Become a South Dakota Resident

Sign up for our mail forwarding service now to begin the process.

Get your SD residency in 3 easy steps.

If you’re ready to get the ball rolling on your residency (and on saving tax money), you’ve come to the right place. You can easily become a South Dakota resident in just three steps. When you choose SDRC as your mail forwarding provider, we’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.

Secure your physical address in South Dakota.

Getting proof of your new address in South Dakota is simple – all you have to do is show that you have secured a personal mailbox with a local mailbox provider like us. Head over to our mail services page now to secure one of our four mailbox packages, then simply keep a record of our mail forwarding agreement to bring in to the DMV when you sign up for your residency.

Stay one night at a South Dakota address.

You can fulfill this requirement by spending one night at our beautiful, 5-star Spearfish KOA Campground that is open year-around for camping and/or lodging, located in Spearfish, SD in the Northern Black Hills. Or, you can stay at any other hotel or campground in the state of South Dakota for the required overnight stay.

Get your residency.

Your final step in the residency process (besides switching over any insurance policies and registering to vote) will be actually showing up to the DMV. We’ve compiled a handy list of necessary documents below, and we strongly recommend that you have ALL of these in-hand ahead of your visit to South Dakota (especially the notarized residency affidavit, since that can be harder to do last minute).

Your South Dakota touchpoint.

Use this page as your starting block for understanding the process and gathering the materials you need. If you have any questions, simply reach out to our team and we’ll be happy to help.

What to Bring:

Spearfish KOA Campground Receipt (or other South Dakota campground or hotel receipt) with your name(s) and NEW South Dakota address on it.
Notarized Residency Affidavit (this can be notarized at the DMV)
Receipt Proving Mail Service Agreement with SDRC
Passport or Birth Certificate (original only, no photocopy)
Proof of Social Security Number. Could be any of the following:
- Your social security card.
- W-2 form.
- SSA-1099 form.
- Non-SSA-1099 form.
- Pay stub with your name and Social Security number on it.
- Social Security Administration documents establishing that you are ineligible for a Social Security number.
Proof of any name change.
- Certified Marriage Certificate – for all marriages
- Certified Adoption Document
- Certified Court Order authorizing a name change (divorce decree)
Prior State Driver’s License (to surrender)
One piece of mail with your new address on it. If you do not, bring the receipt / invoice proving you have a mail service agreement with the SD Residency Center.

Ready to start the process?
Sign up for our mail service now.

Or, contact us to begin at any step.

Wendy Dutwin

11:20 10 Apr 24

I don’t even know where to begin with my praise for South Dakota Residency Center!! I’ve been living in Paris, France... as an American expat and the team that manages my taxes in the U.S. and France as well as my retirement accounts have been trying to move my residency out of California after 20+ years for over a year now. It’s a lot more complicated than one would think because CA is what is known as a “sticky state” and there are a lot of moving parts, a lot of steps that have to happen in a certain order in France and then in the U.S. to be compliant in both countries. Lynne could not have been more patient or nicer during this almost year long process on my end. When I was finally ready to tackle the U.S. piece, I had researched other options, but none of them offered what SD Residency Center does and none of them had the amazing Lynne. Whether you take the whole package of mail and residency, or take their services à la carte, this is the place to go! Lynne really knows her stuff and is super nice at the same time! I truly do not know how she’s able to be so nice and have such valuable information at her fingertips all day long because if you keep reading all the other five star reviews, she’s clearly like that with everyone. I’m sure she gets the same questions over and over all day and still showed up for me as if I were her only client. She’s truly the best. On top of it, I did hit a snag with two of my financial institutions and rather than Lynne saying “Oh well, I don’t know what to tell you”, she brainstormed with me and we came up with an excellent workaround!! Everything is running smoothly now!! I could not be happier with this arrangement and I’m so excited to go to South Dakota to get my drivers license in a couple of months. I’m going to hang out in Sioux Falls and I’m going to get a new library card! I just can’t rave enough about this incredible state that offers an option for people like us who travel all over the world, but are still American citizens. But even more than that, I can’t rave enough about Lynne, who streamlines the process and explains it step by meticulous step so there are no mistakes and no stress in doing it. I’m so happy to be a client of the South Dakota Residency Center!read more

Tori Emrie

14:45 08 Mar 24

I cannot speak highly enough about this business and wonderful Lynne. I submitted an online inquiry and Lynne got back... to me the next business day. She was so helpful and informative. The process was so streamlined and Lynne provided such informative follow up emails that it made everything so easy and stress free; which I am extremely grateful.read more

Bob Coleman

21:28 12 Feb 24

We have been customers for nearly one year. The process of becoming a resident and customer was exactly as advertised... by SDRC. The services we selected have been performed VERY efficiently and at a fair price. Occasions for forwarding items have been executed flawlessly. Advice I solicited from Lynn regarding forwarding vs. scanning has saved time and money. This "A" team is one you want to be linked up with! THANK YOU!read more

