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Enrollment Services

Office of the University Registrar

Residency Reclassification

Texas Residency

Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as:

  • A resident of Texas;
  • A nonresident; or
  • A foreign (international) student

How you are classified is important because it determines whether you pay non-resident tuition rates or in-state rates, which are lower. Being a resident also qualifies you to apply for financial aid awarded by the state.

Determining Residency

When you apply for admission, the University uses information you provide on the admissions application to make an initial determination about residency. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board establishes the rules that govern Texas residency for higher education in Texas.

If the submitted information indicates you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident but that you may qualify for residency based on Texas high school graduation, you will be prompted by the application to download and submit the Residency Affidavit. It must be completed, signed, notarized and submitted to the Office of Admissions.

Texas High School Graduation

This option for establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students.

To establish residency through high school graduation, you must:

  • Graduate from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas; and
  • Live in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and
  • Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date (usually the 12th class day) of the semester in which you enroll at the University (or another college or university)

If you are an international student seeking residency through high school graduation, you must submit a Residency Affidavit to the Office of Admissions stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so.

Residency Reclassification

To qualify for Texas residency tuition rates, students must establish and maintain a permanent domicile within the state. Domicile means living in Texas with the intent to make it your permanent home and earning income within the state.

To be considered a Texas resident for tuition purposes, you must have lived and worked in Texas for at least 12 consecutive months before the start of the semester.

If you believe you qualify for Texas residency and have completed one term at the University of Houston, please submit a Residency Questionnaire through myUH Self-Service to initiate a review.

  1. Navigate to the “Academic Records” tile
  2. Select “Residency Questionnaire”
  3. Choose “Add a Residency Questionnaire”

Click here for instructions 

The deadline to submit the Residency Questionnaire is the Official Reporting Date (ORD) for each term. See the Academic Calendar for ORD dates. Residency Questionnaires received after the ORD deadline will be effective for the next semester in accordance with Texas Administrative Code Rule 21.27.

  • Fall 2024 - Sept. 4, 2024
  • Spring 2025 - Jan. 29, 2025
  • Summer 2025 - June 5, 2025

 Establishing Domicile

This option for establishing Texas residency is available to:

  • Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. (non-citizens and non-permanent residents may also use this option if they have an application for permanent residency on file with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.)
  • International students who possess an eligible visa

If you are independent for tax purposes, you may gain resident status if you establish domicile in the state. If your parent(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.

To establish domicile, you or your parent(s) must meet the following criteria:

  1. Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months; and
  2. Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months, as evidenced by:
  • Gainful employment in Texas;
    Note: Student jobs do not qualify as gainful employment.
  • Sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent’s parent, having established and maintained a domicile at the residence;
  • Ownership and operation of a business in Texas; or
  • Marriage for one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas

Residency Glossary

Clear and Convincing Evidence

That degree of proof that will produce a firm conviction or a firm belief as to the facts sought to be established. The evidence must justify the claim both clearly and convincingly.

Dependent Student

For purposes of Texas residency determination, a person who: (a) is younger than 18 years of age and has not been emancipated by marriage or court order; or (b) is eligible to be claimed as a dependent of a parent for purposes of determining the parent’s income tax liability under the IRS Code of 1986.

Domicile

A person’s principal, permanent residence to which the person intends to return after any temporary absence.

Establishing Domicile in Texas

Physically residing in Texas with the intent to maintain domicile in Texas for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date of the term of enrollment, allowing for documented temporary absences.

Gainful Employment

Employment intended to provide an income to a person or allow a person to avoid the expense of paying another person to perform the tasks (as in childcare) that is sufficient to provide at least one-half of the individual’s tuition and living expenses or that represents an average of at least 20 hours of employment per week. A person who is self-employed, employed as a homemaker or who is living off his/her earnings may be considered gainfully employed for tuition purposes, as may a person whose primary support is public assistance. Employment conditioned on student status, such as work study, the receipt of stipends, fellowships, or research or teaching assistantships does not constitute gainful employment.

Independent Student

For Texas residency determination purposes, a student 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor not claimed by a parent or legal guardian as a dependent for federal income tax during the tax year.

Legal Guardian

Maintain Domicile

To physically reside in Texas with the intent to always return to the state after a temporary absence. The maintenance of domicile is not interrupted by a temporary absence from the state.

Parent

A natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator or court appointed legal guardian of a person. The term does not include a stepparent.

Property Ownership

Sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent’s parent, having established and maintained domicile at that residence. Owning a time-share, renting a residence or owning a cemetery plot does not constitute property ownership.

Residence

A person’s home or other dwelling place.

Temporary Absence

Absence from Texas with the intention to return, generally for less than five years. For example, the temporary absence of a person or a dependent’s parent from the state for the purpose of service in the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State as a result of an employment assignment or for educational purposes, shall not affect a person’s ability to continue to claim that Texas is his or her domicile.