How to Get an Apostille in California
A complete walkthrough — what qualifies, when notarization is required, processing times, and how to expedite for urgent deadlines.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certification that makes a document from one country legally valid in another. It's required when you need to use an official document — a birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma, power of attorney, or business document — in a country that's part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
In California, apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State's office, which verifies that the notary or public official who signed your document holds a valid commission. Without an apostille, foreign governments, courts, and institutions will often refuse to accept your documents entirely.
Step 1 — Make sure your document qualifies
California can only apostille documents that were originally issued or notarized in California. If your document was issued in another state, you'll need to contact that state's Secretary of State for the apostille instead.
Common documents that qualify for a California apostille:
- Birth certificates (CA county)
- Death certificates (CA county)
- Marriage certificates (CA county)
- Divorce decrees (CA court)
- Single status affidavits
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits & declarations
- Consent letters
- Adoption documents
- Background check letters
- Diplomas (CA institutions)
- Official transcripts
- Degree certificates
- Enrollment letters
- Corporate formation docs
- Board resolutions
- Articles of incorporation
- Good standing certificates
Step 2 — Get your document notarized (if required)
Personal legal documents — powers of attorney, affidavits, consent letters, and similar instruments — must be notarized by a currently commissioned California Notary Public before the Secretary of State will issue an apostille.
Vital records issued directly by a government agency (birth, death, and marriage certificates from a California county clerk) typically do not require additional notarization — the issuing agency's seal is sufficient.
A common point of confusion about language
The notarial certificate attached to your document must be written in English, even if the underlying document is in another language. The document itself does not need to be translated. This trips up many applicants who pay for translation services before they're needed — and before they know whether translation is even required by the receiving country.
Step 3 — Submit to the California Secretary of State
Once your document is properly notarized (when required), it's submitted to the California Secretary of State's office, which verifies the notary's active commission and attaches the official apostille certificate.
There are two processing paths available:
| Processing type | Timeframe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ~3 business weeks | No urgent deadline |
| Expedited service | 3–5 business days | Visa appointments, overseas weddings, closings |
Processing times are subject to the California Secretary of State's current workload and may vary. If you have a firm deadline, expedited service is strongly recommended. The Notary Commander handles the entire process on your behalf — notarization, priority submission, tracked shipping both ways, and scanned copies returned to you.
How much does a California apostille cost?
Costs have two components: the California Secretary of State's per-document filing fee, and a service fee if you're using an apostille processing service to handle the submission and logistics.
The Notary Commander's expedited apostille service is $297 for the first document and $97 for each additional document. This all-in price includes:
- Mobile notary visit (we come to you)
- All document notarizations
- Priority submission to the Secretary of State
- Tracked shipping both ways
- Scanned copies of all completed documents returned to you
Common documents that need apostilles
For international marriage
Birth certificates, single status affidavits, divorce decrees, and background checks are commonly required when getting married abroad or registering a foreign marriage.
For living or working abroad
Background checks, FBI records, diplomas, transcripts, and employment documents are frequently required for visas, residency applications, and work permits in other countries.
For international business
Corporate formation documents, powers of attorney, board resolutions, and good standing certificates are often needed for international business transactions and foreign entity registrations.
For immigration and adoption
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and adoption documents are common requirements in international immigration and adoption proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Does my foreign-language document need to be translated before getting an apostille?
No. The document itself does not need to be in English. The notarial certificate attached to it must be in English, but the underlying document can remain in its original language. Do not pay for translation services unless the country receiving your document specifically requires an English translation.
Can I apostille a document issued in another state?
No. California can only apostille documents that were issued or notarized in California. A New York birth certificate, for example, must be apostilled by the New York Secretary of State — not California.
What if I need multiple documents apostilled?
Each document requires its own separate apostille. The Notary Commander can process them together, which is faster and more cost-effective than handling them separately. The price is $297 for the first document and $97 for each additional one.
Do I need to appear in person for an apostille?
For the notarization step, yes — California law requires all signers to physically appear before the Notary Public. However, a mobile notary comes to your location, so you don't need to travel anywhere. The Secretary of State submission is handled entirely by the apostille service on your behalf.
Which countries accept California apostilles?
Any country that's a member of the Hague Apostille Convention will accept a California apostille. This covers most of Europe, Latin America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many others. A current list is available on the Hague Conference website.
How do I apostille a California marriage certificate?
Obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county clerk's office where the marriage was recorded. That certified copy can go directly to the California Secretary of State for an apostille — no additional notarization is required since it's an official government-issued document.
Can I apostille a document and get it translated at the same time?
Yes. The Notary Commander also offers certified document translation services. We can handle apostille and translation together, which simplifies the process and avoids duplicate shipping.
San Francisco Apostille Service
We handle everything —
start to finish.
Notarization, processing, tracking, and delivery. Most expedited orders completed in 3–5 business days.