Short answer. The California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section issues apostilles here for $20 per document, by mail and in person. Processed in the order received; the office posts current processing dates rather than a fixed time. A county step comes first for vital records.
At a glance
- Issuing office
- California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section Official page
- Fee
- $20 per apostille, plus a $6 special handling fee for each different official's signature on in-person requests.
- How to submit
- By mail to Sacramento, or in person at the Sacramento or Los Angeles office (Los Angeles doesn't take cash).
- Processing time
- Processed in the order received; the office posts current processing dates rather than a fixed time.
- Request form
- Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet Open it
- Mailing address
- Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001 (USPS); FedEx, UPS or DHL: 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
What each document needs first
- Vital records
- A birth or death certificate issued by a county must first be certified by the county clerk's office in the county where it was issued. County step first: County-issued birth and death certificates are certified by the county clerk first.
- Notarized documents
- Signed by a California public official, or an original notarized or certified document; a photocopy is not accepted. Have the document notarized before you request the apostille.
Checklist by document
- Vital record: county step first
- Notarized document: no county step first
- Court record: no county step first, 1 step not confirmed
- FBI background check: no county step first
- School record: no county step first, 1 step not confirmed
Worth knowing
Mail requests are handled by the Sacramento office only. The cover sheet must name the country where the document will be used.
MCC Solutions handles New Jersey apostilles, and our guide explains how to get an apostille in New Jersey. For other states, this page lists the office's own process.
Official sources
- Request an Apostille, California Secretary of State (checked November 2026)
- Apostille Frequently Asked Questions, California Secretary of State (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice. Use the office's own request form where it has one. Federal records, including FBI checks, go to the U.S. Department of State, and a destination outside the Hague Convention also needs embassy legalization.
Common questions
Who issues apostilles in California?
The California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. $20 per apostille, plus a $6 special handling fee for each different official's signature on in-person requests.
How do I apostille a California birth or marriage certificate?
A birth or death certificate issued by a county must first be certified by the county clerk's office in the county where it was issued. County-issued birth and death certificates are certified by the county clerk first.
Can a notarized document from California be apostilled directly?
Signed by a California public official, or an original notarized or certified document; a photocopy is not accepted. Have the document notarized before you request the apostille.
How long does an apostille take in California?
Processed in the order received; the office posts current processing dates rather than a fixed time. Allow extra time for mail and for any certified copy you still need to order.
Can I get a California apostille in person or online?
By mail to Sacramento, or in person at the Sacramento or Los Angeles office (Los Angeles doesn't take cash).
All states: how to get an apostille in each state · Georgia