{"id":5962,"date":"2026-03-05T15:49:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/registrar\/?page_id=5962"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T16:51:08","slug":"independent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/registrar\/residency\/forms\/independent\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Residency Petition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Independent Student Residency Reclassification Petition<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Independent Student Residency Reclassification Petition is for students who are financially independent living in Arizona for reasons other than school. This petition is one of the more common petition types to be submitted but requires the most documentation. If there is another petition or affidavit the student better qualifies under, it may be a benefit to explore that option.<\/p>\n

The Independent Student Residency Reclassification Petition has three main requirements a student needs to meet to have their petition approved. The student must meet all three of these requirements as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents to be considered an Arizona resident for tuition purposes. Those requirements are:<\/p>\n\n

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1. 12 months of physical presence Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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  1. This is defined by the student having been continuously physically present in Arizona for the 12 calendar months immediately preceding the last day of registration for the term<\/a> which the student is seeking classification as an in-state resident for tuition purposes, as demonstrated by objective evidence.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. If the student is absent from Arizona for more than 30 total days during the 12 months immediately preceding the last day of registration, this creates a rebuttable presumption that the student is not domiciled in or a resident of Arizona. A student may rebut this presumption with objective evidence that they retained their Arizona domicile and residence despite their absence(s). <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    2. Ability to demonstrating financial independence Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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    1. This is defined as showing proof of self-generated funds under the student’s control for expenses.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
    2. “<\/span>Financial Independence<\/span><\/a>” means the individual is capable of paying for their own living expenses (i.e., housing, utilities, transportation, insurance, groceries\/food) and university tuition with funds earned by the individual or with funds that are the sole property of the individual, without receiving <\/span>significant financial support from someone other than a spouse.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
    3. It also requires that the student’s parents have not claimed them as dependent on their taxes for at least the most recent tax year.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Students 24 years old and under are assumed to be <\/span>financially dependent<\/span><\/i> on their parents regardless of how taxes are filed; the student must provide convincing evidence proving otherwise.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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      3. Overcoming the student presumption Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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      1. This is defined as proving that the student’s primary purpose in Arizona is to establish domicile. The student’s primary purpose in Arizona <\/span>cannot<\/span><\/i> be education. The student’s future in Arizona cannot be considered, only events that have occurred in the last 12 months.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
      2. An individual cannot establish residency for tuition purposes while attending an educational institution in Arizona as a full-time student according to the <\/span>Arizona Board of Regents<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
      3. If you are not sure if you meet these criteria, you can explore other pathways to residency listed on our website or using the r<\/span>esidency navigator<\/span>. Please contact the residency office with questions if you are unsure of anything throughout the process. <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
        \n Independent Student Residency Petition<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n

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        Definitions and Things to Know:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

        If you are not sure if you meet these criteria, you can explore other pathways to residency listed on our website or using the\u00a0residency navigator<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to see if there is a different pathway to residency for you. Please contact the residency office with questions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n