Please refer to the following guides to gather the necessary materials to support your Residence Questionnaire application.
Each type of supporting document should be saved as a separate PDF or JPG file to facilitate uploading in response to the corresponding prompt. For example:
- 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.
Financially Independent Students
Have the following information available:
- Your UW NetID and password.
- The date you arrived in Washington state and short statement of your purpose for moving to Washington state.
- A list of your absences from Washington state in the past 12 months (location, date, and purpose).
Materials Guide
- Federal income tax return for the previous tax year, if filed.
- If a tax return was not filed, provide a statement explaining the reason for the delay or confirming that no filing was necessary.
- Provide your W-2 form(s) or most recent pay stub from each place of employmnent, showing your total income for the previous calendar year, as well as your year-to-date income.
- Students who moved to Washington in the previous calendar year OR who filed a state income tax return in another state for any reason are required to provide a copy of that state’s income tax return, including all schedules or forms corresponding to residency dates.
- Provide documentation of anticipated income for the current calendar year. This may include work income, scholarships, grants, loans, etc.
- Students with a trust, education savings account (529, etc.), UTMA, or other similar account, provide the following:
- Documentation of the date the account was established. Include how much was in the account at the time you graduated from high school. Additionally, please include a ledger of all deposits to and disbursements from the account dating from June of your high school graduation year onward; AND
- Documentation that you are the sole account owner and beneficiary, and that you have had independent access and control over the account during the time period under review for financial independence; AND
- The paper trail showing the location and control of the funds as they moved from the account to pay your expenses. This applies to the current calendar year and/or the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which application is made.
Provide proof that you were not claimed as a dependent on your parent’s income taxes. This may be the first page of the tax return showing dependents or, if that is not available, a notarized statement or a signed statement on letterhead from their tax preparer.
Students enrolled in an institution of higher education other than the University of Washington in the current or previous calendar year, please provide:
- Your tuition statements reflecting your tuition charges (by quarter, not the 1098-T).
- Documentation showing the source of the funds that paid those charges.
Provide the following:
- Washington state driver’s license, instructional permit, or identification card.
- Washington state vehicle registration for vehicles owned or used in Washington.
- Washington state voter registration with registration date.
Provide your housing information, including location, dates, and costs, from January 1 of last year to the present:
- Students with a lease: Provide the first page(s) of the lease showing your name, the address, term, rent amount, and number of tenants.
- Students in UW housing: Provide your HFS account statement.
- Student Homeowner: Provide the home purchase agreement and your regular periodic costs, such as mortgage payments, home insurance, HOA fees, and property taxes.
- Shared Housing: Students living with friends or family, provide a notarized statement from the head of household containing the address, dates, and how much rent you paid, if any.
- Unhoused: Provide documentation of your residing in Washington state, such as confirmation letters from social services.
Provide proof of your physical presence in Washington state for the past 12 months. Please place these documents in chronological order. Common documents include:
- Bank or credit card statements in your name showing physical, in-person transactions (such as groceries, restaurants, and gas) in Washington state; OR
- Educational transcripts showing attendance at in-person classes in Washington state; OR
- Employment records (pay stubs or employment confirmation) reflecting in-person employment in Washington state.
We can accept any documentation of physical presence that is reliable and verifiable and sufficiently covers the time period under review.
We cannot accept:
- Remote work as proof of physical presence.
- Individual receipts or utility bills.
Students enrolled in seven (7) or more college-level credits in any term during your residency year, provide proof that your primary purpose for living in Washington state is something other than higher education. Frequently provided examples include, but are not limited to:
- Documentation of significant employment (at least 30 hours/week) at a non-student position in Washington state.
- Documentation of a spouse’s or partner’s significant employment (at least 30 hours/week) at a non-student position in Washington state.
- Documentation supporting that you reside in Washington state to provide care to a family member.
Financially Dependent Students
Have the following information available:
- Your UW NetID and password.
- Your parent’s, or legal guardian’s, email address.
Parents and Legal Guardians of Financially Dependent Students
Please be advised that residency is determined based on a single parent or legal guardian. We are unable to accept combined proof or documentation from two individuals. All residency documents should correspond to the parent completing the residency information and submitting the relevant documents, except in cases where the student may be claimed as a dependent or receive dependent support from someone other than their spouse.
Have the following information available:
- The date you arrived in Washington state and a short statement of your purpose for moving to Washington state.
- A list of your absences from Washington state in the past 12 months (location, date, and purpose).
Materials Guide
- Federal income tax return for the previous tax year, if filed.
- If a tax return was not filed, provide a notarized statement outlining the reason for not filing and indicate whether the student will be claimed as a dependent on a future tax return.
- Non-U.S. tax filers may provide foreign taxes if the tax system in their country allows the student to be claimed as a dependent; these must be accompanied by a certified translation if the original document is not in English.
- Individuals who moved to Washington state during the previous calendar year OR who filed a state income tax return in another state for any reason are required to provide a copy of that state’s income tax return, including all relevant schedules or forms corresponding to residency dates.
- If someone other than the parent providing their taxes claimed the student as a dependent for the previous tax year, provide that tax return. The pages listing dependents and the signature/filing page will be sufficient.
- Should the student not be claimed as a dependent on anyone’s taxes and dependency is being established through other financial support, provide that documentation.
Provide the following:
- Washington state driver’s license, instructional permit, or identification card.
- Washington state vehicle registration for vehicles owned or used in Washington.
- U.S. Citizens only: Washington state voter registration with registration date.
Provide your housing information, including location, dates, and costs, for the last 12 months.
- Lease: Provide the first page(s) of the lease showing your name, the address, term, rent amount.
- Homeowner: Provide the home purchase agreement or other documentation showing your dates of homeownership. Note: This must be your primary residence.
- Shared Housing: Those living with friends or family, provide a notarized statement from the head of household containing the address, dates, and how much rent you paid, if any.
- Unhoused: Provide documentation of your residing in Washington state, such as confirmation letters from social services.
Provide proof of your physical presence in Washington state for the past 12 months. Please place these documents in chronological order. Common documents include:
- Bank or credit card statements in your name showing physical, in-person transactions (such as groceries, restaurants, and gas) in Washington state; OR
- Educational transcripts showing attendance at in-person classes in Washington state; OR
- Employment records (pay stubs or employment confirmation) reflecting in-person employment in Washington state.
We can accept any documentation of physical presence that is reliable and verifiable and sufficiently covers the time period under review.
We cannot accept:
- Remote work as proof of physical presence.
- Individual receipts or utility bills.