Residency
Establishing Idaho Residency
Idaho Residency Determination Worksheet
Idaho Residency Laws
Residential/Nonresidential Classification Information
Procedures to be observed in Determining Residency for Tuition Purposes at
Boise State University
The legal residence of a student for fee purposes is determined at the time of initial application for admission to Boise State and remains unchanged in the absence of satisfactory written evidence to the contrary. The burden of proof in requesting reclassification to resident status rests with the individual in providing clear and convincing evidence of residency for tuition purposes as defined by the law. Individuals applying to change a nonresident classification made at the point of application or are requesting consideration for reclassification based upon satisfying state law criteria must follow the procedure outlined below:
- Contact the Residency Coordinator in the Registrar's Office, Room 110, Administration Building.
- Complete the Idaho Residency Determination Worksheet and return it to the Residency Coordinator with supporting documentation. A form requesting reclassification to resident status may be filed after qualifying criteria have been satisfied but no later than 10 school days after the opening of the semester for which the change in status is requested.
- The Residency Coordinator will determine if the individual meets the criteria for residency and will notify the individual in writing of the decision.
- The applicant may appeal the decision of the Residency Coordinator in writing to the Residency Appeals Committee. To file an appeal the applicant must specify in writing why they believe they have met the criteria and on what basis they should be given residency. The appeal should be turned in to the Residency Coordinator. The applicant will be notified in writing of the decision of the Residency Appeals Committee.
- If an applicant contests the determination of the Residency Appeals Committee that the applicant is not a qualified resident, the applicant may petition the State Board of Education for review. The petition must be submitted to the President of Boise State University in writing and must set forth the applicant's reasons for contesting the decision. The President will submit the petition to the Executive Director of the Office of the state Board of Education who will determine whether the Board or the Board's designated representatives will hear the appeal. If the Board decides to hear the appeal, it will set forth the scope of review and notify the applicant of the time, date, and place of the hearing. The decision of the Board is final and binding on all parties concerned. The student must agree to the release of information to the review body and must comply with deadlines established by the institution for requesting an appeal.
Initial Determination of Residency Status
When you apply to the Boise State University, the Admissions Office determines your status as a resident or non-resident for tuition purposes. For questions about your residency status, please contact the Registrar's Office at (208) 426-4249.
Following are the options under which a student may qualify for Idaho residency; at least one of these must be met for consideration:
- One or more parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the student is a resident of the state of Idaho and provides at least 50% of the student's financial support. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) must have maintained a bona fide domicile¹ in the state of Idaho for at least 12 months prior to the semester in which the student is applying for residency.
- The student receives less than 50% financial support from their parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) and has continuously resided² in and maintained a bona fide domicile1 in Idaho primarily for purposes other than education³ for at least 12 months prior to the semester in which the student is applying for residency.
- The student graduated from an Idaho high school and immediately following enrolled in an Idaho college or university and has continued to be and presently enrolled in an Idaho college or university.
- The student is married to an Idaho resident.
- The student is a member of the Armed Forces4 stationed in the state of Idaho on military orders.
- The student is an officer or enlisted member in the Idaho National Guard.
- One or more of the student's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is a member of the Armed Forces stationed in the state of Idaho on military orders and provides at least 50% of the student's financial support.
- The student is separated under honorable conditions from the Armed Forces4 after at least two years of service and at the time of separation designated the state of Idaho as their intended domicile or indicated Idaho as their home of record of service; and will be entering the Boise State University within one year of the date of separation. Or I intend to make Idaho my state of residence and will actively establish domicile within one calendar year.
- The student has been away from the state of Idaho less than 30 months and has not established legal residence elsewhere; and the student continuously resided² in Idaho for at least 12 months immediately prior to departure.
- The student is a member of one of the following Native American tribes: (i) Coeur d'Alene tribe; (ii) Shoshone-Paiute tribes; (iii) Nez Perce tribe; (iv) Shoshone-Bannock tribes; or (v) Kootenai tribe.
¹Domicile means an individual's permanent home; the place where they intend to remain and expect to return to when leaving without establishing a new home elsewhere. See below for information how to establish Idaho domicile.
²Continuously Resided means physical presence in the state of Idaho for 12 consecutive months without being absent from Idaho no more than a total of 30 days.
³Primarily Educational Purposes means a student enrolled for more than 8 credit hours in any semester during the past 12 month period.
4Armed Forces means United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; it does not include National Guard from states other than Idaho and other reserve forces.
How does a student establish domicile in Idaho?
The student must be physically present in Idaho primarily for purposes other than education. If the student has been enrolled for more than 8 semester credits at any time during the past 12 months, Idaho considers that primarily for educational purposes disqualifying them for Idaho residency, unless the student has continuously resided² in Idaho for 12 consecutive months and one of the following criteria have been met prior to the opening day of the semester, proving establishment of domicile¹ in Idaho:
- Filing an Idaho state income tax return covering a period of at least 12 months before the semester in which the student is applying for residency.
- Permanent full-time employment in the state of Idaho for a period of at least 12 months before the semester in which the student is applying for residency.
- The student has owned his or her own living quarters for a period of at least 12 months before the semester in which the student is applying for residency.
- Establishment of 5 of the following 7 factors, if done at least 12 months beforethe semester in which the student is applying for residency:
- Registration and payment of Idaho taxes or fees on a motor vehicle, motor home, travel trailer, or other item of personal property for which state registration and the payment of a state tax or fee is required;
- Registration to vote for state elected officials in Idaho at a general election;
- Holding an Idaho driver's license or Idaho state-issued ID card;
- Evidence of abandonment of a previous domicile;
- Presence of household goods in Idaho;
- Establishment of accounts with Idaho financial institutions;
- Other similar factors indicating intent to be domiciled in Idaho and the maintenance of such domicile. Factors may include, but are not limited to enrollment of dependent children in Idaho primary or secondary schools, establishment of acceptance of an offer of permanent employment for self in Idaho, or documented need to care for relative in Idaho.