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Application Process

Residency by Campus

Residency review is campus-specific and details can be found at UW Bothell Residency and UW Tacoma Residency websites, respectively.

How to Apply for a Change in Residence Classification at UW Seattle

Autumn 2025 Applicants

Continue using the current submission portal to upload new applications, additional supporting documents, and appeals. The Autumn 2025 application deadline was October 23, 2025.

Winter 2026 Applicants

The Residence Classification Office will implement a new Residency Portal for submitting and reviewing residency applications. We are pleased to introduce this new system, which will streamline the application process by guiding applicants through residency questions, facilitating document uploads, and providing a checklist to track received materials and outstanding requirements.

Applicants may continue to use the existing Residency Affidavit and Residence Questionnaire forms as a reference for the information required. However, those forms will no longer be accepted once the new Residency Portal opens on December 5, 2025. All necessary information will be submitted through the new Residency Portal.

Residency Affidavit

Applicants who meet the requirements outlined in the Residency Affidavit should begin by submitting the affidavit instead of the Residence Questionnaire.

  • Applicants must live in Washington for one (1) full year prior to the start of their current program; AND
  • That Washington residence must be primarily for a purpose other than higher education; AND
  • They must have a high school diploma or the equivalent – from anywhere; AND
  • They must sign the certification with regard to citizenship or immigration status.

No supporting documents are required with the initial affidavit upload. However, students who have attended college for seven (7) or more credits in any term during the residency year should submit documentation showing the primary purpose for living in Washington state is something other than school.

Residence Questionnaire

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for the Residency Affidavit should review the requirements of the residency requirements and collect materials to upload in support of their application. Review the Materials Guide for details.

For the best experience and to avoid errors, it is highly recommended to complete this form on a desktop or laptop computer.

Supporting Documents

Documents and Filetypes

NEW! Each type of supporting document should be saved as a separate PDF file to facilitate uploading in response to the corresponding prompt.

  • YES: Save driver’s license as one file.
  • YES: Save all pay stubs in one file – in chronological order.
  • YES: Save each lease as its own file.
  • NO: Combine driver’s license and pay stubs together in one file.

Parent/Guardian Documents

NEW! Dependent students are required to submit their parent’s or guardian’s information and certification through the portal. Applications cannot be processed until the parent/guardian portion is completed.

Non-U.S. Citizen Documents

NEW! Non-U.S. citizens must schedule a Zoom appointment with the Residence Classification Office to show their Permanent Resident Card, I-94, visa, or other immigration status information to a staff member to confirm eligibility. Dependent students applying under a parent or legal guardian who is a non-U.S. citizen should coordinate with that parent and schedule a Zoom appointment when both the student and the parent can attend.

Application Completion Time

Assuming a student’s supporting documents are already scanned, organized, and ready to upload, the Residence Questionnaire application process is estimated to take approximately 30 minutes. Please note that the parent information form must be completed in one session. However, students are able to save and complete their applications at a later time.

Feedback

This is a new system! Feel free to contact the Residence Classification Office if you encounter any issues.

Deadlines & Process

All residency and tuition reduction forms are due by the 30th day after the quarter of application begins.

For winter, spring, and summer quarters, the UW Residence Classification Office submission portal will be open no earlier than 30 calendar days before the start of the quarter. For autumn quarter, the portal will open no earlier than 60 calendar days before the start of the quarter.

The residency review for a quarter begins approximately four weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Residency applications are reviewed in the order received and may take four to six weeks to process.

Students will receive an email receipt confirmation once the residency application has been received by the Residence Classification Office.

Incomplete Applications

Residency applications submitted without all necessary documentation, or cases in which the Residence Classification Office requests additional documentation due to unclear or ambiguous circumstances, must have all required paperwork received by the Office no later than the deadline specified in the request. If the documentation is received after the specified date, the application will be deemed incomplete and will not be subject to further review.

Additional Information

Processing Time: Contacting the Residence Classification Office to inquire about an application status decreases the time available for staff to process applications. Please help residency staff process applications in a timely manner by waiting six weeks before inquiring about application status. You can check the current status of your application by returning to the portal page. Everyone’s patience is greatly appreciated.

Other Application Forms