Apply for a Certificate of Residence

Students must submit this application and proof of residency to their home county. The student may show residency through ANY ONE of the options below.

I. One piece of documentation which shows both one year of residency in New York State from the date of this application and six months residency in your home county from the date of this application.

A county must accept one piece of evidence if it is able to show that the student has been both a resident of the State of New York for one year, as well as a resident of the county for six months. For example, this could take the form of a driver’s license that was issued at least a year ago showing that the student’s address is both in the county and in the State of New York.

II. Two pieces of documentation:

1. One piece showing residency in New York State for a year from the date of this application
2. One piece showing residency in your home county for six months from the date of this application

If the student is unable to show both one year in New York State and six months in the county in one document, then the student may provide two separate documents: one showing residence in New York State for a year and one document showing residence in the county for six months. 

III. Alternative Means of Providing Proof of Residency

1. Parental Documentation
   • If a student is a dependent aged 24 or younger, they may utilize documentation from their parent(s) or guardian(s) to show proof of residency. Please follow the documentation instructions as above.
2. High School Documentation
   • If a student begins at a community college within one year from the date of graduation from a New York public school district which is located solely within the county limits of a single county, then such county must accept such public school district attendance as acceptable proof of residence for the purpose of this application.
   • If a student enrolls in a community college while still in high school, then confirmation from the high school of the student’s address of record must be accepted as proof of residence for the purpose of this application.

• Driver’s license or other state or federally issued I.D. which lists address
• USPS Change of Address form
• Voter Registration Card
• Form IT-201 NYS resident income tax form
• FAFSA or NYS TAP documentation if address is listed
• Car registration 
• Property tax bill or other tax bill showing proof of address
• High school transcript
• Bank statement
• Prior year income tax return
• Utility bill
• School Tool Profile
• Social Services Documentation if address is listed
• VISA or other immigration documentation showing U.S. citizenship/New York domicile

Other documents not listed may be acceptable in certain circumstances.

If you are not a citizen, you must provide a copy of your Alien Registration Receipt Card (green card) in addition to all the documentation listed above.

Note: Non-immigrants are grouped in categories depending on the type of visa presented at the port of entry. Non-immigrants admitted to the United States in categories that prohibit them from establishing a United States residence are not eligible for resident tuition. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, an undocumented alien cannot be charged a lower rate of tuition than an out of state student who is a citizen of the United States.

Stationed in New York State, Living in Ulster County

You qualify if:

• You are a full-time, active duty member of the US Armed Forces stationed in New York State OR
• You are the spouse or dependent of a full-time,  active duty member of the US Armed forces stationed in New York State

Stationed Out-of-State,  "Home of Record" is Ulster County 

• Your parent or legal guardian is a full-time, active member of the US Armed Forces
• You are a dependent of that parent or legal guardian
• You submit proof that your parent or legal guardian's "Home of Record" is in Ulster County, NY

Required Documents

To prove you meet either of the above scenarios, you must submit copies of the active duty member's:

• PCS orders 
• ID card
• DD214
• Proof of Ulster County Residency and/or Home of Record

If you have resided in Ulster County for less than 6 months, you may receive a partial Certificate of Residence from Ulster County and apply for a partial Certificate of Residence from another county or counties.