Residency Waivers & Tuition Classification

A petition should be submitted by students who have been notified by the institution that they have been classified as out of state for tuition purposes. The petition may be submitted by students wishing to provide additional documentation as evidence that domicile has been established and maintained in Georgia for 12 continuous months immediately preceding the first day of classes to be considered for possible reclassification. Students may petition as an independent or dependent person based on the following criteria:

An independent student who moved to Georgia may petition if he/she:

1. Moved to the state for reasons other than attending a post-secondary educational institution;
2. Abandoned all ties to the previous state or country of residence;
3. Receives no financial assistance from outside of Georgia;
4. Is not claimed as a dependent on the taxes of someone who resides outside of Georgia;
5. Is contributing to the state by paying income taxes; and
6. Is a U.S. citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, refugee, asleep, or other eligible non-citizen as defined by federal Title IV regulations.

A dependent student whose parent or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian moved to Georgia may petition if his/her parent(s) or guardian(s):

1. Moved to the state for reasons other than attending a post-secondary educational institution;
2. Abandoned all ties to the previous state or country of residence;
3. Receives no financial assistance from outside of Georgia;
4. Is contributing to the state by paying taxes; and
5. Is a U.S. citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, refugee, asleep, or other eligible non-citizen as defined by federal Title IV regulations.

There is no set formula or supporting documents that guarantee a residency reclassification. The tuition classification officer review each petition individually and assesses which supporting documents are needed based on each student’s unique circumstance. The following are the four most frequently requested supporting documents:

1. A copy of the student’s Georgia driver’s license issued on or after January 1, 2008, or a current US Passport.
2. A copy of valid vehicle registration for the State of Georgia.
3. A copy of the most recent state income tax return (GA 500).
   • Dependent students will be required to provide their parent or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian’s GA 500; Independent students will be required to provide their own GA 500.
   • If taxes are hand-written, a certified copy will be required. A certified copy may be obtained by contacting the Georgia Department of Revenue. https://dor.georgia.gov/ or 1-877-423-6711 / (404) 417-6760)
4. A copy of a current lease or deed to a home or residence in Georgia.
   • Dependent students will be required to provide their parent’s lease or deed and a copy of their birth certificate or legal guardianship paperwork to link the student to the parent or legal guardian.
   • Independent students will be required to provide a copy of their lease or deed.

We strongly encourage submitting the above documents with the petition. Each petitioner must provide enough documentation to prove continuous domicile in the state for the past 12 months. Therefore, the tuition classification officer may require the student to turn in additional supporting documents based on the information provided through the student’s admissions application and petition.

Some students not eligible to be classified as in state for tuition purposes may be eligible for an out-of-state tuition waiver. For more information on the available out-of-state tuition waivers, students should review Section 7.3.4.1,

Petition For In-state Classification Students who have been classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes who believe that the submission of additional information could alter that decision, may submit this petition and supporting documentation to request to be considered for reclassification. This petition should only be submitted by students who have been notified that they have been classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes. Deadline for petitioning for Georgia residency is by the end of the 5th week of the semester for fall and spring and by the end of the 2nd week of the summer term.

Tuition Petition Application

Dependent or independent students who can provide clear evidence that they have relocated to the state of Georgia to accept full-time, self-sustaining employment and have established domicile in the state of Georgia are eligible for this wavier. Relocation to the state must be for reasons other than enrolling in an institution of higher education.

Economic Advantage Waiver

Career consular officers, their spouses, and their dependent children who are citizens of the foreign nation that their consular office represents and who are stationed and living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments.

Career Consular Waiver

Dependent students whose parents or U.S. court-appointed legal guardian has maintained domicile in Georgia for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term are eligible for this waiver.
Independent students whose spouse has maintained domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term are eligible for this waiver.

Non-Resident Waiver

Military personnel, their spouses, and their dependent children stationed in or assigned to Georgia and on active duty are eligible for this waiver.

Military Personnel Waiver

Any member of a uniformed military service in the U.S. who, within 36 months of separation from such service, enrolls in an academic program and demonstrates intent to become domiciled in Georgia is eligible for this waiver. This waiver may also be granted to spouses and/or dependent children.

Recently Separated Military Waiver

Students who are active members of the Georgia National Guard (GNG), students who are stationed or assigned to Georgia by their National Guard, or students who are active members of a unit of the U.S. Military Reserves based in Georgia are eligible for this waiver. Spouses and dependent children of the qualifying GNG member are also eligible for this waiver.

GA Guard / US Reservists Waiver

Full-time employees of the University System of Georgia, their spouses, and their dependent children are eligible for this waiver.

USG Employees Waiver

Full-time employees in the public schools of Georgia or in the Technical College System of Georgia, their spouses, and their dependent children are eligible for this waiver.

Public School & TCSG Employees Waiver

Teachers employed full-time on military bases in Georgia qualify for this waiver.

Teachers on Military Base Waiver

Students who reside in the state of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee are eligible for this waiver. (This waiver is for students pursuing an undergraduate degree)

Border State Waiver

Students domiciled in an out-of-state county bordering Georgia, enrolling in a program offered at a location approved by the Board of Regents and for which the offering institution has been granted permission to award the waiver.

Border County Waiver

According to Board of Regents policy we are allowed to award a limited number of waivers. (This waiver is for students pursing an undergraduate degree)‘

Out of State Waiver

Georgia residents who are aged 62 and older may be eligible to take courses on a space available basis at little or no cost.

Tiger 62 Waiver