Certificate of Residence
(No Fee Required)

The Office of the City Clerk has available an application for Certificate of Residence. You can download the application from this page, pick one up at the City Clerk's office, or give us a call at (518) 270-4541 to have one mailed to you. You must bring the completed form and Accepted Forms of Proof to the City Clerk’s Office for signature and seal. NO FEE REQUIRED.

A Certificate of Residence is issued by this office exclusively for a student living in Troy and attending Hudson Valley Community College. Students living in other towns, etc., must go to the clerk in that municipality. Those applying to other community colleges should be referred to the Rensselaer County Finance Department.

Eligibility
To be eligible for a Certificate of Residence you must be:

1. a continuous resident of NYS for at least one year immediately preceding your date of application, AND
2. a continuous resident of Troy for at least six months immediately preceding your date of application.

Requirements

Applicant must fill out the Certificate of Residence from our office or the form provided by HVCC. We need the student’s permanent legal residence with accurate address.

Acceptable Proof

1. Each document must be dated and include your name and physical street address. Documents with a post office box will not suffice.
2. Identification must show proof of New York State Residency for 12 months AND Troy Residency for 6 months. A New York State Drivers license issued 12 months prior to the date of application will fulfill the requirement for both as long as the applicant’s address submitted to the College is the same.
3. If applicant has not been a resident in the City of Troy for the full 6 months immediately preceding application, the City Clerk can pro-rate residency for a portion of the last six months. However, the STUDENT will be responsible for obtaining the certificate for the other portion of time from the other municipality in which they lived.
4. Non-citizens are required to document their resident status.
5. No claim of residency will be accepted solely on your testimony or that of your parents, relatives, friends or other individuals. Students under the age of 18 must provide a school transcript or report card showing enrollment in the Troy or Lansingburgh School Districts.
6. The standard of proof will not be compromised because you have left yourself insufficient time to obtain acceptable proof.

Examples of Acceptable Proof

1. Driver’s license, car registration, insurance card (look at issue dates, not expiration dates on these items)
2. Transcripts or report cards
3. Bank statements
4. Utility bills
5. Medical records, prescriptions
6. Formal lease or letter on letterhead from your landlord indicating dates of tenancy
7. Dated mail or postmarked envelopes
8. Income tax return with preprinted label or W2’s
9. Pay stubs with name and address

If you were born outside the United States:

1. Naturalization papers
2. Birth certificate indicating U.S. citizenship of parents
3. Immigration papers indicating permanent resident status

Processing Certificate of Residence

1. Student to fill out application
2. Clerk’s Office to check proof and photocopy each form of proof
3. Applicant to sign
4. Clerk’s office will sign, photocopy and record all Certificates of Residency issued. However, students must show proof and sign a new Certificate for every semester they are enrolling. The Clerk’s Office WILL NOT look up former records.

As per Education Law Article 126 Section 6305, if the City of Troy refuses to issue such a certificate on the grounds that required proof of residency has not been met, you may appeal to the Chancellor of the State University. The Chancellor shall make a determination after a hearing and, upon ten days notice to the City of Troy, this determination shall be final and binding.