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California Apostille.
Easy. Fast. Reliable
How to get an apostille in California?
Apostille or Legalization?
It depends on what country you will be using the document in. If the country is a participant in The Hague Treaty Convention (also known as Apostille Convention) your document can be apostilled.
It depends on what country you will be using the document in. If the country is a participant in The Hague Treaty Convention (also known as Apostille Convention) your document can be apostilled.
Apostille and Authentication process in California
In California, the process for obtaining an apostille is pretty straightforward:
- Get the original document(s) that need to be apostilled.
- Fill out and complete the request form.
- Prepare an envelope with all papers required including a cover letter.
- Make a payment in a proper way.
- Send your documents to the Los Angeles (LA) or Sacramento Secretary of State office.
- Get back your ready documents.
Alex Khodorkovsky
Founder & CEO,
ApostillUS
ApostillUS
Before we get into a detailed answer to all the questions about obtaining an apostille in the state of California, let's highlight one question. Should you make the apostille yourself or have an agency like ApostillUS do it for you?
The first thing you should understand is that you can get an apostille yourself without any help from expediting companies. By doing so, you will save money - an Apostille stamp on your own documents from the Secretary of State's office will cost you just $20.00 per apostille plus $6.00 for each different signature. So why use the service?
Based on our company's experience (and we have been in this apostille business since 1988), I would highlight 3 key points:
We try to keep prices as competitive as possible. Our average fee is $50 per document, we think that's fair considering our experience and accumulated knowledge.
The first thing you should understand is that you can get an apostille yourself without any help from expediting companies. By doing so, you will save money - an Apostille stamp on your own documents from the Secretary of State's office will cost you just $20.00 per apostille plus $6.00 for each different signature. So why use the service?
Based on our company's experience (and we have been in this apostille business since 1988), I would highlight 3 key points:
- The first point is to save time. The state of California has a fairly clear list of requirements for both the document being apostilled and the notarial certification on the document. You have to check all the nuances and make sure everything is okay. So you need time to research the requirements, as well as to check the documents.
- The second point is the timing of obtaining an apostille. Sometimes a document needs to be done urgently. An apostille can be obtained on the same day on a walk-in basis. If you don't have time to do it - companies like ours come to assist. That's especially true if you are in another state.
- The third point is if you have a large package of documents. Verification and preparation can be a real headache. Companies like ApostillUS save you from it.
We try to keep prices as competitive as possible. Our average fee is $50 per document, we think that's fair considering our experience and accumulated knowledge.
Let us help you with the Apostille
Sometimes getting an apostille on your own can be a little tricky and time-consuming. ApostillUS has specialized in apostille services since 1998 and has accumulated unique expertise. Our skilled team will be happy to assist you in obtaining an apostille for your documents.
$175
$130
Standard
Our best price offer. Go with it right now if you are not in rush. It'll suit you best and save some money.
Our best price offer. Go with it right now if you are not in rush. It'll suit you best and save some money.
Personal/Business Documents 7 - 14 business days
Federal Documents 18 - 24 business days
$240
$195
Rush
If you need apostille service ASAP - you should go with our Rush package. We will squeeze timing as much as possible!
Personal/Business Documents 2 - 7 business days
Not available for Federal Documents
If you need apostille service ASAP - you should go with our Rush package. We will squeeze timing as much as possible!
Personal/Business Documents 2 - 7 business days
Not available for Federal Documents
Apostille documents in California
California Apostille
California Apostille
- Personal Documents
- Corporate Documents
- Academic Documents
- School Diploma
- School Transcripts
- University Diploma
- College diplomas
- Academic Records
- Other various school records
California Apostille FAQ
What is an apostille?
An apostille, or official government certification, is required for documents to be accepted and presented in other countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. These documents can include any vital records, vehicle titles, certificates of incorporation and origin, and academic records.
Svetlana Alimova
Senior Apostille Specialist
ApostillUS
ApostillUS
IMPORTANT: Review the list of countries operating as members of the Hague Convention to ensure you are bringing your documents to the correct office.
How to apostille documents in California?
You must get in touch with the Secretary of State of California if you need to apostille documents in California. The Secretary of State will only grant an Apostille for use in countries that signed the 1961 Hague Convention. All documents issued for countries that are not Hague Participants must be certified, not apostilled.
Apostille services are not required within the United States or any of its territories or possessions. This means that an apostille cannot be issued by the California Secretary of State for use in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the Caribbean islands. Each document costs $5 at the California Secretary of State. There may be numerous pages in a document.
Apostille services are not required within the United States or any of its territories or possessions. This means that an apostille cannot be issued by the California Secretary of State for use in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the Caribbean islands. Each document costs $5 at the California Secretary of State. There may be numerous pages in a document.
