Permanent Florida residency required on January 1. After you have created your online account and gathered the required documents necessary to qualify for the exemption that you are applying for.✓ Learn here today! If you're planning to claim a homestead exemption, you must first apply for a Florida driver's license. You must file a new application for your new residence. Homestead Exemption. What is a Homestead Exemption? Vehicle Registration - at least one of your vehicles must be registered in the state of Florida at the property address in an application.