Texas Residency

Residency Eligibility through Establishing Domicile

Residency by establishing a domicile in Texas is available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States and international students who hold an eligible visa. Non-citizens and non-permanent residents may also use this option if they have an application for permanent residency on file with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

If you are independent for tax purposes, you may gain resident status if you establish domicile in Texas.  If your parent/court appointed legal guardian claims you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in Texas for you to claim residency.

To establish domicile, the following criteria must be met:

1. Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months; and
2. Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months through one of the following methods:

• • Significant gainful employment  (Student jobs do not qualify as gainful employment.)
  • Ownership of residential real property in Texas
  • Marriage to a person who established and maintained domicile in Texas
    Ownership of a business entity