The process for determining residency

Residency status determines the type of tuition you will pay at the UC. Included below is a list of the possible residency classifications.

Undetermined	Incoming students are nonresident by default and must submit a Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) to receive a residency status
Resident	Students who meet UC residency requirements will be assessed tuition at the resident rate upon enrollment at the campus
Exempt from paying nonresident supplemental tuition (NRST Exempt)	Students who do not meet UC residency requirements but qualify for an exemption will pay the same rate of tuition as residents
Nonresident	Students who do not meet UC residency requirements AND do not qualify for an exemption will be subject to the assessment of nonresident supplemental tuition upon enrollment at a UC campus

 

New Students

UC determines residency based on information you provide in the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) — All undergraduate applicants complete a shortened version of the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) as part of their UC application. Some applicants have their residency status confirmed immediately. Applicants whose residency cannot be determined at the application stage, will be required to take further action either by completing the Systemwide SLR (SSLR) or a campus SLR.

 

Returning Students and/or Students Seeking Reclassification

If you are returning to campus after a leave of absence or transferring from another postsecondary institution (including another UC campus), your residency status will default to an undetermined status, and you'll need to submit a new campus SLR. If you're a currently enrolled nonresident and want to petition for reclassification, the process may differ. Returning students and nonresident students seeking reclassification should consult with their campus residence deputy.

Supporting documentation

After the completion of the SLR, your petition will undergo residency evaluation. During this process, the residency deputy reviews the information you provided to ensure it meets UC residency requirements. The residency deputy may request additional information or documentation, such as proof of physical presence, financial independence or immigration status. These requests are a normal part of the evaluation process and help confirm your eligibility for a resident classification or nonresident exemption. 

Document requests may include (but are not limited to): 

• Driver’s licenses/ID cards
• Tax returns
• Vehicle, voter or selective service registration
• California State social benefits eligibility
• Employment or housing verification
• Bank statements

This is your opportunity to provide the residence deputy with clear and convincing evidence that you meet the requirements to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes. Once the residence deputy has made a decision about your residency, no additional information or documentation is accepted. If you don't submit the requested documents, you may be classified as a nonresident and will be charged nonresident supplemental tuition as a result.

SLR Submission and Deadlines

For those completing the Systemwide SLR (SSLR), the deadlines are included on the application status page on the UC application. Please note that the residency evaluation completed through the SSLR is highly time sensitive, which means that missing a deadline may result in not receiving a confirmed residency status at the time of admission to the UC.

For those completing the SLR at the campus level, deadlines for submission for newly admitted students, continuing students, and graduate students may differ at each UC campus. Make sure to file your SLR as soon as it is requested (usually this is shortly after you file the SIR) and check campus SLR filing and document submission deadlines. For continuing students petitioning for reclassification, check with your campus residency deputy to ensure you have the right deadline for the right term.

If you don't submit the SLR or supporting documentation when requested, you will be classifed as a nonresident and charged nonresident supplemental tuition on your billing statement.  In addition, if you don't submit an SLR and then later in a future term become classified as a resident, your classification will only apply to future terms — you will not be retroactively reimbursed for payment of nonresident supplemental tuition.