To verify Florida residency, documents must:

• Be current (dated within two months of submission)
• Match the primary or secondary parent/guardian’s full name and physical street address on the application

Note: Renewal students (received funds in 2025–26) still need valid documentation

Submitting documentation
All applications must have two different document types.

What “Current” Means
Documents must be:

• Dated within 30 days before or 30 days after the application submission date
• Exceptions: Annual or semi-annual documents (e.g., SSI, VA, insurance) must still reflect a valid timeframe
• “Submission date” = when you clicked Submit and your application entered Document Attached status

If You Don’t Have Standard Documents
You may submit a letter explaining your situation. The processing team will review and determine:

1. If your document can be accepted
2. Which column it qualifies under

Social Security Number

A social security number will need to be entered for you and your student.

Military Families

* If your student is a dependent child of an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and you or the secondary guardian have PCS orders to move into or out of the State of Florida, you must provide updated PCS orders and a recent Leave and Earnings Statement as Proof of Residency.

* Military families currently living in the state of Florida must provide any two Proof of Residency document types, excluding PCS and LES, and may provide documentation for the primary or secondary guardian.

Residency For Active-Duty Military Who Received Permanent Change of Station Orders To Move To Florida

Dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces who received Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to move to Florida but have not yet established Florida residency are eligible for the FES-UA program.

To provide proof of residency, you must:

• Upload Leave and Earnings Statement and PCS orders Ensure the physical Florida address in the parent or guardian profile matches the Florida unit address listed on the PCS orders.
• Contact Step Up For Students at (877) 735-7837 once Florida residency is established to upload an updated proof of residency document

You may also visit our Military Families page for more details.

Residency For Active-Duty Military Who Are Stationed Outside of Florida

Renewal applicants for the FES-UA program whose parent or guardian is stationed outside of Florida are eligible if their home of record or state of legal residence is still Florida.

To provide proof of residency, you must:

• List the address of the Florida base from which you were relieved in your parent or guardian profile.
• Upload your PCS orders
• Confirm that your home of record or legal residence remains in Florida by uploading your Leave and Earnings Statement

You may also visit our Military Families page for more details.

Important: A parent or guardian with a legal domicile in Florida but who are currently on orders to another state is not eligible to apply for the scholarship for the first time. Previous ties to Florida, such as having lived in the state or holding a past Florida identification card, are not sufficient for eligibility. Applicants must demonstrate current Florida residency at the time of application.