California Apostille Secretary of State
Many people order an apostille for the first time and wonder: what exactly will I receive? This post shows you a real California apostille certificate so you know exactly what to expect.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certification issued by the California Secretary of State. It authenticates the signature of a public official (such as a county clerk, court secretary, or notary public) on a document so that it can be legally used in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961.
The apostille does not translate your document — it simply certifies that the signature on it is genuine.
What does a California apostille look like?
Below is a sample of a real California apostille certificate. It is a letter-size page stapled or attached to your original document.
The 10 fields of the apostille form
Every apostille issued under the Hague Convention has the same 10 standard fields:
- Country — United States of America
- This public document has been signed by — name of the signer (e.g., notary public)
- Acting in the capacity of — their official role
- Bears the seal/stamp of — the office or agency
- At — city where certified (e.g., Sacramento, California)
- The — date of issuance
- By — Secretary of State, State of California
- No. — apostille certificate number
- Seal/stamp — official Secretary of State seal
- Signature — signature of the certifying officer
What documents can be apostilled in California?
Any California public document can be apostilled, including:
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Power of attorney
- Diplomas and academic transcripts
- Corporate documents
- Real estate documents
- Any document notarized by a California Notary Public
The California Secretary of State seal
Note that the seal color changed a few years ago: the old seal was gold, and the current seal is red. Both are valid.
How long does it take?
Through our full-service option, apostilles are processed in 2 business days. We handle the entire process at the Secretary of State office in Sacramento so you don't have to travel or wait in line.
Ready to get your apostille?
First apostille $180 · $75 each additional · 2-day processing · English & Español
Order your California apostille →Do it yourself?
If you prefer to handle the process yourself, we also offer step-by-step DIY apostille guides (in English and Spanish) available on Gumroad, Amazon Kindle, and Etsy.
S. Musetti has been providing Notary Public, Apostille, and Spanish translation services since 2003. Member of the National Notary Association, certified signing agent. Service area: California statewide. Tel: (707) 992-5551.