Establishing California Residency 

Students moving to San Diego from outside of California, with the exception of F-1 and J-1 visa holders, are required to establish California residency prior to the start of their second year at UC San Diego. Students who fail to do so will be responsible for paying nonresident supplemental tuition after their first year.

It is critical that you begin this process during your first quarter at UC San Diego, as it is a lengthy procedure that requires you to complete multiple documents and provide proof of residency. You will be contacted by the Residence Deputy with further instructions. Please see how to change your nonresident status to resident here.

Here is some information on the documents you need to submit copies of.

• California driver’s license or a California ID card: You should get this within 10 days of moving to California. To get your California Driver’s license or ID, as well as CA vehicle registration, see the Information For Persons New To California page at the California DMV website. You may want to make an appointment since the wait can be long at some of the DMV offices without an appointment.

  If you already have a driver license in another state, then you won’t need to take a driving test, but you will need to go to a DMV office and take a vision exam, a short written test, and other things listed on the How to Apply for a Driver’s License page. You may want to study the California Driver’s Handbook before taking the test.

  The two closest DMV offices to UCSD are:

  Hillcrest:
  3960 Normal Street
  San Diego, 92103
  (800) 777-0133

  Clairemont:
  4375 Derrick Drive
  San Diego, 92117
  (800) 777-0133

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  Voter registration card or affidavit from Registrar of Voters: Contact Registrar of Voters at (800) 696-0136, or check status and apply online at the County of San Diego's website. For more information check out Tritons Vote.

• Bank/Credit/Debit Card Statements:​​​​​​

  Provide statements with a California address for the past 12 months demonstrating ALL consistent itemized transactions in the state of California.

  1. Provide a copy of your first month’s statement with a California bank or, if you are not using a California bank, provide a copy of a statement showing when your address was changed to California.
  2. Provide summer statements for the June, July, and August prior to the quarter you are applying to change your classification. It is critical to show that you were in California during the whole summer.

• California car registration and car insurance card:

  Within 20 days of moving to California, you must update your insurance card with your California address and register your vehicle. This usually requires a DMV visit for an odometer check and smog test before submitting your application and fees. The DMV has strict rules—see their guidelines for new residents. Even if you don’t own the car you drive, you still need a California driver’s license and proof of California insurance. DMV office locations are listed above in the California ID section.

  • How To Register A Nonresident Vehicle

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  Tax Returns:

  You must provide all pages of your federal and California state tax returns for the most recent year, or W-2s/earning statements only if you have not yet filed. Your residency will be questioned if, during the period you are claiming to be a California resident, you file a full-year resident tax return in another state or file a full-year nonresident California state tax return. If you filed a California Part-Year Resident return (Form 540NR), be sure to include your Schedule CA page (540NR).  Black out all social security numbers on all tax documents. If you did not keep copies, call Franchise Tax Board for copies of state tax return and the IRS for your federal tax return at least 90 days before you submit your packet.

• Evidence of financial independence:

  Please review the How to Change Your Nonresident Status to Resident website.

• Paper trail of summer physical presence:

  To verify that you have been in California during the summer preceding your second year, you will need to present summer pay stubs, employment verification, airline tickets, or some paper trail of summer physical presence.

  If you are having trouble obtaining any of these documents, you may want to check with your Graduate Advisor about obtaining some type of verification. If you are leaving the state for a unique research opportunity or for special circumstances (such as a medical emergency), this does not automatically prevent you from being classified as a resident; however, you will need to provide clear evidence that your time outside the state is consistent with your intent to maintain permanent residence.

• Housing Contracts: Provide copies of all your housing contracts, monthly rental agreements, lease or proof of property ownership for the past year, or verification in writing from property owner of housing agreement.

• Membership with California merchants: Provide proof of credit and memberships with CA stores, supermarkets, fitness clubs, public library, or religious affiliations. 

• Moving receipts: Show proof of your belongings being moved into California such as a moving van bill, U-Haul moving van receipts, etc.

• Utility Bills: Make sure you have some utility bills in your name, e.g. phone, gas, electric, TV, cable, Internet, water, etc. Submit the first and the latest statements only.

• Proof of Eligible USCIS Status: Non-US citizens must provide proof of eligible USCIS status in the US (permanent resident card, I-94 record for the past year, I-821D DACA approval notice, etc.).

To submit your application you can drop it off at the Registrar’s Office or mail it in. Please refer to the How to Change Your Nonresident Status to Resident website for instructions to establish your California residency.