NEVADA RESIDENCY STATUS

The Board of Regents establishes Nevada residency for tuition purposes regulations. For admitted degree-seeking graduate students, your residency status is determined at the time of admission to a degree-seeking program and is indicated in your official Letter of Admission from the Graduate College. Non-degree-seeking graduate students will generally be classified as out-of-state until and unless Nevada residency is determined via the residency application process. If your residency status is not “Nevada,” you will be assessed out-of-state tuition.

  1. Are you a citizen of the United States, a U.S. permanent resident, or a resident alien?

    2. If YES, GO TO # 2

    If NO, STOP HERE. You will not qualify for Nevada residency unless you have official asylum or refugee status, or a permanent or temporary resident alien card, or hold an approved immigration petition because of marriage to a U.S. citizen.

  2. Did you attend UNLV as an undergraduate? If NO, GO TO # 3

    If YES, did you receive reduced tuition benefits under *WUE or **Good Neighbor? If NO, GO TO #3

    If YES, you may qualify for Nevada residency if you are able to provide proof that you have made a permanent relocation to Nevada. GO TO #3 to see if you may qualify for Nevada residency.

    *WUE: This is a reduced tuition benefit program for undergraduates only. This benefit is not available to graduate students.

    **GOOD NEIGHBOR: This is a reduced tuition benefit program for students who are residents of specific counties not located in Nevada.

  3. Answer the following questions:

    1. Are you a graduate of a Nevada high school?
    2. Have you ever attended an NSHE institution other than UNLV as a Nevada resident?
    3. Are you a Native American residing on tribal lands located in Nevada?
    4. Are you, your spouse, or parent/legal guardian a member of the Armed Forces stationed in Nevada?
    5. Were you a resident of Nevada prior to becoming a member of the Armed Forces?
    6. Are you, your spouse, or parent/legal guardian a full-time employee of a Nevada public school district?
    7. Are you, your spouse, or parent/legal guardian a full-time teacher in an NRS 394:130 approved private elementary, secondary, or post-secondary institution in Nevada?
    8. Are you, your spouse, or parent/legal guardian employed at least half-time by the NSHE?
    9. Did you, your spouse, or parent/legal guardian relocate to Nevada for full-time employment purposes?

    If you, your spouse, parent, or legal guardian answered YES to ONE  of the above questions, you may qualify for Nevada residency. Please complete the Nevada Residency Application for the corresponding letter (CATEGORIES  A–I) for which you responded YES and submit it with all the required documentation.

    If you did not answer YES to any question in #3:

    • Did you, your spouse, parent, or legal guardian file this year’s income tax return or extension request from a Nevada address?
    • Do you, your spouse, parent, or legal guardian have a valid Nevada Driver’s License, or Nevada Vehicle Registration, or Nevada Voter’s Registration Card, or Nevada Identification Card, for at least 12 months?

    If YES to both questions, you may qualify for Nevada residency. GO TO # 4.

    If NO to any of the questions above questions, STOP HERE. You will not qualify for Nevada residency at this time. To be considered for Nevada residency, your most recent income tax return must be filed from a Nevada address and your current and valid Nevada driver’s license or vehicle registration or voter’s registration card or identification card must be at least 12 months old.

  4. Answer the following questions:
    • Have you been employed in Nevada or a *Graduate Assistant for the past 12 months?
      *Being a Graduate Assistant does not automatically make you a Nevada resident. While under contract as a Graduate Assistant, however, you will not pay out-of-state tuition. If your contract is not renewed you will be assessed out-of-state tuition. Therefore, you are encouraged to establish Nevada residency as soon as possible if you are a non-resident Graduate Assistant.
    • Have you rented an apartment for the past 12 months? If so, can you provide proof?
    • Do you have utility bills in your name? (i.e., water, electric, gas, or cable) for the past twelve months?
    • Have you had a Nevada cell phone number with a Nevada billing address for the past 12 months?
    • Do you have a Nevada bank account from a Nevada bank with a Nevada address for the past 12 months?
    • Do you pay property taxes in Nevada?
    • Do you have a current license for conducting business in Nevada?
    • Do you have admission to a licensed practicing profession in Nevada?
    • Do you have a Selective Service Registration showing a Nevada address?

    If you answered YES to any four of the above questions, you may qualify for Nevada residency. Please complete the Nevada Residency Application for Category K: Financially Independent and submit it with all required documentation.

    If you are not Financially Independent

    • Has your spouse, parent(s) or legal guardian(s) lived in Nevada for the past 12 months?
    • Did your spouse, parent(s) or legal guardian(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return?
    • Can your spouse, parent(s) or legal guardian(s) answer YES to any four of the questions listed in #4 (A-I)?

    If you answered YES to all three of the above questions, you may qualify for Nevada residency for tuition purposes. Please have your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) complete the Nevada Residency Application for Category J: Financially Dependent and submit it with all the required documentation.

    STOP HERE if you were claimed as a dependent and you did not answer YES to all three of the questions above. You will not qualify for Nevada residency under the Financially Dependent category at this time. Under this category, your spouse, parents, or legal guardian must have lived in Nevada for the past year; filed an income tax return from Nevada; claimed you as a dependent; hold a current and valid Nevada driver’s license or vehicle registration or voter’s registration card or identification card that is at least 12 months; and be able to provide four different pieces of evidence showing that they have resided in Nevada for at least one year at the time your Nevada Residency Application is submitted.

Questions?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page.

To apply for residency, download and complete the Nevada Residency Application (PDF). Please send the completed application and ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION to:

UNLV Office of Admissions
Attn:  John Jacobs/Graduate Student Residency Applications
4505 S. Maryland Parkway 
Box 451021
Las Vegas, NV 89154-1021

Campus Location: Student Services Complex, Building B (SSC-B)
Phone: 702-774-8658
Fax: 702-774-8008
john.jacobs@unlv.edu


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