A student who was originally classified as a nonresident may be eligible for reclassification to in-state status after meeting the requirements outlined by the Montana University System (MUS). For independent students, residency decisions are based solely on the student’s own legal and financial ties to Montana.

Note: A married student must apply as an independent and is not considered a dependent of their spouse.

To qualify, the student must demonstrate that they are at least 51% financially self-supporting and that they have maintained a bona fide Montana domicile for 12 continuous months. The 12-month residency period begins once the student has taken steps to establish legal ties to Montana, such as obtaining a Montana driver’s license or ID, registering to vote in Montana, and registering their vehicle in the state. These steps must be completed on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which the 12-month period begins.

Any period during which the student retains legal ties to another state or country, such as an out-of-state driver’s license, voter registration, vehicle registration, or tax filings, will not count toward the 12-month requirement and may be considered an interruption.

A student should submit their petition after the qualifying 12-month period has passed and once sufficient supporting documentation has been gathered. The petition must clearly demonstrate the student’s intent to make Montana their permanent and indefinite home, rather than a temporary residence for educational purposes.

The petition is not considered complete until all required documentation has been received. Exceptions to these requirements must be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the Registrar’s Office Residency Committee.

Note: Students applying as dependents (i.e., based on a parent’(s) or legal guardian’(s) Montana residency) should refer to the Dependent Student Reclassification guidelines, as different criteria apply.

Checklist for Independent Student Reclassification (Individual Reclassification)

The Residency Questionnaire, provided by the Board of Regents, must be completed legibly in ink and signed by the student.

The student should submit a copy of their Montana driver’s license or state-issued identification card. If they currently hold a license or ID from another state, they must obtain a Montana-issued license or ID before the start of the required 12-month residency petition period in order to sever that legal tie.

The submitted documentation must clearly display the current issue date and, if different, the original issue date.

Montana driver’s licenses and identification cards may be obtained through the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).

The student should submit a copy of their Montana Certificate of Voter Registration that clearly shows the issue date. If they are registered to vote in another state, they must register to vote in Montana before the start of the required 12-month residency petition period to sever that legal tie.

A Certificate of Voter Registration may be obtained from the Voter Registration/County Election Office, located at 311 W. Main Street, Room #210, Bozeman, MT (in the old Courthouse).

The student should submit a copy of their Montana vehicle registration. If a vehicle is registered in another state but operated in Montana, it must be registered in Montana before the start of the required 12-month residency petition period to sever that legal tie.

The student should submit copies of their most recent pay stub(s) from all jobs held during the current year, showing year-to-date gross earnings.

The student should submit their most recent Montana resident state tax return. Ensure that all required Montana resident tax returns have been filed for any taxable income earned during the period in which residency is claimed.

If you have difficulty obtaining tax return documentation, please contact the Montana Department of Revenue at (406) 444-6900 for assistance.

If the student is under the age of 24 and/or was claimed as a dependent on a parent’s or legal guardian’s most recent tax return, all parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must sign this form in the presence of a notary.

If the student has applied for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), they should provide documentation showing what was awarded and accepted for the academic year.

This information can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of the award page in MyInfo. If the student is unable to locate this link, they should contact the Registrar's Office for assistance.

If the student moved to Montana primarily for full-time, permanent employment prior to applying to MSU, they may qualify for residency reclassification.

If applicable, and in conjunction with the Employment Affidavit, documentation of the employment offer or transfer must be submitted. This may include a letter from the employer confirming the relocation or transfer to Montana. Please note that self-employment does not qualify for this consideration.

Submit documentation verifying home ownership in Montana.

  • A student who registers for more than 7.0 credit hours in any semester during the 12-month residency establishment period is presumed to be in Montana for educational purposes.
  • A student who is absent from the state for more than a total of 30 days during the residency period is also presumed to be in Montana primarily for educational purposes.
  • Additionally, a student who accepts an Academic Achievement Award or a Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarship during the residency period is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.

This information is provided for informational purposes only. Final residency determinations are governed by Board of Regents’ Residency Policy and the Montana University System’s Guide to Montana Residency Policy.

Appeals Process 

If a student is denied in-state status, they may first appeal the decision to the Montana State University–Bozeman campus committee within 14 calendar days of the committee’s decision. If the appeal is denied again, the student may submit a second appeal to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, also within 14 calendar days of the campus committee’s decision.

The appeal may include a letter and any additional written materials the student wishes to submit. All materials should be provided to Veronica Jordan at veronica.jordan@montana.edu, who will compile and forward the complete appeal packet to the appropriate committee.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of all education records, regardless of format, maintained by Montana State University. Although the law was enacted in 1974, its protections extend beyond paper records to include electronic and other digital formats. All student education records, including those stored in computer databases, are covered under this federal law.

FERPA applies to the residency petition process. This means that residency-related documents and decisions are part of the student's protected education record. University staff cannot discuss a student's residency status, petition, or appeal with parents, guardians, or others.

In addition, Montana State Law provides further privacy protections and is considered more restrictive in its approach to releasing information about dependent students to parents or legal guardians.