Kelli Cooper

17:21 10 Dec 23

My husband and I have been full time travelers for many years, but it was only recently we became aware of the handful... of states that allow people like ourselves to establish residency. Switching our residency to SD made good sense for so many reasons. I did a lot of research on the process, and different providers, and I found this business to be the most helpful in answering my questions. The owner Lynne is so friendly and informative, and their fees are also a lot lower than many other operators.We have been using the SD Residency Center for almost two months now and we are so happy with it. Setting up the mailbox was extremely easy and was done very quickly once we submitted the necessary paperwork. Based on the expected arrival of various pieces of mail, I can tell they upload everything pretty much as soon as it arrives. My forwarding requests have also been taken care of very promptly. Having used a virtual mail service before that I wasn't as happy with, I know they are essentially only as good as the local operator handling your account, and this is a great choice for anyone who needs this service in SD.read more

Jesse

17:16 25 Nov 23

I've been an expatriate for several years. My previous driver's license was set to expire last year. Through some... foolish mishaps on my part, I no longer had a permanent address in the USA that I could use to get a new license, and so I needed to either return to the state I no longer lived in to renew mine or establish residency in another state--preferably a tax-friendly one. I'm glad I found SDRC, as Lynne and the team were very helpful and able to answer lots of questions regarding my predicament. They are experts on the process and requirements (and benefits!) of becoming a South Dakota resident. I was able to become a resident and get my license in a day. Fast and easy process, no surprises. Thank you SDRC!read more

John Mortola

17:22 07 Sep 23

These guys are the best! We've been using SDRC for over a year and couldn't be more happy with their service. Small... town friendly and personal combined with current tech and great internet support. HIGHLY recommend.read more

Herman Wells

17:51 10 Jun 23

We found out about South Dakota Residency Center several years ago when their office was located in Spearfish City... proper. While staying at the local KOA, we were handed an information brochure about the Center. We were already considering selling and leaving our residence and so we drove over and talked to the folks. Let me tell you, nothing less than a polite, thoughtful, and professional conversation about what the center had to offer and how to become a South Dakota resident. The following year we decided to sell. We immediately contacted the Center and received a packet via email. We had questions and they took the time to answer our questions. Establishing a personal mail box was seamless and easy. The folks at the Center are incredible. They always answered the phone, were on station when we personally visited, always friendly, just a great business! Everything we were told about establishing a residency was spot on. Just cannot say how happy I am about the service. One word of advice and that is to take a close look at your mail requirements before establishing the service. Talk to the folks at the center, they can help ensure you get the service you need that will meet your needs and save you money.read more

Laura Sweeney

02:55 06 Jun 23

I had known for a long time that I wanted to become a South Dakotan because my heart was in this beautiful state, which... houses nomads like myself. I read the instructions that had been shared with me by the South Dakota Residency Center. I made certain that I gathered all of the required documents, spent a week in South Dakota, and then scheduled an appointment at a SD DMV, where the employees kindly assisted me. The day of the meeting at the DMV, I called Lynne once again for some last-minute directions and advice. Everything went very well because I adhered to the advice of the South Dakota Residency Center. I appreciate how Lynne was there for me, even at the last moment. I successfully changed my domicile in the 30 minutes in which I was at the DMV. I want to thank Lynne, the South Dakota Residency Center, and the people of SD for their guidance and support!read more

Richard Waldorf

16:49 13 Apr 23

My wife and I have lived in Belize for about 1 year now. South Dakota Residency Center has been amazing. I do not know... how we could be doing what we are doing without them. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM!!!!read more

Michael Stefanski

22:42 30 Mar 23

Started using the service a few months ago as part of becoming a full time traveler. Mail has been handled quickly and... with no issues. The information provided to help get my drivers license was spot on and saved a potential hassle. Lynne is the greatest.read more

Lotus Fairy

22:41 28 Feb 23

We found SDRC in late 2021 by watching their YouTube video on their services, we found it to be very clear and... accessible for doing our residency in SD. We have worked with their staff since then and they are all a treasure a gem! This is not your ordinary business - they truly are caring people and go THE EXTRA MILE for you! This is more than just a service, it has community and feeling of pride and care for their SD culture and community. We continue to hire them for other services and they are truly amazing. 10 stars if I could give them!read more

Jeff Galbraith

22:35 31 Oct 22

Ladies in the office were great to work with. Got our new mailbox set up in no time. They made sure we had everything... we needed to set up our residency. Added bonus was Duke, the office Shepard. Thank you all for your assistance.read more

