The U.S. Department of Education officially released the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on November 21, 2024, ten days ahead of its expected December 1 launch date. FAFSA provides students access to federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities, serving as a crucial resource for millions striving to pursue higher education without financial barriers.
Traditionally released on October 1, this year’s FAFSA launch was delayed due to a strategic overhaul aimed at addressing recurring technical issues and ensuring a seamless experience for applicants. To achieve this, officials pushed the release date to December 1, allowing extra time for testing and troubleshooting.
To assist students, Federal Student Aid has released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), one of which is: What is my date of legal residency? Here’s how to determine it:
How to determine your date of legal residency?
According to the official Federal Student Aid website, students should provide the month and year they became a legal resident of the state they reported as their state of legal residence.
- If born in the state: Enter the month and year of birth.
- If not born in the state: Enter the month and year they began living there.
When entering this information:
- Use the “mm” format for the month (e.g., “03” for March).
- Use the “yyyy” format for the year (e.g., “2015” instead of “15”).
This data helps determine whether students meet their state’s criteria for financial aid. Since each state defines legal residency differently, it is crucial to contact the financial aid office of the college, career school, or trade school for assistance with permanent address-related questions.
For more details, students are advised to visit the official website of the Federal Student Aid.
