Residency Status

The University is required to determine the residency status of each applicant. Therefore, each applicant must complete and submit a residency declaration (contained within the System Application Form), together with such documentation considered necessary to clearly determine residence status.

The burden of proof for establishing resident status lies with each applicant. Final decisions will be made by the Student Services Office. Students classified as nonresidents are required to pay nonresident tuition. Students may appeal the decision by the Student Services Office. The appeal will be considered by the University of Hawai‘i systemwide Committee on Resident Status.

All nonresident students who are newly admitted to the University of Hawai‘i may be affected by a change in the University of Hawai‘i’s policy regarding nonresident status for tuition purposes. The policy is in accordance with Chapter 20-4-8, Hawai‘i Administrative Rules which states: “Presence in Hawai‘i primarily to attend an institution of higher education shall not create resident status. A nonresident student shall be presumed to be in Hawai‘i primarily to attend an institution of higher learning...Continued presence in Hawai‘i during vacation periods and occasional periods of interruption of the course of study shall not in itself overcome this presumption.” Nonresident students who enter any campus of the University of Hawai‘i may not be allowed to change his/her residency status from nonresident to resident during any period in which he/she:

 

1.     is enrolled for six (6) or more credits at any institution of higher learning in Hawai‘i;

2.     was absent from Hawai‘i for more than 30 days per year during school vacation periods;

3.     received student financial aid assistance based on residency in another state; or

4.     was a dependent of nonresident parent(s) or legal guardian.

Board of Regents Exemptions