Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes
Who is a Florida Resident?
To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes you must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States. Living in or attending school in Florida does NOT 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 unless one parent has established legal residence in Florida for more than 12 months. Two (2) documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months before the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residency is sought. Students cannot hold out-of-state driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, etc. and be eligible for Florida residency.
Citizenship and Lawful Presence Requirement
Pursuant to Rule 6A-10.044(1), students applying on or after December 21, 2025, for the Fall 2026 semester and subsequent terms must provide documentation demonstrating United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States for the purpose of determining residency status for tuition purposes.
Acceptable documentation to establish United States citizenship includes (Federal Student Aid Handbook, Chapter 2):
- Certificate of Naturalization (Forms N-550 or N-570)
- Certificate of Citizenship (Forms N-560 or N-561)
- Birth certificate
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- Form FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), FS-545 (Certificate of Birth Issued by a Foreign Service Post), or DS-1350 (Certification of Report of Birth)
Students who are not United States citizens or lawful permanent residents are required to submit immigration documentation verifying lawful presence.
Initial Classification
The Residency Declaration is to be completed upon admission and/or re-admission to Gulf Coast State College to determine residency for tuition purposes. Completion of the Residency Affidavit involves two primary steps which include:
Reclassification
A person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the term for which reclassification is sought rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education. Students requesting reclassification must complete the Request for Residency Reclassification form and submit copies of all required documentation. Reclassification requires at least two documents from the lists on the Reclassification form. Submissions should be made to the Enrollment Services office at the Panama City campus no later than the last day of drop/add for the semester in which you are seeking a residency reclassification.
Residency Appeals
Residency decisions may be appealed, in writing. Submit the Residency Appeal form with all supporting documentation to the Enrollment Services office on the Panama City campus, attention to a Enrollment Services Coordinator. The appeal will be reviewed and a response provided to the student’s Gulf Coast State College email account.
Source Florida Department of Education/Guidelines for Florida Residency For Tuition Purposes