Graduate Student Policies: Residency Requirements

California Residency

To establish California residency for tuition/fee purposes students must:

  1. File a Petition for Residence Classification with the Registrar’s Office
  2. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  3. Be physically present in California for more than one calendar year
  4. Have come to California with the intent to make California their permanent home
  5. Show that they intend California to become their home

Examples of (#5) include:

  • Registration as a voter in California
  • Designation of California as their permanent residence on all University documents
  • Obtaining a California Driver’s License or ID Card
  • Registration of their car with the State of California
  • Payment of California income taxes as a resident
  • Maintenance of a home in California

More information about residence classification can be found on the Registrar's website here.