Arizona Residency
Residency Classification For Tuition Purposes
Students who are classified as nonresident by the Admissions Office must petition for a review of residency through the Residency Classification Office. The Arizona Board of Regents guidelines require clear and convincing evidence of residency for tuition purposes. Residency Classification is a complex issue. Each petition is individually reviewed. Not all circumstances can be addressed in this brief summary. If you wish to discuss your individual case, contact the Residency Classification Section. Non citizens who wish to petition are encouraged to contact the Residency Classification Office, since not all visa categories qualify.
Arizona institutions of higher education are funded by the State of Arizona. Since nonresident students (and their families) generally have not contributed to the source of this funding of public education in Arizona, they are required to pay fees that more closely represent the actual cost of their education.
The rules and regulations for establishing residency for tuition purposes are defined by the Arizona Board of Regents, according to state statutes (A.R.S., 15-1801 through 1807).
An individual must establish residency in Arizona BEFORE he or she is eligible to pay resident tuition rates. The requirements to establish residency for tuition purposes are independent from those of other types of residency, such as voting or holding public office.Please contact the Office of the Registrar at (928) 523-7683 or e-mail your residency questions to registrar@nau.edu.
Independent Students Residency Criteria
You must couple twelve months of physical presence in Arizona with financial independence and objective evidence of intent to make Arizona your permanent home. All of the evidence is weighed under the presumption that a non-resident student's presence in Arizona is primarily for the purpose of education and not to establish domicile, and that decisions of an individual as to the intent to establish domicile are generally made after the completion of an education and not before.
The following three criteria must all be met:
1. Physical Presence (12 Months)(You must be at least 18 at the beginning of the domicile year)
To be eligible for classification as a resident for tuition purposes, you must provide clear and convincing evidence of continuous physical presence in the state of Arizona for the 12 months which precede the term in question. The 12 month period is referred to as a domicile year.2. Intent to Establish a Domicile (12 months)
Your evidence of intent to be a resident of this state is demonstrated by the absence of ties to your former state of residence. Actions used to indicate intent must be accomplished at the beginning of and maintained throughout the domicile year. If implementation of these steps is delayed, the start of your one year domicile period will be delayed. All requirements must be demonstrated for one full year before resident status may be granted. Samples of indicia are:
- Arizona driver's license general information
- Arizona motor vehicle registration
- Employment history
- Transfer of major banking services to Arizona
- Eligible immigration (visa) status if you are a non-citizen.
- Arizona voter's registration ( Voter Registration Request Form )
- Change in permanent address on all pertinent records
- Filing of Arizona state income taxes
- Additional documents, as requested
- Visa holders will need an I - 485 receipt - dated on or before the beginning of the domicile year.
3. Financial Independence/Source of Support (24 months)
You need to be self-supporting (financially independent) and not claimed as a dependent by your parents or anyone else for two tax years. Financial independence means that you met your own expenses (minimum of $8,000 + tuition per year) from self generated funds under your control. Generally a student is considered dependent on parents while in high school regardless of how taxes are filed. Personal loans, PLUS loans, gifts and cash earnings are NOT acceptable. Auto and health insurance policies must be separate from parents' policy. Typical documentation to be considered should include:
- Paystubs
- W-2s
- Financial Aid
- Documented Inheritance
- Veteran's or Social Security Benefits
- Trust Funds (established prior to high school)
- Accident/Insurance Settlements
- Federal/Arizona State Income Tax
NOTE: Personal loans, PLUS loans, gifts and cash earnings are NOT acceptable.
Exceptions to the Twelve Month Residency Rule