Damon Hartmann

18:48 03 Oct 22

Lynne was very, very helpful. The two people in front of me at the DMV were rejected due to paperwork errors. For my... turn, with Lynne's prepping, I was done in 10 minutes and walked out with a SD driver's license. Thank you Lynne! You're the best. I have referred several people to you.read more

Kyle Mandy

20:15 23 Jun 22

Amazing staff. We had a smooth process the past year and had all our questions answered promptly. Lynne is warm,... personable and her service is just outstanding!!read more

Barbie Zabielski

19:07 09 Jun 22

The absolute best! I'm a US citizen living in Kazakhstan for my husband's work, and I have no idea what we would do... without South Dakota Residency Center. Lynne is just a Godsend. So responsive, always willing to help, and just a great person. The prices are also incredible.read more

HJ F

05:34 03 Jun 22

Just as everyone else says, Lynne is a treasure! Her communications are friendly, helpful, and timely.SDRC made the... whole process of becoming a South Dakotan easy, with a clear checklist of what needs to be done, names and phone numbers of people who can help, and valuable advice along the way. To be fair, everyone in our new home state has been awesome (even people at the DMV and treasurer’s office!).We stayed in a cabin at the Spearfish KOA campground, and found it to be very comfortable and clean. Check-in was a breeze, even arriving after hours. Cindy, in the campground management office, is also another SDRC gem: friendly and helpful.The mail services have worked seamlessly while we travel and wait for our retirement home to be built. It is nice not to have anxiety about missing mail. The mail management app is easy to use. So far, all actions requested to date (scan/shred) have been carried out within a day or two.I’m sure a downside would make this a more balanced review, but we haven’t run into any downsides yet. I highly recommend SDRC and their services.read more

Steve Pletscher

23:30 10 May 22

I have been working with Lynne at SDRC to establish a SD residency. Because I have had many "irons in the fire", it... took me awhile to get to everything - almost a year. Despite asking the same questions multiple times over that extended time period, Lynne was always very helpful, polite and willing to (re)explain. The phone is answered readily and responses are very timely. I am very appreciative of the service I have received at SDRC.read more

Digital Nomad

12:55 07 May 22

This is my 3rd virtual mailbox and this is the best one I have had. Lynne is super helpful and I appreciate it very... much. You will not find a more organized and trustworthy place to receive your personal mail and documents while you are away. I have had nothing less than 5 star service from Lynne and I would not hesitate to recommend.read more

Philip Durkin

16:10 09 Feb 22

This service does not meet the residency requirements needed to register for SD IRP (prorate) license plates. Just be... aware if you are trying to come here for that reason.read more

diane rich

15:07 08 Feb 22

I am so grateful that as I was contemplating traveling full time I was connected with this incredible service. All of... my concerns were addressed in one simple solution, SDRC. The mail service and information regarding becoming a SD resident, registration of camper van, and obtaining a SD driver’s license allowed me to legally take care of everything and leave concerns and worries behind.Not only is this a comprehensive solution to all of the issues you will face when committing to this lifestyle, you will not find a nicer more knowledgeable group of people. Every interaction I have had with them has left me with a smile. Patsy, Lynn, MaKenna, and Dane are just lovely individuals who are always willing to take the time needed to solve any problem you can come up with. It’s always such a joy to connect with them.You simply can’t go wrong signing up for this wonderful service!read more

Trang T

22:21 08 Dec 21

I had the best experience working with South Dakota Residency Center thanks to Lynne. She is an amazing lady who knows... her stuff. She helped me to setup my PMB and then detailed the steps for the overnight stay and trip to the DMV with the necessary documents. For anyone interested in establishing South Dakota residency fast, please speak with Lynne and follow her steps exactly. She's a wealth of information and has helped thousands of people. Thank you Lynne for offering such amazing service and being just the sweetest person to work with. I would highly recommend using South Dakota Residency Center and staying at their campground to establish your residency.read more

Oldwrench Spanner

15:47 24 Nov 21

This is the place to start your SD residency...I had problems online...a call to Patsy @ SDRC quickly solved all my... worries...great customer service...Thanks Patsy !!!!read more

Nancy K Allen

20:50 02 Jul 21

From beginning to end, Lynne held our hands and assured us of all the steps that we needed to take to become South... Dakota residents. We love the Black Hills so coming back to renew our drivers license will be a pleasure! I highly recommend using this mail service if you love excellent customer care and a super easy system to use. Have fun traveling!read more

Carrie Ann

00:35 27 Jun 21

Highly recommend working with Lynne and her staff at South Dakota Residency Center. Very helpful every step of the way.... Price is nice too. Very convenient to come and pick up my mail too.read more

