California Apostille Service
California apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento and Los Angeles. The state fee is $20 per apostille. In-person requests are typically processed within 30 minutes; mail has no fixed timeline and was running about nine business days behind in early October 2026.
| Issuing office | California Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Where to send | Sacramento by mail or in person; Los Angeles in person only |
| State fee | $20 per apostille |
| Mail processing | No fixed timeline; the state was about nine business days behind in early October 2026 |
| In person | Typically processed within 30 minutes in Sacramento or Los Angeles |
| How to submit | By mail to Sacramento, or in person at Sacramento or Los Angeles, with the state cover sheet |
| Our service fee | $195 per document, plus the state fee |
Fees checked October 2026 against the California Secretary of State.
Apostille Request Form
How long does an apostille take in California?
Mail requests: no fixed timeline; the state was about nine business days behind in early October 2026. In-person requests: typically processed within 30 minutes in Sacramento or Los Angeles.
Allow extra time for shipping in both directions. A missing certification or the wrong type of copy sends a document back and restarts the clock, so we check yours before it is submitted.
An FBI background check is federal, not a California document. It goes to the U.S. Department of State, where regular processing takes 7 to 8 weeks. We offer an expedited FBI apostille in 10 business days.
How much does a California apostille cost?
The state fee is $20 per apostille, charged by the California Secretary of State. Our service fee is $195 per document, which covers document review, submission to the state and return of your originals. Processing time is 10 business days, depending on state delays. Shipping and translation are quoted separately.
How to get an apostille in California: step by step
- Get a document signed by a California public official, or an original notarized by a California notary.
- Complete the Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet, or the counter cover sheet for Sacramento or Los Angeles.
- Mail to Sacramento only, or visit either office in person.
- In person, the state adds a $6 special handling fee for each different public official signature.
What to watch for with California documents
- The Los Angeles office does not accept mail.
- The mail backlog changes weekly; check the state processing-times page for the current date.
California Cities We Serve
We handle California apostilles by mail and courier for clients in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento and Fresno, and we accept documents by mail from every California city.
Personal documents
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Death Certificate
- Divorce decrees and judgment
- Naturalization Certificate
- Adoption dossier
- Copy of passport
- Copy of drivers license
- Deeds and wills
- Single status affidavit
- Car or automobile title
- Travel authorization
- State police record
- FBI background record
- No Record Of Marriage
- Apostille Agreement
Corporate documents
- Certificates of incorporation
- Certificates of good standing
- Certificates of origin
- Trademarks/patents
- Business power of attorney
- FDA certificates
- Invoices and free sale certificates
- Department of the Treasury (Form 6166)
- Foreign government certificate CFG
Academic documents
- University/college diploma or transcripts
- High School diplomas or transcripts
- Attendance Certificates
Along with the request form, you’ll need to mail in your original document or certified copy. Make sure to include a self-addressed and stamped return envelope so they can mail your document back once it’s been apostilled. Apostille authentication recommends using tracked mail both ways to ensure safe delivery.
This apostilled document can then be presented along with your original document to authorities overseas as proof that it is valid and came from a genuine source.
How we help with your California apostille
You can file a California apostille yourself with the California Secretary of State. Many people use us because a rejected document costs more time than the fee.
- We check your document first. Send a photo or scan. We confirm it is the right version, signed by the right official, before anything is submitted.
- We fix what is missing. If your document needs notarizing, a new certified copy, or a county or court certification, we arrange it.
- We submit and collect. We send your documents to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento and return the apostilled originals by tracked courier, in the US or abroad.
- We handle the federal side too. FBI background checks and other federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State, not the state. We do both.
- You can talk to a person. Call (971) 514-3743 or request a video consultation.
Our fee: $195 per document, plus the California state fee ($20 per apostille). 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.
You can also mail your documents to us from anywhere, or visit our offices in Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Vancouver, Herndon and Houston.
Do you need a translation?
An apostille confirms the signature on your document. It does not translate it. If the country you are sending it to does not use English, the receiving office will usually ask for a certified translation as well.
We provide certified translation, so your California document can be apostilled and translated in one order. Each translation comes with a signed certificate of accuracy.
Order matters. Some countries want the translation done after the apostille so the apostille page is translated too; others have their own translator requirements. Tell us the country and we will confirm the correct order before you pay. Contact us for a translation quote.
California apostille FAQ
How much does a California apostille cost?
The state fee is $20 per apostille, charged by the California Secretary of State. Our service fee is $195 per document, plus the state fee.
How long does a California apostille take?
Mail requests: no fixed timeline; the state was about nine business days behind in early October 2026. In-person requests: typically processed within 30 minutes in Sacramento or Los Angeles.
Where do I get a California apostille?
California apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
Can California apostille my FBI background check?
No. FBI background checks are federal and are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. We handle that for $195 with regular processing in 7 to 8 weeks, or $390 expedited in 10 business days.
Do I need an apostille or an authentication?
Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille. Other countries need an authentication followed by embassy legalization. Tell us the country and we will confirm which applies.
Can you apostille a California document if I live outside California?
Yes. Mail us the document from anywhere in the world and we return it by tracked courier.
Source: California Secretary of State. Last checked October 2026.