Residency Regulations for Tuition Purposes

Students must pay nonresident tuition if they do not qualify as residents of the State of Hawaiʻi at the time they start classes according to University of Hawaiʻi rules and regulations as established by the Board of Regents. An official determination of residency status will be made prior to enrollment. Applicants may be required to provide documentation to verify residency status. Once classified as a nonresident, a student will remain in this status until they can present clear and convincing evidence to the residency officer that proves otherwise.

For additional information or interpretation of University regulations, contact the residency officer in the Admissions Office. Visit our Residency Information website for complete rules and regulations.

Definition of Hawaiʻi Residency

A student is deemed a resident of the State of Hawaiʻi for tuition purposes if the student (18 or older) or the student (under 18) and their parents or legal guardians have:

  1. Demonstrated intent to permanently reside in Hawaiʻi (see below for evidence required);
  2. Been physically present in Hawaiʻi for the 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction, and subsequent to the demonstration of intent to make Hawaiʻi his/her legal residency; and
  3. The student, whether adult or minor, has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction by his/her parents or legal guardians who are not legal residents of Hawaiʻi.

To demonstrate the intent to make Hawaiʻi your legal residency, the following can be considered as evidence:
1. Ownership or continuous lease of a dwelling in the State of Hawai’i. 2. Filing Hawaiʻi resident personal income tax return. 3. Permanent employment. 4. Voting/registering to vote in the State of Hawaiʻi. 5. Other evidence may apply, but no single act is sufficient to establish residency in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Other factors in making a residency determination include:

  1. The 12 months of continuous residence in Hawaiʻi shall begin on the date upon which the first overt action (see evidence above) is taken to make Hawaiʻi the permanent residence. Residence will be lost if it is interrupted during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day of instruction.
  2. Residency in Hawaiʻi and residency in another place cannot be held simultaneously.
  3. Presence in Hawaiʻi primarily to attend an institution of higher learning does not create resident status. A nonresident student enrolled for 6 credits or more during any term within the 12 month period is presumed to be in Hawaiʻi to attend college. Such periods of enrollment cannot be applied toward the physical presence requirement.
  4. The residency of unmarried students who are minors follows that of the parents or legal guardian. Marriage emancipates a minor for residency purposes.
  5. Resident status, once acquired, will be lost by future voluntary action of the resident inconsistent with such status. However, residency will not be lost solely because of absence from the State of Hawai’i as long Hawaiʻi is claimed and maintained as the person’s legal residence in the following circumstances:
    • While a member of the United States Armed Forces
    • While engaged in navigation
    • While a student at any institution of learning.
    • While assigned abroad as a Foreign Service member, spouse, or dependent

Board of Regents Exemptions

Nonresidents may be allowed to pay resident tuition if they qualify as one of the following:

  1. United States military personnel and their authorized dependents during the period such personnel are stationed in Hawaiʻi on active duty.
  2. Members of the Hawaiʻi National Guard and Hawaiʻi-based Reserves.
  3. Active duty military personnel and their authorized dependents on visas from another country while training with the United States military.
  4. Full-time employees of the University of Hawaiʻi and their spouses and legal dependents.
  5. East-West Center student grantees pursuing baccalaureate or advanced degrees.
  6. Hawaiians, descendants of the aboriginal peoples that inhabited the Hawaiian Islands and exercised sovereignty in the Hawaiian Islands in 1778.
  7. Persons domiciled in any Pacific island or Asian district, commonwealth, territory, jurisdiction, state, or nation which provides no public institution of higher learning.
  8. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.
  9. Veterans or individuals using Post-9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits or vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits.

Citizens of an eligible Pacific Island district, commonwealth, territory, or insular jurisdiction, state, or nation which does not provide public institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees may be allowed to pay 150% of the resident tuition.

Misrepresentation

A student or prospective student who provides incorrect information on any form or document intended for use in determination of residency status for tuition purposes will be subject to the requirements and/or disciplinary measures provided for in the rules and regulations governing residency status.

Appeal Process

Residency decisions may be appealed by contacting the residency officer for information on how to initiate an appeal.