The following requirements are required to obtain Texas Residency through graduation:

• Graduate from a high school or GED program
• Reside in Texas for the 36 consecutive months leading to graduation from a Texas high school or GED program
• Maintain a residence in Texas for the 12 months leading up to enrollment in an institution of higher education

The following requirements apply when establishing domicile or permanent residence in the State of Texas:

• A U.S. Citizen (Texas non-resident) or an international student (permanent resident meeting F-1 visa requirements or immigrant status) must live in Texas for 12 consecutive months
• Establish a domicile for 12 consecutive months, by proving one of the following:
  • Ownership of a home in Texas
  • Ownership of a business in Texas
  • Professionally licensed to practice or conduct business in the State of Texas
  • Be gainfully employed in a position not related to student status. Student worker positions, internships, and graduate assistantships may not be used as a basis for establishing residency in Texas.
  • Are married to a Texas resident, and have resided in the state of Texas for at least 12 months

The following non-U. S. citizens are eligible to establish and maintain domicile in Texas:

• A Permanent Resident;
• A person who is eligible for permanent resident status
• A nonimmigrant who holds one of the types of visas identified as eligible to domicile;
• A person classified by the USCIS as a Refugee, Asylee, Parolee, Conditional Permanent Resident, or Temporary Resident;
• A person holding Temporary Protected Status, and spouses and children with approved petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), an applicant with an approved USCIS I-360, and a person granted deferred action status by USCIS;
• A person who has filed an application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under Immigration Nationality Act 240A(b) or a Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA), or the Cuban Adjustment Act, and who has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS; and
• A person who has filed for adjustment of status to that of a person admitted as a Permanent Resident under 8 United States Code 1255, or under the “registry” program (8 United States Code 1259), or the Special Immigrant Juvenile Program (8 USC 1101(a)(27)(J)) and has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS

Domicile Visa Types

To search by Visa Type, please type the first letter and a hyphen to filter the results (ex. A-). To search the Visa Categories, please enter a keyword describing the visa.

Resident military personnel and their dependents are classified as residents, provided they maintain Texas as the Official Home of Record with the military service. Non-resident military personnel must submit an Active Duty Military Certification form to receive the tuition waiver.

Establishment of a domicile in Texas requires twelve consecutive months physical presence in the state. The military member must simultaneously file a copy of the DD2058 used to change state of legal residence to Texas and additional appropriate documentation to change his or her military records to reflect Texas as the state of legal residency. A student must also submit the Application for Reclassification form and provide appropriate supporting documentation as stated in the form.

The spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following assignment to duty in Texas is entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or charges provided for Texas residents, as long as:

• The spouse or child resides continuously in Texas, or
• Non-resident military personnel who have separated or retired from military service while stationed in Texas and who intend to remain in Texas may be classified as residents provided certain actions are taken by the soldier one year prior to enrollment.

Senate Bill 297 allows veterans/spouses/children to move to Texas and pay the in-state tuition rate if they are eligible for benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.), or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits for veterans as long as they reside in Texas while attending college. If the student is the child of a veteran, they must be 25 years old or younger at the beginning of the relevant term, unless granted a hardship extension. The child may be a step-child of the veteran. The form must be completed and returned to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to the census date (12th class day) of the semester. The form will allow the tuition waiver to be applied to receive in state tuition for each semester the student remains eligible moving forward. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will need to verify eligibility with Tarleton’s Office of Veteran Services, so in conjunction with completing the form, the student will need to contact Veteran Services to inquire about having the educational benefits certified before the waiver can be applied.

Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information.

Non-residents (including citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. and all foreign students) employed by public institutions of higher education as research or teaching assistants on at least a half-time basis in a position related to their degree programs are entitled to pay the resident tuition rate at any public institution of higher education in the state for themselves, their spouses and children regardless of how long they have lived in the state. The institutions that employ the students shall determine whether or not the students’ jobs relate to their degree programs. It is the intent of this rule that employment is for the duration of the period of enrollment for which a waiver is awarded. If the spouse or children attend an institution other than the one employing the research or teaching assistant, they must provide their college proof of his/her current employment. These requests should be directed to the College of Graduate Studies at 254-968-9104.

Teachers and professors employed at least half time on a regular monthly salary basis by any Texas public institution of higher education, may pay the same tuition as a resident of Texas for themselves, their spouses, and their dependent children, regardless of the length of resident in the state if their effective date of employment is on or prior to the official census date of the relevant term(s). To be entitled to pay the resident tuition fees, such employment from the director of personnel or a designated representative of the institution of higher education by which he or she is employed. This provision applies to eligible teachers and professors and their dependents no matter which Texas public institution of higher education they may attend. It is the intent of this rule that employment is for the duration of the period of enrollment for which a waiver is awarded. Email these requests to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or call 254-968-9752.

If you were denied residency by a residency officer, you can appeal this decision. You will need to write a letter stating why you should be considered as Texas resident and provide any additional information to support your residency claim. The Residency Appeals Committee will review the appeal. These letters along with supporting documentation should be mailed to Undergraduate Admissions, Box T-0030, Stephenville, Texas 76402.

Please complete the Residency Reclassification Form. If you have any questions or need further information on residency, please email the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or call 254-968-9752.