How to Contact the Residency Team

There are two ways to contact the Residency Team at UW Seattle. Our goal is to respond to email inquiries within 5 business days. For pressing or complicated advising questions, please schedule an appointment.

What is Washington Residency for Tuition Purposes?

As a state public university, the University of Washington has different tuition rates for state residents and non-residents. State law sets the rules governing who qualifies as a resident for tuition-paying purposes. Students must meet these requirements to be verified as residents for tuition purposes.

How and when is a student’s residency status determined?

A student’s initial residence classification is set during the admissions process based on information provided on the student’s admission application. Students who are classified as a non-resident when they are admitted to the University and believe they qualify as a resident for tuition purposes must file a residency application with the Residence Classification Office to request verification.

There are three ways a student may qualify to apply for residency for tuition purposes. Select the application type for additional information about requirements and how to apply. Each form has its own requirements. Students should file the application that best fits their circumstances.

1. Residency Affidavit – for students who have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and have maintained a primary residence, for purposes other than postsecondary education, in Washington for at least one year prior to starting at the University of Washington.
2. Residence Questionnaire: Financially Dependent Students – for financially dependent students with a parent who has met Washington residency requirements.
3. Residence Questionnaire: Financially Independent Students – for financially independent students who have met Washington residency requirements.

Top 5 Residency Questions

1. How do I get residency in Washington if I don’t meet the affidavit requirements?
2. Where is the residence questionnaire application?
3. I am a Washington resident but went to school out of state. What do I do?
4. When is the deadline to submit the application?
5. How do I contact the Residency Office?

Residency Policies

Residency policies are set by the Washington legislature and applied uniformly throughout Washington’s colleges and universities. For more details regarding residence classification, please review the various pages of our website, and also reference the following links to read the relevant Revised Code of Washington and the Washington Administrative Code.

• State Statute – RCW 28B.15.011-RCW 28B.15.015
• State Rules and Regulations – WAC 250-18-010 – WAC 250-18-06

Eligible Non-Citizens

The following non-US citizenship statuses are eligible to establish and apply for residency for tuition purposes through the Residence Questionnaire.

Permanent U.S. Residents

Upon final approval for Permanent Resident immigrant status, students are eligible to apply for Washington State residency if they meet the following criteria:

1. Application for adjustment to Permanent Resident immigrant status (I-485) was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter of application.
2. Established bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).
   Reference: Residency Requirements.

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival)

Upon final approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, students are eligible to apply for Washington State residency if they meet the following criteria:

1. Application for adjustment to DACA status (I-821D) was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter of application.
2. Established bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).
   Reference: Residency Requirements.

Students must provide a copy of the I-797 notice, issued by USCIS, verifying approval of DACA (I-821D). The Employment Authorization Card (EAC) or I-797 notice of approval for the EAC (I-765) will not suffice.

Please review example of the I-797 notice of approval of DACA (I-821D).

Note for all DACA students: When completing the Residence Questionnaire, students should note “DACA” at the top of the form. For section 1, students may disregard questions 5a, 5b, and 5c by checking “No” in each box.

International Students

Students with qualifying Visa status or dependents of a qualifying visa holder may be eligible for residency for tuition purposes.

Residency for Graduate and Professional Students

The process for Graduate and Professional students to establish and document residency in the state of Washington is the same as for undergraduate students. Please view the information for Financially Independent Students or Financially Dependent Students as applicable.

Residency Requirements for Externships and Internships

The following parameters are for Graduate and Professional students who plan to apply for residency for tuition purposes and leave the state for an internship or other educational opportunities prior to residing in Washington for 12 months.

To be considered, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Prove that student’s absence is due to an internship, externship, study abroad, or temporary employment related to their educational study.
2. Provide official verification from the department, school, or company/firm where the internship or externship is taking place.
3. Registered for courses for the Autumn Quarter prior to leaving for the summer internship or externship.
4. Provide verification of continued domicile in Washington such as signing a lease prior to leaving, storage of personal items, etc.
5. Established and maintained all Washington legal ties and financial independence. Please reference Residency Requirements.

Students whose parents or court-appointed legal guardians do not reside in Washington, and who do not meet the requirements of the Residency Affidavit, can only obtain residency for tuition purposes by fulfilling the requirements as a financially independent student. Students must complete and sign the Residence Questionnaire form online and provide all documentation as requested. Review the Materials Guide for Financially Independent Students for more information.

Residence Questionnaire – Financially Independent [PDF]

To be considered as financially independent, students must meet all of the following criteria in addition to meeting all of the other bona fide residency requirements:

• Parents/legal guardians or others (except spouse) have not claimed and will not claim the student as a dependent on Federal Income Tax returns for the current and previous calendar years;
• Parents/legal guardians or others (except spouse) have not and will not provide the student with significant financial assistance, directly or indirectly, for the current and previous calendar years;
• Students have been and will be independently paying at least 51% of their combined total expenses (cost of attendance and room/board) with their own independent income/resources for the current calendar year and previous calendar year.

Students by Age

25 Years of Age or Younger (Married/Domestic Partnership)

Students who are receiving significant financial assistance from a spouse or registered domestic partner may qualify as financially independent as long as the marriage or domestic partnership has been in place for at least one calendar year prior to the quarter of application for residency for tuition purposes. Documentation of marital or domestic partnership and financial information must be provided.

25 Years of Age or Older

Students that are 25 years of age (for the entire academic year prior to the quarter of application) and older may be presumed financially independent unless there is evidence proving otherwise. In this situation, students may not be required to provide information from their parent/legal guardians; however, they are still required to provide their own financial information.