Determining Residency Status of Dependent Students
Dependent students are students aged 23 or under and claimed on a parent/legal guardian's most recent tax return*.
A dependent student meets these requirements if their parent or U.S. Court-appointed guardian has established and maintained domicile in the state of Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for a given term, and the parent or U.S. Court-appointed guardian claimed the student as a dependent on their most recent State of Georgia tax return. Proving residency may require more than one of the items listed below.
Accepted Documentation (must be in the parent’s name):
- A copy of the parent/guardian's most recent State of Georgia tax return (GA Tax Form 500) showing the student was claimed on taxes
*If the parent/guardian did not file a Georgia income tax return for the most recent year, we require the birth certificate for the student showing the parent’s name, as well as requiring the parent/guardian to provide one of the documents listed below to prove they have maintained a permanent residence in Georgia for the past 12 consecutive months:
- A valid Georgia Driver's License or ID issued a year or more before the 1st day of class
- Georgia voter registration card showing registration 12 months or more before the term's starting date
- Location of employment (12 consecutive months of pay stubs with employee address)
- Current business, professional, or other licenses issued in Georgia (12-month requirement)
- Georgia automobile registration (current and previous year)
- Proof of purchase or rental of primary residence in Georgia (property tax paid or lease)
- Utility bills in the student's name showing 12 consecutive months of charges - (No cell phone bills)
Location of checking, savings, or other bank accounts (12 consecutive months of bank statements with the student's address)