California Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, FBI & Business Docs Fast

Need to use aCalifornia documentoverseas? You’ll almost certainly be askedfor an apostille. Anapostille is a one-page certificate acceptedby countries that participate in theHague Apostille Convention. Itverifies the authority of the signature orseal on your document so foreign officials,schools, employers, banks, or courts cantrust it. Without the apostille, even avalidLos Angeles birth certificate,San Diego marriage record,Stanford or UCLA diploma, orArticles of Incorporation fromSacramento may be rejected abroad.

This California-specific guide explainsexactlywho issues apostilles inCalifornia, how to prepare state vs. federaldocuments, timelines, realistic pitfalls,and how to avoid costly re-mails. We’ve alsoloaded it withlocal SEO signals (cities,counties, campuses, and use cases) sosearches like “apostille near meCalifornia,” “Los Angeles apostilleservice,” or “San Francisco apostille sameday” find answers that feel genuinely local.

Quick Answer

Authority: State-levelapostilles for California documents areissued by theCalifornia Secretary of State(filed via Sacramento or the Los Angelesregional office). Federal documents(e.g., FBI background checks) are apostilledby theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C.

Speed: DIY mail-in can takeweeks. With our in-person filing andpre-check,many California state documents can becompleted in ~24 hourswhen the paperwork is ready. We provide asame-day scan uponissuance; shipping the original isoptional.

Flat Rate:$145 per document —government fees included.Scans always included. U.S.shipping is $20 (optional).International shipping by quote.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is aninternational authenticity certificate. Itconfirms that the official who signed orsealed your document (county clerk, stateregistrar, court clerk, notary, universityregistrar, etc.) had the authority to do so.The apostille doesn’t edit your document—itsjob is to verify the authoritybehind it so a foreign country can accept itwithout additional local verification.

If your destination country participates inthe Hague Apostille Convention, a state orfederal apostille is typically the finalstep. If the destinationdoes not participate, your documentrequiresauthentication and consularlegalizationinstead of a Hague apostille. We manage bothpaths and will route your file correctlyfrom the start.

Who Issues Apostilles in California?

ForCalifornia-origindocuments—certified vital records,court-certified copies, notarized documentsexecuted by a California notary,registrar-verified diplomas/transcripts—theapostille is issued by theCalifornia Secretary of State. We file in person through Sacramento orthe Los Angeles regional office depending onlogistics and volume.

For federal documents—suchas theFBI Identity History Summary(background check), IRS Form 6166,or export/agency certificates(FDA/USDA/EPA/USP)—the apostille must beobtained from theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. Submitting a federaldocument to a state office causes returnsand long delays.

Rule of thumb:follow the issuer. Californiaissuer/notary → California Secretary ofState. U.S. federal issuer → U.S. Departmentof State.

When Do You Need an Apostille?

Common California situations that require anapostille:

• Visas & immigration —Apostilled vital records or a federalapostille on anFBI background check forresidence/work permits.
• University & teachingabroad— Apostilled diplomas/transcripts fromUC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCSF, UCI,UCD, UCSB, USC, Stanford,Cal Poly, etc.
• Dual citizenship & familyregistry— ApostilledCalifornia birth/marriage recordsand court orders.
• Corporate & banking —ApostilledArticles of Incorporation,Certificates of Status/GoodStanding, board resolutions,POAs, and trade documents forinternational transactions.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— Apostilled vital records and courtjudgments required by foreign authorities.

Many consulates and ministries prefer recentapostilles (often within 90 days). If you’reon a timeline—visa appointment, onboarding,enrollment—we recommend in-person filingwith proactive monitoring.

DIY Mail-In vs. Our Expedited Service(Comparison)

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Timeline	~2–6+ weeks by mail; longer withbacklogs or errors.	As fast as 24 hoursfor many CA state docs with properreadiness.
Risk of Rejection	Higher — wrong authority, stalecertificates, incomplete notarization,missing fees.	Lower — expert pre-check, correctrouting, compliant packaging.
Status Visibility	Low — limited visibility aftermailing.	High — proactive updates +same-day scan on issuance.
Effort Required	You research, assemble, mail, track,and troubleshoot.	We review, file in person(Sacramento/LA or D.C.), monitor,scan, and (optionally) ship.
Best For	Flexible timelines; comfortableDIYers.	Deadlines, visas, school starts,international deals; zero-stresshandling.

Pricing & ETA (Shipping Optional, ScansAlways Included)

Document Readiness in California

Getting “apostille-ready” is the differencebetween a smooth 24-hour turnaround andweeks of delay. In California, readinesstypically means:

Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)

Use certified copies fromthe California Department of Public Health(CDPH) – Vital Records or from theappropriateCounty Clerk/Recorder(e.g., Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego,Alameda, Santa Clara). Photocopies and scanscannot be apostilled. If the certificate isold, damaged, or illegible, obtain a freshcertified copy.

Court Documents

Court judgments, adoption orders, namechanges, or divorce decrees should becertified by the court clerk(original seal/signature). Non-certifiedminute orders or plain copies are commonlyrejected for apostille.

