If your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) do not reside in the state of Washington and you are under the age of 25, your primary option to gain residency for tuition paying purposes is to become financially independent of your parents/legal guardians. Information for students 25 years of age and older.
New! If your primary residency was in Washington state during the twelve (12) months prior to your first term at WSU, you may be eligible using the Residency Affidavit.
The WSU Estimated Cost of Attendance includes tuition, fees, room & board, books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses. For example: Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 Residency applications will consider resources for 2021 and 2022.
Residency for Tuition Purposes requires three basic actions:
WSU uses the first day of term to determine the start of the waiting period. You may demonstrate that you moved to Washington for more than educational reasons by carefully following the deadlines for establishing a domicile. WSU requires a state documents, such as a drivers license, learner permit, or identification card obtained within 30 days of the start of the waiting period.
Actions to take now to establish residency in the future.
Our application is available online for ALL STUDENTS. Undergraduate & Professional students must apply using the online application. Graduate students may use the online or paper applications. Both are available on the Application page.
Use this checklist to help you assemble the required documents. Read the instructions and don't submit additional documents unless requested.
This is an online version of the residency application/questionnaire. It is created using Smartsheet, a FERPA/HiPPA compliant application. You may receive some communication from us via Smartsheet to your WSU email address. Please assemble your documentation before completing the form; it must be completed in one sitting. Use the checklist above to determine what documents to assemble.
Failure to submit appropriate documentation will significantly delay decisions regarding your residency or may result in denial of residency. Do not submit additional documentation unless it is requested. Your residency application will be processed in the order received based on the date of the latest document submission. You can watch our progress on our homepage. Please allow several WEEKS for processing.
Documents that prove your residency claim are required as part of your residency application. The Residency Checklist is helpful for assembling these documents. Do not send original documents; documents will not be returned to you and will be kept for our files.
If you are not a US citizen, but hold permanent resident immigration status, temporary resident status, “Refugee-Parolee,” “Conditional Entrant” status, or are permanently residing in the United States under color of law, attach a copy of both sides of your Resident Alien Card, Temporary Resident card, VISA, or other verification of your status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Housing documentation must show that you lived in Washington state during the 12 month period prior to the term you are seeking residency. You may leave the state on a sojourn if you do not take steps to establish residency in another state. For instance, you may take a summer internship that benefits your education, but should not change your license to the other state and must file out-of-state taxes on income in that state.
You are not required to register to vote in Washington, however current voter registration can support and strengthen your claim for residency.
Washington requires new residents to register their vehicle(s) within 30 days of moving to and establishing a domicile in the state. Submit a vehicle registration if you own or are using a vehicle in Washington. If you use, but do not own a vehicle in Washington, it must be registered in the state. State of Washington vehicle registration website.
Washington requires new residents to surrender their previous state's documents and obtain Washington documents within 30 days of moving to and establishing a domicile in the state. Maintaining an out-of-state document will preclude receiving Washington residency. It is important to obtain your Washington documents independent of the expiration status of your previous state document. Washington State Department of Licensing
WSU considers your state identification document to be integral to your residency application, in part, because it is easy to obtain. Additionally, the process of surrendering your previous state documents shows strong intent to be a Washington resident and demonstrates an intent beyond education.
State law determines residency, in part, based on whether the student is claimed as a dependent on a parent(s) federal income taxes for the most recent tax year. Students who are 25 years of age for the entire previous academic year are exempt from this requirement. More information for students 25+ years of age.
Please black-out income and identifying numbers, with the exception of the last 4 digits of the student's social security number. We do not need income nor social security numbers for parent(s).
The student must show that they were financially independent for both the current calendar year (the year you file for residency) and the prior calendar year. The student must demonstrate evidence, satisfactory to the institution, that they have met, through personal financial resources, both living and educational expenses. The burden of proof is on the student. WSU currently requires the student to demonstrate that they have provided 51% of the Estimated Cost of Attendance. More information about the cost of attendance numbers.
Students who are 25 years of age for the entire previous academic year are exempt from this requirement in some circumstances. More information for students 25+ years of age.
Please black-out income and identifying numbers, with the exception of the last 4 digits of the student's social security number. Income is required.
If you were at least 25 years of age for the entire academic year prior to submitting the residency questionnaire, you do not need to prove financial independence unless there is evidence that you did not pay at least 51% of the estimated Cost of Attendance as described for students under 25 years of age or that someone else did pay 49% or more of the estimated cost of attendance.
You must meet all other residency criteria and must obtain all Washington state documents 11 months prior to the first day of term you are seeking residency.