California apostille services.
Get California documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the California Secretary of State for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in California.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in California, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a California document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In California, apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State, which has offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
California is one of the busiest apostille states in the country — birth certificates, FBI background checks, powers of attorney, university diplomas, and corporate records leave the state every day for use overseas. Sending one to the wrong office, or without the right county certification, is the most common reason a filing gets rejected.
We prepare, submit, and track your California apostille from start to finish — in person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in the state.
One partner for every California document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
California requirements
What California documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in California. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records need the county's signature
California birth, death, and marriage certificates must be certified copies bearing the County Recorder or Registrar's signature. The Secretary of State apostilles that official's signature — and some counties require the County Clerk to authenticate it first. We handle that step so it isn't bounced.
Notarized documents
For powers of attorney, affidavits, and other private documents, a California notary witnesses your signature and the Secretary of State apostilles the notary's commission. We can notarize it for you in person, by mobile notary, or online (RON).
Certified translation
Many countries require a certified translation of both the document and its apostille. We coordinate an in-house certified translation in the correct order for your destination.
Documents we apostille in California
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in California to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in California.
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Tell us your California document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the California Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your California document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the California Secretary of State for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled California document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of California
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in California — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
California apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in California?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In California, a birth or marriage certificate must carry the county recorder's signature — and some counties add a County Clerk step first — which is a separate input. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Where does California issue apostilles?+
The California Secretary of State issues apostilles, with offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles. We prepare, submit, and track the request for you — in person or by mail — so you don't have to travel to Sacramento or LA.
How long does a California apostille take?+
In person in Sacramento or Los Angeles it can often be same-day; by mail the Secretary of State can take several weeks depending on their current backlog. We confirm the current turnaround and route it the fastest way for your deadline.
Do California birth and marriage certificates need anything special?+
Yes. A California county-issued birth, death, or marriage certificate must be a certified copy bearing the County Recorder or Registrar's signature, and some counties require the County Clerk to authenticate it before the Secretary of State can apostille it. We handle that county step for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in California?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not the California Secretary of State — even if you live in California. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get an apostille in person in San Diego?+
Yes. We have two San Diego walk-in offices, and we serve the rest of California — Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and beyond — by secure, tracked mail.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your California apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.