Residency Information
California Education Code requires that all students attending college be given a residency status. Your residency status is derived based on the questions you answered on your college application. Residency requires two components:
- That you are physically present in the state of California at least one year and a day prior to the start of the semester
- That you intend to make California your home.
This page is for students requiring assistance with their residency status. Please select the statement that best describes you:
If you are active duty and stationed in California other than for educational purposes you may qualify for temporary residency. You can temporarily reclassify using your active military ID card.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Active Military Duty Certification or Military Orders
- Active and Valid Military ID Card
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, including your valid Military ID Card, to your college's Residency office.
As per the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACA), eligible veterans and covered individuals will have their nonresident fees waived. Please note that eligible veterans who qualify under VACA are not eligible for California Financial Aid (CCPG/BOGW, Cal Grant, etc.)
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request: Affidavit for Eligible Veterans
- Certificate of Eligibility
- DD-214
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
If your home state of record and address after separation is California and the date of discharge is within two years, you will be considered a California resident. You can temporarily reclassify using your DD-214.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request: Affidavit for Eligible Veterans
- DD-214
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you to your college's Residency office.
If you are a spouse/dependent of an active duty service member, you may be eligible for temporary residency. You can temporarily reclassify by filling out the Active Military Duty Certification for Spouses and Dependents form. This form must be signed and stamped by the Commanding Officer or Personnel Officer.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Active Military Duty Certification for Spouses and Dependents form
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
To qualify for in state fees, a student needs to meet both requirements of residency. These requirements are intent to make California your home and being physically and continuously present for a year and a day prior to the residency determination date for the semester in which the student is planning to attend. You may satisfy these requirements of residency by choosing one of the options below:
- Proof of paying out-of-state tuition at a public college/university
- Provide your parents’ most recent California Income taxes indicating that you are their legal dependent as well as a copy of either parents’ California driver license that meets the year and one day residency requirement. If you filed your most recent California taxes you can provide them along with your California driver license that meets the year and one day residency requirement; or
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Proof of paying out-of-state tuition at a college/university, or
- Your's or your parent's most recent California Income taxes or proof of filing as a non-resident out-of-state taxes
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who come to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request form (AB-540)
- I-821 Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Form
- Official California High School Transcripts (in sealed envelope)
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
California law provides students a waiver of non-resident tuition if they meet certain criteria.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- AB-540 Tuition Exemption Form
- Official High School Transcripts or California Documentation
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
You may qualify to have your nonresident tuition waived if you are attending as a concurrently enrolled high school student and:
- You will have attended a California high school for three years upon graduation
- You are on track to graduate from a California high school
- You are a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, without lawful status, or on a T or U visa.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Certification of Special Part-Time High School Student form
Directions to submit:
- Please contact the Residency office to determine if additional documentation is needed.
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
Federal and state law requires us to determine whether an individual’s citizenship or immigrant visa status allows a student to establish residency in the United States for fee purposes. If the individual’s status allows establishment of residency, then we must determine physical presence and intent to make California the student’s home.
Students must provide original documents showing evidence of valid status and proof of physical presence in California and intent to maintain California as home 366 days prior to the start of the semester.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Original legal documentation (passport, visa, INS Notices of Action)
- California Documentation of physical presence, and intent
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
NOTE: Students only enrolled in online classes outside of California are not eligible for this exemption.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request - AB 540
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
NOTE: Students only enrolled in online classes outside of California are not eligible for this exemption.
Please submit your documentation as follows:
Please submit your documentation as follows:
- Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request - AB 540
Directions to submit:
- Please bring the documents with you, with a valid photo ID, to your college's Residency office.
Please contact the residency office on your campus for more information. Contact information is below.
| College | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| City College | Enrollment ServicesA-241 | P: 619-388-3475 | E: cityres@sdccd.edu |
| Mesa College | AdmissionsI4-102 | P: 619-388-2688 | E: sdmesaresidency@sdccd |
| Miramar College | AdmissionsK1-207 | P: 619-388-7844 | E: MiraAdm@sdccd.edu |