Where can I find certified copies of vital records from the state of California, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates?
Vital Records can be obtained by contacting your Town Clerk or the Department of Public Health, Vital Records Unit.
Who can notarize my documents in the state of California?
The Secretary of State in California can authenticate public official signatures only on documents issued in the same State and signed by a notary public or one of the following public officials or their deputies: e.g.
- County Clerks or Recorders
- Court Administrators of the Superior Court
- Executive Clerks of the Superior Court
- Officers whose authority is not limited to any particular county
- Executive Officers of the Superior Court
- Judges of the Superior Court
- State Officials
How do I get my Apostille back after I send my documents?
If you provide a prepaid shipping label for FedEx, UPS, or the US Postal Service, the California Secretary of State of California will return it using that method. Remember you can use both Sacramento Office and Los Angeles Office. From our personal experience, the Sacramento office is more responsive.
California Secretary of State Payment Options
- Cash
- Personal/company check payable to "California Secretary of State". Checks must have a pre-printed name and address on the check.
- Money order payable to California Secretary of State.
- Credit Card + Credit Card Pre-Payment Voucher System for third-party hand delivery
Pay with a credit card for walk-in authentication services, eliminating the need to write company or personal checks, or provide couriers with cash.
Documents the California Secretary of State can apostille
Secretary of State Offices in California can apostille California Vital Records, Court Documents, and Corporations Division Documents as well as California Notarized Documents.
California Issued Vital Records:
California Issued Vital Records:
- Birth certificate.
- Death certificate.
- Divorce decree.
- Marriage certificate.
California Court Documents and Corporations Division Documents:
- Documents filed with a California County Clerk of Superior Court.
- Corporate documents on file with the California Secretary of State Corporations Division.
California Notarized Documents:
- School Transcript
- College Transcript
- School Diploma
- College Diploma
- Master Degree
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits
- Corporate Documents
- Translations etc.
Svetlana Alimova
Senior Apostille Specialist
ApostillUS
ApostillUS
IMPORTANT: To get the Apostille seal from the Secretary of State Offices in California, all of these types of documents must be issued in California. The most common mistake among people who file an apostille on their own is that the notary certification is not done correctly. Make sure your notary certification is done in compliance with the State of California requirements.
Documents the California Secretary of State can't apostille:
- Sanitation Certificate
- Certificate of Free Sale (CFS)
- Certificate of Exportability
- Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG)
- Certificate of Non-Clinical Research Use Only Materials Certificate
- Plant certificate
- Animal Health Certificate
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (COPP)
- Certificate of Pharmaceutical product- Foreign Manufacturer
- Specified Risk Material of Bovine, Ovine, and Caprine Origin Materials.
- FBI Criminal Background Check
And other documents issued by Federal Agencies like FDA, the FBI, the USPTO, the IRS, the EPA, the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security…etc.
Svetlana Alimova
Senior Apostille Specialist
ApostillUS
ApostillUS
IMPORTANT: Federally issued documents cannot be certified by the California Secretary of State; instead, the Apostille stamp on federal documents must be obtained from the US Department of State in Washington, DC.
Get your Apostille securely and fast!
Protect your documents and gain international recognition
How does it work?
1
Apply online
Send us your request online and receive a quote from a specialist the same day. We will also review a scan of your documents for any errors and let you know ASAP if additional steps are required.
2
Send us your documents
No need to make an appointment or go to a physical location. Just mail us your documents through a secure tracked shipping service (FedEx, DHL, or UPS).
In some cases we may not even need the physical copy!
In some cases we may not even need the physical copy!
3
Receive your documents
Once completed, your Apostilled documents will be mailed to you via FedEx or DHL and will arrive at your doorstep.
Ask about our shipping options! Whether in the US or Worldwide, we’ll get your apostille documents to you wherever you may be.
California Secretary of State.
Sacramento Office.
Sacramento Office.
Fee: $20 per document
Turnaround time: 1 Business Day
Telephone: (916) 653-3595
Website: www.sos.ca.gov
Address:
State of California
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
Turnaround time: 1 Business Day
Telephone: (916) 653-3595
Website: www.sos.ca.gov
Address:
State of California
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
California Secretary of State.
Los Angeles Office.
Los Angeles Office.
Fee: $20 per document
Turnaround time: 1 Business Day
Telephone: (916) 653-3595
Website: www.sos.ca.gov
Address:
Turnaround time: 1 Business Day
Telephone: (916) 653-3595
Website: www.sos.ca.gov
Address:
Los Angeles Regional Office
300 South Spring Street, Room 12513
Los Angeles, CA 90013
⚡ Get your Apostille Fast in California ⚡
We guarantee our fast turn-around or will not even charge you.