Notarized Documents

Affidavits, powers of attorney, parentalconsents, and corporate resolutions must benotarized by aCalifornia notary publicwith proper certificate wording, venue,date, signature, and seal. If you used RON(remote online notarization) outsideCalifornia, confirm acceptance—manydestinations still prefer traditional CAnotarization for apostille.

Education Records

Diplomas and transcripts fromUC, CSU, community colleges, and privateuniversitiesoften requireregistrar verification or asealed packet. Each campushas nuances (e.g., UC Berkeley vs. UCLA vs.USC vs. Stanford). We’ll coordinate thecorrect format before filing.

Business & Trade Documents

Articles of Incorporation,Statements of Information,Certificates of Status/Good Standing, bylaws, and resolutions should becertified by the issuing agency or properlynotarized. For trade documents (commercialinvoices, Certificates of Origin), we’llalign wording to destination requirements.

Step-by-Step: The California ApostilleProcess

High-level overview; we protect clientprivacy and proprietary workflows.

1. Identify the issuer —California issuer/notary → CA Secretary ofState; federal issuer → U.S. Department ofState.
2. Readiness check —Certified copies, clerk certifications,registrar verifications, notarizationquality, and destination pathway (Haguevs. non-Hague).
3. Submission — In-personfiling in Sacramento or Los Angeles for CAdocuments; federal filing in Washington,D.C. for U.S. agency documents.
4. Monitoring — We trackstatus, resolve procedural issues, andprevent re-mail loops.
5. Issuance & delivery —Same-day scan onissuance; original shipping is optional($20 U.S.; international by quote).

Document Playbooks (Vital, Education,Notarized, Corporate, Federal/FBI)

Birth Certificate Apostille

ACalifornia birth certificate apostilleis often required for dual citizenship,foreign school enrollment, or immigration.Use a certified copy fromCDPH or your county clerk/recorder. We filedirectly with the CA Secretary of State anddeliver a same-day scan.

Marriage Certificate Apostille

For international marriage registration orspousal visas, aCalifornia marriage certificateapostilleis essential. Certified copies come from thecounty recorder; we handle the Sacramento/LAfiling.

Divorce Decree Apostille

ACalifornia divorce decree apostilleis used for name changes, remarriage abroad,or inheritance. Certified by the courtclerk, then apostilled by the CA Secretaryof State.

Death Certificate Apostille

ACalifornia death certificate apostilleis often needed for inheritance, estates, orinsurance abroad. Only certified copies arevalid for apostille.

Diplomas & Transcripts

Employers and foreign universitiesfrequently require anapostille for California diplomas andtranscripts. We coordinate registrar verification atUCLA, USC, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSD, UCI,UCD, UCSB, CSU campuses, and privateuniversities, then file for apostille.

Notarized Documents (POA, Affidavits)

ACalifornia notarized documentapostillecovers powers of attorney, affidavits, orparental consents. We pre-check notarizationwording and file for apostille, or managethe authentication/legalization path fornon-Hague countries.

Corporate & Trade Documents

ApostilledArticles of Incorporation,Certificates of Status,board resolutions, andPOAs are often required foroverseas banks, tenders, or regulators. Weobtain certified copies where needed andensure they meet apostille standards.

FBI Background Check (Federal)

An FBI Identity History Summary is afederal record. TheCalifornia Secretary of State cannotapostille it. We route it to theU.S. Department of State in D.C.for apostille, with a same-day scan uponissuance.

California Use Cases & Scenarios

• Tech & startup relocations— Apostilled corporate documents and POAsfor opening EU/Asia entities; apostilleddiplomas + FBI for staff visas.
• University placements —Apostilled transcripts/diplomas formaster’s/PhD programs in Europe, Asia, andLatin America.
• Dual citizenship —Apostilled CA birth/marriage certificatesfor consular filings.
• Film, media, entertainment— Apostilled contracts/POAs forproductions and internationaldistribution.
• Healthcare professionals— Apostilled licenses, education records,and background checks for overseascredentialing.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— Apostilled vital records and courtorders recognized by foreign registrarsand courts.

California Cities We Serve (Local Coverage)

We file through Sacramento/Los Angeles andserve clients statewide. Frequent requestscome from:

• Los Angeles County — LosAngeles, Long Beach, Glendale, SantaClarita, Pasadena, Burbank, West Covina,Torrance, Pomona, Inglewood, Santa Monica,Palmdale, Lancaster
• Bay Area — San Francisco,Oakland, San José, Berkeley, Fremont,Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Daly City, SanMateo, Redwood City, Mountain View, PaloAlto, Cupertino, Milpitas
• San Diego & Imperial— San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad,Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon, La Mesa
• Orange County — Anaheim,Santa Ana, Irvine, Fullerton, GardenGrove, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa,Newport Beach, Tustin, Orange
• Inland Empire —Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, RanchoCucamonga, Corona, Moreno Valley, Fontana,Temecula, Murrieta, Victorville
• Central Valley —Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno,Bakersfield, Visalia, Madera, Turlock,Merced
• Central Coast — SantaBarbara, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo,Pismo Beach, Salinas, Monterey
• NorCal & Sierras —Redding, Chico, Yuba City, Grass Valley,Truckee, South Lake Tahoe

If you’re searching “apostille near me California,” we can help wherever you are—urban,suburban, or rural—via secure intake,in-person filing, and tracked delivery.

