In order to meet the University of California residency requirements, graduate students must be in an eligible immigration status and satisfy the “Physical Presence” and “Intent to Remain in California” requirements by the residence determination date, which is the first day of instruction.
If you are a continuing nonresident graduate student and wish to apply for a resident classification for an ensuing term, you must submit a Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) by that semester’s deadline.
You must be physically present in California on a continuous basis for at least 366 days immediately prior to the residence determination date (the first day of instruction).
If you are a continuing graduate student, the Residence Affairs Unit will require documentation to verify your date of arrival in California and request evidence of your presence in California during summer and holiday breaks (if needed).
Sample documents we will request include:
Arrival Date Documents
Keep bank account/credit card statements and pay stubs for nonacademic periods; please make sure they include your name and are not joint accounts.
Summer Physical Presence Documents
Summer Outside of California
If you are required to conduct research, intern, or be employed outside of California, this will not count toward the six-week period of absence. The Residence Affairs Unit will need a confirmation letter from either your supervisor, adviser, or academic department. However, if you return back to your original place of residence for employment opportunities, this will be highly scrutinized.
You must establish legal ties to California by acquiring all applicable governmental evidence of intent by the relevant deadlines, and relinquishing ties to your previous place of residence:
Sample documents we will request:
You may file a California Part-Year Resident tax form (540NR) your first year; Schedule 540NR indicates your dates in California. If you earned income out-of-state before your arrival, we recommend filing a part-year resident or nonresident return in your previous state.
Note: If you do not relinquish out-of-state ties and establish California legal ties by the deadlines, you may not be classified as a resident for tuition purposes when you apply for residency.
*Intent is not limited to terms listed here.
Open a case with Cal Student Central or contact the Office of the Registrar.
The Spring 2024 Statement of Legal Residence will be available in Cal Central (go to My Academics, Status & Holds, then expand the Residency Section to access the SLR hyperlink) October 1 through December 1, 2023.
The Fall 2024 Statement of Legal Residence will be available in Cal Central (go to My Academics, Status & Holds, then expand the Residency Section to access the SLR hyperlink) March 1 through July 1, 2024.
If you are a nonresident undergraduate student under the age of 24, whose parents are not California residents, you most likely will remain classified as nonresident for the duration of your undergraduate career.
NOTE: This website summarizes UC Residency Policy and may not cover individual student or family situations. Content on this website is merely for advising purposes and does not guarantee any residency determination.
Fees/tuition are typically due the Friday before the start of instruction.
The RDD or evaluation period for all UC residency requirements (i.e., immigration, physical presence, etc.) begins 366 days before the start of instruction.
Start-of-instruction dates: