Residency

This section contains questions regarding your citizenship and state of legal residence. These questions determine whether you are classified as a Texas resident or a non-resident.

TMDSAS confirms residency classifications for admission purposes only, not for tuition, which is reviewed at the time of matriculation on the school's end. 

Let’s discuss the process for confirming residency and what information is required of you.

Quick Links:

Texas Residency Rules Proof of Residency Supporting Documents You'll Need to Upload

Understanding the Residency Determination Process Residency Appeals Non-US Citizens or Permanent Residents

As you delve into the specifics of Texas residency below, you can use this video from our recent workshop series as a companion.

 

---

Texas Residency Rules and Regulations

During processing, an applicant liaison will review your application in greater detail to either confirm or change the system’s residency classification. Each TMDSAS applicant liaison is also a residency specialist who reviews and confirms residency classifications according to the Texas Education Code for establishing residency.

 

Timeline

Before you begin, take a look at the timeline used to confirm your Texas Residency status. You may be applying for entry into professional school for Fall of 2025 but in order to be confirmed as a Texas Resident, you need to establish and maintain Texas residency in the 12 month period leading up to the November 2024 TMDSAS Application deadline.

 

---

Proof of Residency

Bases for Claims of Texas Residency:

Option 1: Residency through Texas high school graduation

To establish residency through high school graduation, you must have: 

1. Graduated from a Texas high school or received a GED in Texas; and
2. Lived in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and
3. Lived in Texas continuously for the 12 months immediately preceding the application deadline.

This option for establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the US and to international students (with certain eligible visa types). 

 

Option 2: Residency by Establishing Domicile

To establish domicile, you or your parent(s) must meet the following criteria:

1. Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months by the application deadline; and
2. Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months prior to the application deadline, by doing one of the following:
   • Be gainfully employed in Texas (Definition)
   • Sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent's parent, having established and maintained a domicile at the residence
   • Own and operate a business in Texas
   • Be married for one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas

If you file taxes as an independent...	If your parents claim you as a dependent...
You may gain resident status if you establish domicile in the state.	Your parents must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.

 

 

What is Gainful Employment? Gainful employment is employment intended to provide an income to a person or allow a person to avoid the expense of paying another person to perform the tasks (as in child care) that is sufficient to provide at least one-half of the individuals' tuition and living expenses or that represents an average of at least twenty hours of employment per week. A person who is self-employed, employed as a homemaker or who is living off his/her earnings may be considered gainfully employed for tuition purposes, as may a person whose primary support is public assistance. Employment conditioned on student status, such as work study, the receipt of stipends, fellowships, or research or teaching assistantships does not constitute gainful employment.

 

Supporting Documentation:

Once you submit your application, you may receive a request to upload specific residency documents. This information is required in order to process your application. It is best to upload your residency documents as soon as you receive an email request or a message in the portal. Taking swift action on these document requests will help you avoid delays in the processing of your application.

Click here for a list of documents that prove the establishment of residency through domicile. Have these documents ready so that you can upload them in the portal after submission.

 

---

Residency Confirmation Process

1. Initial System Classification:
   • The application generates an initial classification when the residency section of the application is complete, based on your responses. This classification is automatic and computer generated. This classification is not final.
   • Based on your answers to the Residency section questions, you may be asked to upload Specific Documents within the application portal after submission.
2. During Processing, Application Reviewed:
   • While processing your application, TMDSAS staff will review the initial classification along with an in-depth review of all components of your application, including your uploaded documents. If more information is needed to substantiate a claim of residency, your applicant liaison will message you, and you will be required to provide them in a timely manner. Please refrain from inquiring about your documents until your applicant liaison has messaged you.
3. Residency Review:
   • TMDSAS will review the submitted documents and make an official confirmation accordingly.
4. Residency Appeals:
   • If TMDSAS confirms that you are a non-Texas resident, you have the option to appeal.
   • Please refer to our policies for information regarding the Residency Appeals. To initiate the process, follow the steps below.

 

---

Residency Appeals Process

The TMDSAS Residency Review Committee will review all appeals on a case-by-case basis and will make a residency confirmation that is final. 

• Beginning an Appeal:
  • Include your name and TMDSAS ID #
  • Provide justification for how you meet one of the requirements for Texas residency as listed above.
  • Attach supporting documentation as listed here 
• Click here to initiate an appeal.
• How long does the residency appeal process take?
  
  • Residency appeal decisions will be made up to 15 business days after receipt of all required information and documentation.

 

---

Non-US Citizens or Permanent Residents

For Permanent Residents or Visa Holders:

Applicants who are not U.S citizens MUST provide TMDSAS with a copy of their Permanent Resident card or Visa stamp in their passport. Your application will NOT be processed without this documentation. You must upload these directly to the application. A non-U.S citizen must indicate their country of citizenship and complete the required information regarding their Visa. If your Permanent Resident card has no expiration date, enter the expiration date as ten years from the issue date. Foreign national applicants whose application for Permanent Resident Status has been preliminarily reviewed should have received a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action (I-797) from USCIS indicating the I-485 has been reviewed and has not been rejected. These applicants must submit a copy of the fee/filing receipt or Notice of Approval to TMDSAS. This documentation can be uploaded directly to the application.

If the submitted information indicates you aren’t a U.S. citizen or permanent resident but that you may qualify for residency based on Texas high school graduation, you will be prompted by the application to download and submit the Residency Affidavit. It must be completed, signed, notarized and submitted to TMDSAS. 

Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA): If you have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, you should select “None” when selecting your visa type/residency status. You will then indicate in the [Optional Question] at the end of the section that you have DACA status. You must also complete the Residency Affidavit, see that here.

Notice to applicants without U.S. citizenship or Permanent Resident status

The following medical schools will only review and consider for admissions applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal Permanent Residents of the U.S.: 

Dental

• UT School of Dentistry at Houston
• UT Dental School at San Antonio
• Texas Tech University Woody L. Hunt School of Dentistry

Medical

• Baylor College of Medicine
• John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB
• McGovern Medical School, UT Health at Houston
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso
• Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
• University of North Texas - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• UT Austin Dell Medical School
• UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical School 
• UT Tyler School of Medicine
• UT Rio Grande Valley School of Podiatric Medicine