County & Campus Coverage

We routinely process records fromLos Angeles,Orange,San Diego,San Bernardino,Riverside,Alameda,San Francisco,Santa Clara,San Mateo,Contra Costa,Sacramento,Fresno,Kern,Ventura,Stanislaus,Tulare,Sonoma,Placer, and all othercounties. Campus work spans the UC,CSU, and private systems statewide.

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy LegalizationPath

Hague-member destinations accept apostillesdirectly. Non-Hague destinations require adifferent route:authentication (state orfederal) followed byembassy/consulate legalization. Requirements vary by country and documenttype; tell us your destination and we’llchart the correct sequence to avoidavoidable round-trips.

Timelines, Risks & Contingency Planning

Government volumes fluctuate, especially inCalifornia. Mail-in packets can sit forweeks; any mistake (wrong fee, outdatedcertificate, flawed notarization, incorrectmailing cover) triggers a return. To protectyour timeline:

• Front-load readiness —obtain fresh certified copies, correctnotarization, and registrar packets beforefiling.
• In-person filing — whenyou have fixed dates (visa appointment,school start, onboarding, closing), avoidmail-in risks.
• Leverage scans — manyconsulates/schools let you pre-process ona same-day scan while theoriginal ships.
• Parallel tracks — we canrun state and federal filings in parallelwhen your case includes both.

Top California Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong authority — Sendingan FBI report to the CA Secretary of Stateor a CA county record to the U.S.Department of State.
• Uncertified/old vital records— Photocopies, faded stamps, or outdatedformats get rejected.
• Notary errors — Missingseal, wrong venue, incomplete certificate,or out-of-state RON that isn’t accepted.
• Skipping registrar steps— Diplomas/transcripts without the rightverification or sealed packet.
• Late starts — Mail-in +re-mail cycles blow up timelines; expediteif you have a deadline.
• No destination check —Hague vs. non-Hague dictates the entirepath; confirm before filing.

Readiness Checklist (California)

• Is your documentstate (California) orfederal (U.S. agency)?
• For vital/court records, do you have acertified copy (not aphotocopy)?
• For notarized items, is the notarizationCalifornia-compliant(venue, date, signature, seal, propercertificate)?
• For diplomas/transcripts, has theregistrar provided anyrequired verification or sealed packet?
• Is the destinationHague (apostille) ornon-Hague (authentication+ legalization)?
• Do you have adeadline that meritsin-person filing and tracked handling?

Frequently Asked Questions (CaliforniaApostille)

Who issues apostilles for Californiadocuments?

TheCalifornia Secretary of Stateissues apostilles for state-origindocuments (filed via Sacramento or the LosAngeles regional office).

Can California apostille my FBI backgroundcheck?

No. FBI reports arefederal documents. Theapostille is issued by theU.S. Department of Statein Washington, D.C. We manage that filingfor you.

How fast can a California apostille becompleted?

Mail-in takes weeks. With readiness andin-person filing,~24 hours is possible formany California state documents.

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille doesn’t formally expire, butmany consulates and universities preferrecent issuances (often within 90 days).If timing matters, expedite.

Is shipping required?

No.Shipping is optional. Wealways provide asame-day scan. U.S.shipping is $20 flat; internationalshipping is quoted.

Can you coordinate complex or multi-statefiles?

Yes. We routinely coordinate multiplestate filings and run parallelstate/federal tracks to compresstimelines.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when requested by the destination. Wecan coordinate certified translationsafter the apostille is issued.

Are you a government office?

No. We’re experts in California andfederal filings, but not a governmentagency. We prepare, file, monitor, anddeliver—end-to-end.

Mini-Glossary

• Apostille — Astandardized certificate used among Haguecountries to authenticate a publicdocument’s signature or seal forinternational use.
• Certified Copy — Anofficial copy issued by the proper agencyor court; not a photocopy or scan.
• Authentication —Verification pathway used for non-Haguedestinations before consular legalization.
• Consular Legalization — Aforeign embassy/consulate certifies yourdocument for non-Hague acceptance.
• Registrar Verification —A university/school registrar confirms arecord for apostille purposes.
• RON (Remote OnlineNotarization)— Notarization performed online; checkdestination acceptance and CA compliance.

Related Guides & Tools

• Academic Diplomas & TranscriptsApostille
• Death Certificate Apostille
• Power of Attorney & NotarizedDocuments Apostille
• Marriage Certificate Apostille
• Divorce Decree Apostille
• Birth Certificate Apostille

Disclaimer: Requirements and timelinescan change without notice. We advise basedon current guidance from the CaliforniaSecretary of State and the U.S. Departmentof State at the time of your order.