We frequently find that applicants do not submit the required residency documents and therefore their residency is not granted. Please do not assume that being born and raised in Florida, or attending Florida education institutions waives the requirement.
It is required by the MD-PhD program that all scholars take appropriate actions to become in-state residents for tuition purposes no later than the start of the fall semester of their first year in the program.
To accomplish this, some actions should be taken no later than the end of their orientation period.
The program does not receive any official notice from the University or from the State of Florida that residency has been declared by a scholar. It is the responsibility of the scholar to inform the program that residency has been claimed.
Additionally, UF determines the necessary requirements for what constitutes a Florida Resident. Do not assume based on Florida connections that UF has automatically deemed you with residency. When in doubt always check with the UF Registrar.
First Step: Declaration of Domicile
Complete and have notarized the “Declaration of Domicile” during orientation and submit it to Clerk of the Circuit Court, Alachua County at 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601.
This should be done while on-campus during the orientation week in July so that the form can be notarized in-person.
Supporting Documents
Group A: A minimum of one of the documents has to come from this group and has to have an issue date twelve months before the submission of the Change in Residency Status. This can be done by submitting the documents outlined in section IV of the Request for Change in Residency Status.
- A Florida Driver’s Licence: Obtain a Florida Driver’s License (original birth certificate required along with secondary identification) If you do not have a car, then obtain a Florida identification card. These can be obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Office .
- A voter registration card: Register to vote at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office and obtain a Florida voter identification card. (You may register in whatever Florida county is appropriate for your residence.
- Have a vehicle registered in Florida: If you own a vehicle, then register it in the State of Florida, by going to the Alachua County Tax Collector’s Office. If you reside in another Florida county you may register your vehicle at the Tax Collector’s Office there.
- Have a local bank account: Open a local bank account as this provides additional documentation that you are a permanent resident.
- File a federal income tax return: If you file your own Federal income tax return as an independent person, you need to provide a copy of the latest return you filed as documentation when you file the Request for Change in Residency Status with the Registrar’s Office.
Group B: One of these documents may be used in conjunction with one of the required documents listed above:
- Document evidencing verifiable family ties to a Florida resident
- Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization
- Any other documentation that supports your request for resident status
- Utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Official state, federal or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida
Notes
Documents supporting the establishment of legal residence should be dated, issued or filed at least 12 months before the first day of classes of the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought. You must be an independent person to be able to establish Florida residency unless your parents or guardians or spouse establishes residency in Florida. When filling out a residency affidavit DO NOT LEAVE BLANKS. If something does not apply to you use “N/A” Application for Residency MUST be done prior to the term AND you must specify the term in which you are applying. You cannot apply for residency retroactively.
TIP: The more documents that you can produce the better.
Submit Petition
After you have been in Florida for approximately 12 months (typically the beginning of Fall semester of your MS2 year) submit the completed Request for Change in Residency Status via secure upload at http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/.
Students can monitor the progress of the petition at ONE.UF.
The deadline to submit the Request for Residency Change form and supporting documentation is the standard fee payment deadline for the term in which you are applying. Residency reclassification can take up to six weeks for a decision because of the evaluative process required. Residency reclassification cannot be applied retroactively to prior terms.