How to Get an Apostille in California — Step by Step

California Apostille Step by Step

Getting an apostille in California is more straightforward than most people expect. Whether you need to legalize a birth certificate, diploma, power of attorney, or corporate document, the process follows the same core steps.

Step 1 — Confirm your document qualifies

California apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State for documents originating in California — vital records, notarized documents, court records, and official government-issued certificates. If your document is from another state, it must be apostilled by that state's authority.

Step 2 — Obtain a certified copy if required

For vital records (birth, marriage, death), you need a certified copy from the county recorder or the California Department of Public Health. For notarized documents, the original notarized version is submitted directly.

Step 3 — Submit to the California Secretary of State

The Secretary of State's office in Sacramento or Los Angeles processes apostilles. Mail processing currently takes 10–15 business days. In-person drop-off is faster but requires travel.

Step 4 — Use a professional service for 2-day results

Through CaliforniaApostille.US, we handle the entire submission at the Secretary of State office and return your apostilled document in just 2 business days. First apostille is $180, and $75 for each additional document.

Step 5 — Receive and ship your document

Your apostilled document is valid in all 120+ Hague Convention member countries. We can ship to you, your embassy, consulate, or any international address via FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

📘 DIY Guides available:

🇺🇸 How to Apostille a Notarized Document in California — Gumroad

🇺🇸 DIY Apostille Made Easy Guide for California Documents — Amazon Kindle

🇺🇸 Easy Guide – California Edition: Step-by-Step Instructions — Amazon Kindle

Ready to get your California Apostille?

First apostille $180 · $110 each additional · 2-day processing · English & Español

Order your California Apostille →

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.

Certified & Notarized Translations (Idiomatic) 

See a Real California Apostille Certificate

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.

Sample California Apostille Certificate — issued by the Secretary of State, State of California.

The 10 fields of the apostille form

Every apostille issued under the Hague Convention has the same 10 standard fields:

1. Country — United States of America
2. This public document has been signed by — name of the signer (e.g., notary public)
3. Acting in the capacity of — their official role
4. Bears the seal/stamp of — the office or agency
5. At — city where certified (e.g., Sacramento, California)
6. The — date of issuance
7. By — Secretary of State, State of California
8. No. — apostille certificate number
9. Seal/stamp — official Secretary of State seal
10. 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

The Secretary of State seal is placed half on the apostille certificate and half on your original document — this connects them officially.

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.

Certified & Notarized Translations (Idiomatic)