A dependent student who has been initially classified as nonresident for tuition and fee purposes may become eligible for reclassification if his or her parents/legal guardians have permanently relocated to Montana. The student and their parents/legal guardians should submit a petition along with proof of their Montana residency. Please note, a married student applying for residency must apply as an independent student, not a dependent student.

If a student is determined to be dependent, both the student and their parents/legal guardians must meet the 12-month domicile test. Supporting documents should provide proof of maintaining a bona fide permanent domicile in the state of Montana for the required residency petition period of 12-consecutive months, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence.

The required 12-month residency petition period does not run for any period in which the student and their parents/legal guardians maintain legal ties to another state or country such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, or tax liability, regardless of the parent/legal guardian’s reasons for establishing or maintaining such ties. A petition for reclassification of residency is considered complete when all documents have been received from the student and their parents/legal guardians.

A student and their parents/legal guardians who are seeking in-state status will need to have established legal ties on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which they begin the required 12-month residency petition period. Any exception requires a written appeal and explanation to be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar’s Residency Committee.

Click here for a printable checklist of all required documentation.

This required five-page document, provided by the Board of Regents, needs to be filled out legibly in ink and signed by the student and their parents/legal guardians. The instructions are found on pages 6 & 7 and pages 8 & 9 contain the:

  • Tax Exemption Affidavit – required if the student is younger than 24 years of age and/or was claimed as a dependent on their parents/legal guardians most recent tax filing. All parents/legal guardians need to sign this form in front of a notary.
  • Employment Affidavit – required if the parents/legal guardians are currently employed in a full-time, permanent position that brought them to Montana. If applicable, along with the Employment Affidavit, submit a letter of transfer from employer to meet reclassification consideration. Please see Board of Regent’s Policy 940.1, §I.1.(b).

The student must submit a copy of their Montana driver’s license or identification card, along with copies of their parents/legal guardians Montana driver’s license(s) or identification card(s). 

If the student and/or their parents/legal guardians have driver’s licenses or identification cards in another state, they will need to obtain Montana driver’s licenses or identification cards to cut that tie. The documentation must show current date obtained and earliest date obtained, if different. Driver's licenses and identification cards can be obtained through the Montana Vehicle Department. Click here to make an appointment.

The student must submit a copy of their Montana Certificate of Voter Registration, along with copies of their parents/legal guardians Montana Certificate of Voter Registration.

If the student and/or their parents/legal guardians have registered to vote in another state, they will need to obtain new voter status in the State of Montana to cut that tie. A Certificate of Voter Registration can be obtained from the Voter Registration/County Election Office, which is located at 311 W. Main Street, Room #210, Bozeman, MT, in the old Court House.

The student must submit a copy of their parents/legal guardians Montana vehicle registration. If a vehicle, which is registered in another state, is operated in the State of Montana, the vehicle will need to register in the State of Montana, prior to the required 12-month residency petition period beginning, to cut that tie.

The student should submit a copy of their parents/legal guardians bank statement or voided check or deposit slip showing their Montana mailing address. Not required to be from a Montana bank.

The student should submit a copy of their parents/legal guardians most recent paystub(s) for the current year from all jobs held and showing their year-to-date gross earnings.

The student should submit a copy of their parents/legal guardians most recent resident Montana tax return. The parents/legal guardians, seeking in-state status, must file any required resident Montana tax returns for all taxable income earned during the period in which residency is claimed. For difficulty obtaining tax returns, please reach out to the Montana Department of Revenue at (406) 444-6900 for assistance. 

If applicable, the student should provide information showing what they were awarded and what they accepted for the Academic School Year. This link is located at the bottom of the award page in My Info. If the student cannot find it, please let someone in the Office of the Registrar know.

If applicable, the student should submit proof of their parents/legal guardians home ownership in Montana.

  • A student who registers for more than 7.0 credit hours in any given semester in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.
  • A student who leaves the state for more than 30 days (total) in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.
  • A student who accepts an Academic Achievement Award or Blue & Gold Scholarship or Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship (WUE) in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.

Appeals Process

If a student is denied in-state status, they may appeal the decision to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education within 14 calendar days of the committee’s decision. An appeal may be accompanied by any additional written materials they wish to submit. These materials should be submitted to Veronica Jordan, who will transmit the entire packet to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

This Act protects the privacy of all education records, in any medium, maintained by Montana State University. Although the law was written in 1974, its coverage is not limited to paper copies. All student education records, including records about students contained in computer databases, are protected. Additionally, Montana law protects students' right to privacy and is considered more restrictive in its approach to the release of dependent student information to parents/legal guardians.