Documents issued or notarized in California are apostilled by the Notary Public Section (Apostille Unit) (California Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of California public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and California-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues a single Apostille for any destination outside the United States (no separate non-Hague certificate).
Where to file
| USPS: Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001; FedEx/UPS/DHL: Notary Public Section, 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 | |
| In person | Sacramento: 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814; Los Angeles: 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (temporarily 1st floor, Suite 1215) Same-day service at Sacramento and Los Angeles counters, no appointment (LA uses take-a-number); arrive by 4:30 p.m.; in-person requests typically done within 30 minutes. Periodic county Pop-Up Shops also offer same-day apostilles. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille |
How to get a California apostille
- Confirm the document is a California public document
The Notary Public Section (Apostille Unit) authenticates signatures of California officials and California-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Prepare the request
Complete the request form (official form), naming the destination country so the office issues an apostille (Hague country) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague country).
- Submit the document, fee and return envelope
Submit by mail to USPS: Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001; FedEx/UPS/DHL: Notary Public Section, 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814; in person at Sacramento: 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814; Los Angeles: 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (temporarily 1st floor, Suite 1215) (Same-day service at Sacramento and Los Angeles counters, no appointment (LA uses take-a-number); arrive by 4:30 p.m.; in-person requests typically done within 30 minutes. Periodic county Pop-Up Shops also offer same-day apostilles.). The fee is $20 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: Mail: as of Oct 30, 2026 the office was processing requests received Oct 19, 2026 (about 2 weeks). In person: about 30 minutes.. Expedited: No paid expedite for mail; overnight shipping does not jump the queue. Same-day service only in person or at Pop-Up Shops.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $20 per document. $20 per apostille by mail. In person add a $6 special handling fee per different public official signature (one doc = $26). Sacramento: Visa/Mastercard, check, money order, cash. Los Angeles: no cash. Mail: check or money order payable to Secretary of State.
Processing time: Mail: as of Oct 30, 2026 the office was processing requests received Oct 19, 2026 (about 2 weeks). In person: about 30 minutes.
Expedited: No paid expedite for mail; overnight shipping does not jump the queue. Same-day service only in person or at Pop-Up Shops.
Documents California will apostille
- Documents notarized by a California notary public
- Vital records certified by a county clerk, county recorder, or State Registrar
- Documents signed by California public officials (court clerks, state agencies)
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Photocopies
- Documents for use in Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands or other US territories
- Federal documents
Notarized documents
Document must be signed by a California public official or be an original notarized/certified document; photocopies are not acceptable. Documents may be in another language if the notarial wording is in English.
California does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Can authenticate signatures of county clerks/deputies, county recorders/deputies, and the State Registrar (CDPH). Certificates signed by a Health Officer or County Registrar may need county clerk certification first.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
California-specific points
- Anyone can request an apostille for anyone; no relationship to the document holder is required.
- The $6 special handling fee applies only to in-person requests and is per public official signature, not per document.
- Secretary of State runs rotating Apostille Pop-Up Shops with county clerk-recorders (e.g. Merced Oct 28, 2026; San Bernardino Nov 10, 2026) offering same-day service outside Sacramento/LA.
- Los Angeles office cannot accept cash; Sacramento can.
- Current mail processing date is published and updated weekly on the processing-times page.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
California does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a California resident is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — see the federal section. For destinations outside the Hague Convention, the California authentication certificate must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and legalized at the destination's embassy (how the chain works).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in California?
The Notary Public Section (Apostille Unit) charges $20 per document. $20 per apostille by mail. In person add a $6 special handling fee per different public official signature (one doc = $26). Sacramento: Visa/Mastercard, check, money order, cash. Los Angeles: no cash. Mail: check or money order payable to Secretary of State.
How long does a California apostille take?
Mail: as of Oct 30, 2026 the office was processing requests received Oct 19, 2026 (about 2 weeks). In person: about 30 minutes. Expedited option: No paid expedite for mail; overnight shipping does not jump the queue. Same-day service only in person or at Pop-Up Shops..
Can I get an apostille in person in California?
Yes. Same-day service at Sacramento and Los Angeles counters, no appointment (LA uses take-a-number); arrive by 4:30 p.m.; in-person requests typically done within 30 minutes. Periodic county Pop-Up Shops also offer same-day apostilles.
Does California require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Notary Public Section (Apostille Unit) provided the notary is commissioned in California and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a California resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by California. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