Kristin Frieling

17:01 23 Jun 21

Yesterday our family became South Dakota residents and are SO VERY GRATEFUL to Lynne (she is THE BEST!!) as well as... everyone at South Dakota Residency Center for walking with us these past few months to help us bring that to fruition. I am a woman of MANY questions and Lynne was patient, knowledgeable and readily available. Words can't express how excited our family is to begin this new adventure of being full-time RV-ers and we HIGHLY recommend SDRC to anyone else who is also considering this path. We look forward to working with Lynne and SDRC for years to come! :) :) :)read more

Diana Henke

21:27 20 Jun 21

Lynne has been a wealth of information for us as we transition our residency to South Dakota. The process to set up... mailbox was simple, great info on the website for all other services in the area such as driver license transfer. Highly recommend the SD Residency Center!read more

Laurie Tibbles

21:58 13 Jun 21

Lynn called us back on the weekend and was super nice and very helpful! Took her time to explain things to us and... helped us feel comfortable about the process.read more

Anita Martindale

02:57 02 Jun 21

I'm really happy that i chose SD Residency Center for my mail forwarding service. Lynne is the most helpful and... pleasant person. Any time i have a question, she is right there to help and guide me. Their pricing is very reasonable. Thank you Lynne for all your help.read more

Darrell Brown

13:46 04 May 21

Great service, easy to sign up, and just had some mail forwarded to my current location.

John Jenkins

00:25 28 Apr 21

Lynn is the person for me! She will guide you through this effortlessly. Great experience. I spent the night at the... KOA. I had residence the next day with drivers license and plates. It is worth the effort.read more

Mark K

14:27 30 Mar 21

The folks at SD Residency Center cannot be more helpful in setting up residency. I would recommend anyone choosing to... make SD their domicile state to work through the process with Lynne.read more

Drake Clifton

05:07 30 Mar 21

Absolute 5 star service here. Lynne is a delight in helping and answering all of your questions, she will walk you... through and through the SD residency process, and will make you sure you know exactly what to bring to the DMV.This isn't any old company, they really love what they do here, and love helping you out! it shows!I'm now on my way to becoming a resident of the freedom state, South Dakota! Woo!read more

James Vogt

04:49 30 Mar 21

Amazingly great customer service as I setup my virtual mail box and plans for SD residency. Virtual mail box is working... great!read more

Laurie VanFossen

19:24 05 Mar 21

Lynne is amazing and what true customer service is all about, she was so helpful answering my questions and getting me... set up with a mailbox. Highly recommend this company.read more

Anon Ymous

14:34 19 Feb 21

Lynne assisted me with getting my mail established in SD and the process was easy! One happy customer! 5/5

Brian King

06:26 16 Feb 21

Quick and easy. I emailed a question and got a return phone call in 30 minutes. Impressive

Rusty Nickerson

10:25 15 Feb 21

SDRC the total 5 star package for fast reliable service when you need to have your mail scanned to you is awesome and... convenient. I like they have plans reasonable priced for us traveling and still working on the road.read more

Kathleen Novicky

04:34 12 Feb 21

Lynne does an amazing job with responding to all your questions quickly and accurately. Establishing my residency was a... smooth and flawless process with her help!read more

Jules Duquette

20:04 22 Dec 20

Lynne was amazing. You get a helping hand throughout the entire process here. It's not some nameless company. They... actually care about you and will help you answer any questions you have about the process of being a South Dakota Resident!I can honestly say their help was crucial. Their list that they give you of documents to bring includes having a piece of mail to the new address, the DMV doesn't have this that I could find on their site. But they do require it when you go in.I cannot recommend their service highly enough!read more

Robbie Burns

00:22 08 Dec 20

Easy peasy! Lynne guided us through the mailing address forwarding process, the first step in establishing SD... residency. She then directed us to DMV for drivers licensing and DOR for vehicle registration. Our questions were answered quickly during our initial phone call and follow up emails with phone numbers and additional info. Overall, a VERY pleasant experience and one we’d recommend to anyone looking to domicile in SD. Thank you South Dakota Residency Center!!!read more

James LeGrand

02:05 22 Oct 20

Fantastic customer service. Nobody likes paper work but SDRC made the whole process as straightforward as possible.... They'll help you become a proud South Dakota resident in no time.read more

Tammie Haseleu

14:36 14 Oct 20

Lynne is amazing! She went above and beyond for me when I had an important package coming and was driving a long... distance! Stellar customer service!read more

Roger Noel

20:26 09 Sep 20

Thank you Lynne for your outstanding customers service. I had an important letter on the way to me and asked Lynne to... watch for it. She caught it the day it came to them, notified me, asked me how to send it and got it to me right away! Every email request I've made is responded to immediately in a professional manner. I could not be more happy with the customers service I've received from Lynn.read more

Alda Pontes

20:49 07 Sep 20

Love the service! They’re kind, they go the extra mile and will even call you if you’re shredding a paycheck!!!