she has sufficient income to have personal income tax liability shall be entitled to resident classification.
• A student who demonstrates financial need, has a parent who has been deported or was permitted to depart voluntarily, moved abroad as a result of that deportation or voluntary departure, lived in California immediately before moving abroad, attended a public or private secondary school in the state for three or more years, and upon enrollment, will be in his/her first academic year as a matriculated student in California public higher education, will be living in California, and will file an affidavit with the District stating that he/she intends to establish residency in California as soon as possible.
• A student who has a special immigrant visa that has been granted status under Section 1244 of Public Law 110-181 or under Public Law 109-163, or is a refugee admitted to the United States under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code, and who, upon entering the United States, settled in California, shall be exempt from paying the nonresident tuition fee required by Section 76140 for the length of time he/she lives in this state up to the minimum time necessary to become a resident.

Select Special Immigrant Visa Holders Qualify for Exemption

Education Code section 68075.6 grants an immediate nonresident tuition fee exemption to eligible Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and refugee students who settled in California upon entering the United States. This exemption is granted for one year from the date the student settled in California upon entering the United States.

This exemption applies to the following:

• Iraqi citizens or nationals (and their spouses and children) who were employed by or on behalf of the United States Government in Iraq (Pub.L. No. 110-181, § 1244)
• Afghan and Iraqi translators (and their spouses and children) who worked directly with the United States Armed Forces (Pub.L. No. 109-163, § 1059)
  Afghanistan nationals who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (Pub.L. No. 111-8, § 602}
• Refugee students admitted to the United States under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code

• Must be a “covered individual” as defined in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act. See below for a definition.
• Must have a period of active duty service of 90 days or more (of self  or of eligible spouse or parent).
• Must provide evidence of eligibility for VA education benefits by providing a “Certificate of Eligibility” issued by the Veterans Administration, confirming the approved education benefits for the veteran student or eligible dependent.
• Eligible spouse or dependent must provide a copy of the Transfer of Entitlement approval form.
• Must provide a copy of form DD-214, Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty.
• Must provide evidence of living in California (copy of California ID or Driver’s License—may be an official DMV printout).

According to the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACA H.R. 3230), a “covered individual” is defined as:

1. A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school after a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
2. A spouse or child entitled to transferred education benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school after a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
3. A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
4. An individual who is entitled to rehabilitation under section 3102(a) of Title 38.
5. A spouse or child of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities; applies to eligible Chapter 35 education benefits recipients.
6. After expiration of the three year period following discharge or death as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), a student who initially qualifies under the applicable requirements above will maintain “covered individual” status as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters or terms) at the institution, even if they enroll in multiple programs and shall continue to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition and other fees.

VACA Exemption Form

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Requirement 1: Attendance at California Schools
This requirement may be met in either of the following two ways:  

1. Total attendance (or attainment of credits earned) in California equivalent to three or more years of full-time attendance at California high schools, California adult schools, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Community Colleges (credit or noncredit courses), or a combination of these; or 
   
   
2. Three or more years of full-time California high school coursework, and attended a combination of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools and/or California secondary schools.

Requirement 2:  Completion of a Course of Study  

This requirement can be met in any of the following ways: 

1. Graduation from a California high school or equivalent; or 
   
   
2. Attainment of an associate degree from a California community college; or 
   
   
3. Fulfillment of the minimum transfer requirements established for the University of California or the California State University for students transferring from a California community college. or
   
   
4. Completed the minimum requirements at a California community college.

Requirement 3:  Affidavit of Student without Lawful Immigration Status  

Must file a California Nonresident Tuition Exemption (AB 540 Affidavit) stating that the student either has filed an application to legalize their immigration status or will file an application as soon as they are eligible to do so; or  If the student applied for State-based financial aid by filing the California Dream Act Application with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the College will verify eligibility for this nonresident tuition exemption (Education Code §68130.5, Title 5 §54045.5). The initial residency classification will be made at the time the student applies for admission.  A student may file an AB 540 Affidavit at any time and residency will be retroactive if eligible.  

AB 540 Form

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