Residency Policies & Procedures

Application Process

To apply for a change in residence classification:

Review can take 2-3 weeks, so apply early. Please be sure to include the Residency Questionnaire and supporting documentation with your request.

Please Note: Once the application and its contents have been submitted, it becomes the property of Shoreline Community College and will not be returned to students. It is suggested students make copies for themselves in case they need it for future reference.

Undocumented Residents

Find out how Senate Bill 5194 (formerly House Bill 1079) can benefit you:

Residency Quick Tips

Do you have eligible legal status in the United States (or SB 5194 eligible), are a legal resident of Washington, and have lived continuously in the State of Washington for the last 12 months?

  • 12 months period refers to the 1st day of the quarter you wish to enroll.
  • If your answer is no, you will be charged Non Resident Citizen Eligible Non-Citizen tuition.
  • To adjust your tuition status you are required to fill out a Residence Questionnaire and comply to its requirements.

Is this your 1st quarter at Shoreline?

  • If you feel your residency is coded incorrectly, it may not be necessary to fill out the Residence Questionnaire.
  • To demonstrate residency for tuition purposes, send a copy of your Washington State drivers license or ID card to residency@shoreline.edu. Please note that to impact residency, the issue date on the license or ID must be 12 months or more prior to the first day of your first quarter at Shoreline.

For more information about establishing Residency in Washington State and residency policies and procedures, check out the links below:


Residency Requirements

To establish domicile in the state of Washington, students must provide documentation showing they meet the following guidelines:

  • Students must prove conclusively that they have not come to Washington State primarily for educational purposes. Current guidelines require students who are enrolled for 7 credits or more a quarter must be employed at least 30 hours per week at a non-student job to overcome the presumption of educational purposes.
  • Live in the state for at least 12 consecutive months as legal residents. A legal resident is an individual who has relinquished all valid legal ties with their former state of residence and established such ties in Washington in accordance with state and local legislation
  • Establish legal ties.
    • Employment (if taking more than 6 credits a quarter during the first year of being present in Washington State)

    • Driver's license/state ID. If students possess current, out-of-state driver's licenses, they must obtain a Washington State Driver's License within 30 days of arrival. If they don not have a driver's license from any state, they must obtain a Washington State ID Card.
    • Vehicle registration. If students own or drive vehicles in Washington, the vehicles must be registered in Washington.
    • Voter Registration. If students have current, out-of-state voter's registrations, they must be registered to vote in Washington.
    • Establish a bank account in Washington.
    • Be financially independent for the current and prior calendar years.

Examples of other factors that may help students establish proof of domicile include: disposition of property in the former state of residence, relocation of household members, participation in local community organizations, and generally becoming involved in activities that will help prove their intent to make Washington their official place of residence.


Financially Dependent Student

Students who are financially dependent upon parents or legal guardians (provide court documentation verifying the guardianship is valid) must provide documentation to prove their parents/legal guardians have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington. Students must also provide documentation to show they are dependents claimed by the parents/legal guardians on the most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax return.

Students whose parents or legal guardians are either divorced or legally separated may be classified as residents if the following conditions are met:

  • The students are claimed as a dependent on the most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax return by one of the parents/legal guardians.

  • At least one parent or legal guardian has established a bona fide domicile in the State of Washington.
  • The students and parents/legal guardians must fill out the Residency Questionnaire (Word) (students, complete the first page. Parents/legal guardians, complete the second).

Financially Independent Student

Students must show establishment of a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington if they are under the age of 25 and if their parents or court-appointed legal guardians do not reside in Washington.

Students must also provide documentation showing independent payments of the majority of their expenses for the previous calendar/tax year and independent payment of, or the ability to independently pay, the majority of their expenses for the current calendar/tax year. These documents include:

  • A copy of the student's most recent tax return.
  • A copy of the parent's most recent tax return (top half of the first page only), showing dependents claimed.
  • Verification of year-to-date earnings (i.e., a copy of the student's most recent pay stub with year-to-date earnings total listed).

To establish a bona fide domicile, (official place of residence) financially independent students must:

  • Prove conclusively that they have not come to the state primarily for educational purposes. Current guidelines require that students enrolled for 7 credits or more a quarter must be employed at least 30 hours per week at a non-student job to overcome the presumption of educational purposes.
  • Live in the state for 12 consecutive months as legal residents. A legal resident is an individual who has relinquished all valid legal ties (for example, driver's license, voter registration, etc.) with their former state of residence and established such ties in Washington in accordance with state and local legislation.
  • Establish legal ties.
    • Employment

    • Driver's license/state ID. If students possess current, out-of-state driver's licenses, they must obtain a Washington State Driver's License within 30 days of arrival. If they don not have a driver's license from any state, they must obtain a Washington State ID Card.
    • Vehicle registration. If students own or drive vehicles in Washington, the vehicles must be registered in Washington.
    • Voter Registration. If students have current, out-of-state voter's registrations, they must be registered to vote in Washington.
    • Establish a bank account in Washington.
    • Be financially independent for the current and prior calendar years.

Examples of other factors that might help students establish proof of domicile include: disposition of property in the former state of residence, relocation of household members, participation in local community organizations, and generally becoming involved in activities that will help prove their intent to make Washington their official place of residence.


Permanent U.S. Residents

If students are able to provide documentation of final approval for their Permanent Resident immigrant status, they may apply for Washington State residency, if they meet the following conditions:

  • Their application for adjustment to Permanent Resident status was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter for which they are requesting to be classified as Washington residents.
  • They meet the requirements listed under establishing a bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).

Qualifying Visas

Students may apply for Washington State residency for tuition and fee purposes if they are on an A, E, G, H1, I, L, or K visa and if they meet the requirements listed under establishing a bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).


Affidavit of Residency

Students may be eligible to pay resident tuition rates if they meet the following two criteria:

  • Earn a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent from anywhere in the United States

  • Live in Washington state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before their first term

Students who meet all of the above criteria are required to provide a completed Washington Higher Education Residency Affidavit Declaration Certification to the Enrollment Services Office verifying they will file an application to become a U.S. Permanent Resident at the earliest opportunity.

If you are eligible, please print and complete the following form with your signature. The original copy of this form should be submitted to the Enrollment Services Office.