Becoming a resident of Oregon is a process that takes time and planning. You’ll need to make sure that you have all the documents you need, and be ready to jump through a few hoops in order to register with the state.

Here’s what you need to know:

The first thing you need to do is find an Oregon-based landlord who is willing to rent out their apartment or home to you long-term—they may even help you find work in the area so that your chances of getting approved are greater. Once you’ve found a place, it’s important that you sign up for health insurance immediately if you don’t already have it.

Once this is done, there are several steps involved in becoming an Oregon resident:

1) Fill out Form OR-819 online at oregon.gov/dor/realestate/forms/forms.html and submit it with your payment via credit card or check within 30 days of moving into your new home; this form will allow you to register as a nonresident alien with the Department of Revenue. It also gives them permission to access certain information about your finances from other agencies without having to go through them directly (such as Social Security).

How To Become An Oregon Resident

Students with resident status are assessed in-state instructional fees, which are subsidized by funds from the State of Oregon’s Higher Education budget. Nonresident students are assessed a higher level of instructional fees that more closely approximates the actual cost of instruction. This guide is designed to help students understand the classification criteria and the process by which residency classification is determined.

Please read the Residency Guide & Procedures for a summary of classification consideration, or the Residency Standards for complete information.

Complete the Residence Information Affidavit to apply for Oregon resident status for tuition purposes. Printed versions of all documents are available from the Office of the Registrar in Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH) Lobby.

WHO IS CONSIDERED A RESIDENT?

Residency is determined in the evaluation of location of domicile, financial dependence or independence, primary purpose for living in Oregon, type and source of financial resources as well as other indicators.

You may be considered an Oregon resident if:

• You moved to Oregon for reasons other than to attend school – and – you have lived in Oregon for at least 12 months before the first day of the term in which resident status is sought at Portland State – and – you are financially independent.
• You are a member of the armed services assigned to duty and living in Oregon.
• You are an enrolled member of a Native American tribe which had traditional and customary tribal boundaries that included parts of the State of Oregon or which had ceded or reserved lands within the State of Oregon.
• You have been approved for permanent residency in the U.S. and meet all other domicile and financial conditions.
• You are financially dependent upon an Oregon resident who has been living in Oregon for at least 12 months has claimed you as a dependent for tax purposes.

You may be considered a nonresident if:

• You enrolled in a college or university more than eight hours per term within 12 months of moving to Oregon.
• Someone living in another state has claimed you as a dependent on state and/or federal tax returns.
• Your primary source of financial support comes from someone living outside Oregon.
• You are a nonresident alien possessing one of the following nonimmigrant or temporary visas: B, C, D, F, J, or M.

If you’re ready to apply for resident status for tuition purposes:

Go to the Residency Review page for a step-by-step guide to the process. The affidavit and all supporting documents and materials must be submitted by the end of the second week of the term in which resident status is sought.

WHO DETERMINES RESIDENCY CLASSIFICATION AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY?

The Portland State University Residency Officer determines residency classification. For residency related questions you can contact the Residency Officer in the following ways.

Drop-In Hours

In light of current guidance to diminish the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19, the Office of the Registrar is suspending in-person service beginning 3/16 until further notice. You can send all questions, documents, and requests for phone appointments to askres@pdx.edu.