Idaho Residency

Initial Determination of Residency Status

When you apply to the University of Idaho, the Admissions Office determines your status as a resident or non-resident for tuition purposes. For questions about your admission, please contact the Admissions Office at (208) 885-6326.

How do I become an Idaho Resident?

Pending Idaho State Board of Education Approval

Following are the options under which a student may qualify for Idaho residency; at least one of these must be met for consideration:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The student is married to an Idaho resident.
5. The student is a member of the Armed Forces⁴ stationed in the state of Idaho on military orders.
6. The student is an officer or enlisted member in the Idaho National Guard.
7. One or more of the student's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is a member of the Armed Forced⁴ stationed in the state of Idaho on military orders and provides at least 50% of the student's financial support.
8. 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 University of Idaho within one year of the date of separation.
9. 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.
10. 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.

¹ Domicile 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.

² Continuously 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.

³ Primarily Educational Purposes means a student enrolled for more than 8 credit hours in any semester during the past 12 month period.

⁴ Armed 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:

1. Filing an Idaho state income tax return covering a period of at least 12 months before the semester which the student is applying for residency.
2. Permanent full-time employment in the state of Idaho for a period of at least 12 months before the semester which the student is applying for residency.
3. The student has owned their own living quarters for a period of at least 12 months before the semester which the student is applying for residency.
4. Establishment of 5 of the following 7 factors, if done at least 12 months before the semester which the student is applying for residency:

1. 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;
2. Registration to vote for state elected officials in Idaho at a general election;
3. Holding an Idaho driver’s license or Idaho state-issued ID card;
4. Evidence of abandonment of a previous domicile;
5. Presence of household goods in Idaho;
6. Establishment of accounts with Idaho financial institutions;
7. 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.

Requesting a Change of Residency

Students who feel they have met the qualifications for Idaho residency before the beginning date of the semester must submit an Idaho Residency Affidavit.   The deadline to submit an Idaho Residency Affidavit and all supporting documentation is the 10th day of the semester.  The student is responsible for payment of fees by the first day of the semester; if granted Idaho Residency after this date, the difference in fees will be refunded to the student.

For further detailed information, consult the Idaho Residency Law.