December 5, 2025
The new Residency Application for Winter 2026 is now available for all students! The Residency Application is available from the Application Submission webpage. If you encounter any technical difficulties with the new system, please contact the Residency Team with your name, student number, and a detailed description of the issue.
WA High School Completion Program – New Requirement
November 26, 2025
Beginning in Winter 2026, students utilizing a degree from a Washington high school completion program to address educational presumption must demonstrate enrollment in predominantly high school-level courses (courses with a sub-100 course number) for at least one year. While students may be enrolled in college-level courses during this period, these courses must represent fewer than seven (7) credits during this time period.
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.
Initial Residency Status
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 to request verification.
Transfer Students
Residency classification at any other Washington state 4-year universities (including Bothell/Tacoma campuses) or Washington state Community & Technical College (CTC) does not transfer between schools. Students should understand both the residency requirements and the residency application process before applying for admission.
Special Populations
Reduced tuition and residency information for special populations, such as medical students, military personnel & others, can be found in Residency Groups.
Applying for Residency
There are three pathways for students, who qualify, to apply for residency via the new residency application process. Each pathway has its own requirements. Students should select the pathway that best aligns with their situation.
Affidavit
Students with a high school diploma (or equivalent) and who maintained primary residence in Washington state for at least one year for purposes other than college.
Applications must be submitted no later than the 30th day of the quarter in accordance with WAC 250-18-025. Students who have not yet resided in Washington state for 12 months should not submit a residency application any earlier than the first posted date for each quarter.
Winter 2026
Spring 2026
Summer 2026
Dec 5, 2025-Feb 4, 2026
Feb 28-Apr 29
May 23-Jul 22
Residency Policies
Residency policies are set by the Washington state legislature and applied uniformly throughout Washington’s colleges and universities. Additional details regarding residence classification are referenced throughout the Residency webpages. We recommended reviewing the relevant Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) statutes.
Substitute House Bill 2543 [PDF] – RCW 2B15.012(2)(i), RCW 2B15.012(2)(x), RCW 2B15.012(2)(p), RCW 2B15.012(2)(n), RCW 2B15.012(2)(q)
Contact the Residency Team
There are two ways to contact the Residency Team at UW Seattle. Generally, staff respond to email inquiries within five (5) business days. For pressing or complicated advising questions, please schedule an appointment.
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:
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.
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:
Application for adjustment to DACA status (I-821D) was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter of application.
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.
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.
Graduate and Professional Students
At the direction of the UW Regents, the waiver program was discontinued effective July 1, 2012. Graduate and Professional students who were admitted to the University and began enrollment Autumn 2012 and after cannot obtain in-state tuition through this waiver program.
Graduate and Professional students admitted and enrolled prior to July 1, 2012 who are currently receiving the waiver may continue to apply for it as long as they maintain continuous enrollment status and submit a Residence Questionnaire every year until graduation from the program.
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:
Prove that student’s absence is due to an internship, externship, study abroad, or temporary employment related to their educational study.
Provide official verification from the department, school, or company/firm where the internship or externship is taking place.
Registered for courses for the Autumn Quarter prior to leaving for the summer internship or externship.
Provide verification of continued domicile in Washington such as signing a lease prior to leaving, storage of personal items, etc.
Established and maintained all Washington legal ties and financial independence. Please reference Residency Requirements.
Questionnaire: Financially Independent Students
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.
The Residency Application system is open to UW students. Review the Application Process to learn more about applying for residency, deadlines, and how to collect & submit supporting documents. PDF versions of the residency application are no longer accepted.
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 Younger – Married & Dependent
Students who are receiving significant financial assistance from someone other than their spouse or registered domestic partner will be considered financially dependent regardless of their marital or domestic partnership status if they do not meet the three criteria of financial independence.
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.