The California Secretary of State issues apostilles for $20 each, by mail to Sacramento or in person in Sacramento and Los Angeles. AI Fingerprinting prepares and submits requests for you.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026
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Key facts
| Issuing office | California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section |
|---|---|
| State fee | $20.00 per apostille. In person, add $6.00 for each different public official’s signature. |
| State processing time | In person: typically within 30 minutes. By mail: as of October 1, 2026, Sacramento was processing requests received September 17, 2026. |
| Where issued | Sacramento (mail and counter) and Los Angeles (counter only) |
| Form | Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet (Rev. 04/2025), or the in-person cover sheet for each office |
| Payment | Mail: check or money order. Sacramento counter: Visa, Mastercard, check, money order, cash. Los Angeles counter: card, check, money order, no cash. |
State government fees and times, verified October 1, 2026. They are not AI Fingerprinting’s fee or turnaround.
Who issues apostilles in California?
The California Secretary of State issues every California apostille. No county office and no federal office can issue one for a California document.
The work is done by the Notary Public Section. Mail requests go to Sacramento only. Counter service is offered in Sacramento and in Los Angeles. California issues one certificate format no matter which country you name, according to the Secretary of State’s apostille FAQs.
How much does a California apostille cost?
The state fee is $20.00 per apostille. In-person requests add a $6.00 special handling fee for each different public official whose signature is being certified.
The state’s own example: two documents signed by the same official cost $46 at the counter. Mail requests carry no special handling fee, so the same two documents cost $40 by mail. These are government fees. AI Fingerprinting’s service fee is separate, so request a quote.
How long does a California apostille take?
Counter requests are typically processed within 30 minutes. Mail requests wait in a dated queue in Sacramento, and the wait changes daily.
As of October 1, 2026, the Sacramento office was working on mail received September 17, 2026. Check the current date on the state processing times page. California has no expedited mail service. An overnight courier with a prepaid return label shortens the shipping, but the request is still handled in order of receipt.
Which documents can California apostille?
California apostilles documents signed by a California public official or notarized by a California notary public. Photocopies are not acceptable.
Accepted signers include notaries public, county clerks and recorders, Superior Court judges, court administrators, executive clerks and executive officers, and state officials, plus their deputies. A document in another language is fine if the notarial wording is in English. The Secretary of State does not notarize or translate documents.
Where are the California apostille counters?
The Sacramento counter is at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Los Angeles counter is at 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
Los Angeles runs on a take-a-number system with no appointments. As of October 1, 2026, the state page said the Los Angeles counter was temporarily on the 1st floor, Suite 1215, because of an elevator outage.
The state also runs travelling Apostille Pop-Up Shops in counties around California. Dates are posted on the Request an Apostille page.
Can someone else submit my California documents?
Yes. California lets anyone request an apostille in person on behalf of anyone else. No family or legal relationship is needed.
That is why a service like ours can file for you.
How do I get a California apostille step by step?
Getting a California apostille takes six steps. Most of the risk is in step one: the right signature on the right kind of copy.
- Confirm the document is an original or certified copy signed by a California official, or an original California notarization.
- Check the signer. A birth or death certificate signed by a health officer may need county clerk certification first.
- Complete the cover sheet and name the destination country.
- Prepare payment: $20 per apostille by check or money order for mail requests.
- Mail to Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001, or send by courier to 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.
- Receive the apostille attached to your document, then verify it online.
What a California apostille looks like
A California apostille is a single page headed “State of California, Secretary of State” with a boxed, ten-field certificate. The labels appear in English, French, and Spanish.
On the sample we reviewed, the place of certification is Sacramento, California. Field 7 names the office, “Secretary of State, State of California”, and no individual Secretary. The Great Seal of California is printed in black. A red ink round stamp reading “Office of the Secretary of State” sits at the right edge and runs off the page. The form number “Sec/State Form NP-40 SAC (rev. 01/2021)” is printed at the bottom left. The footer says the certificate confirms only the signature, capacity, and seal, not the content of the document. You can verify the certificate number at apostille-search.sos.ca.gov.
Common reasons for rejection
California does not publish a rejection list. These problems come straight from the requirements on the state cover sheet and FAQ.
- The document is a photocopy.
- It is not signed by a California public official or notarized by a California notary.
- The cover sheet does not name a destination country, or names the United States or a U.S. territory.
- A mail request includes cash or a card number instead of a check or money order.
- A birth or death certificate carries a health officer’s signature that has not been certified by the county clerk.
How AI Fingerprinting helps
AI Fingerprinting is a private document service at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684. We are not a government agency and not a law firm. We accept mail-in requests from anywhere in the United States.
We review your California document before it leaves, complete the cover sheet, and send the request to Sacramento. You mail us the document. You do not need to travel to California. If the signature needs county certification first, we tell you before any state fee is spent. Our fee for state apostilles is not a fixed list price. Request a quote and we will separate the $20 state fee from our service fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does California issue an apostille or an authentication certificate?
California issues one certificate format regardless of the destination country. The certificate itself states that in a country outside the Hague Convention it is not an apostille and should be presented to that country’s consular section.
Can California apostille a document for Puerto Rico or Guam?
No. A California apostille is not valid for use anywhere in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and the cover sheet cannot name a U.S. territory as the destination.
Is there a rush option for California apostilles by mail?
No. California has no expedited mail service. The state suggests going in person or using an overnight courier with a prepaid return label, but mail is still processed in order of receipt.
Can I pay the California apostille fee in cash?
Only at the Sacramento counter. Los Angeles takes cards, checks, and money orders but not cash. Mail requests must be paid by check or money order.
Can California apostille an FBI background check?
No. An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. It goes to the U.S. Department of State for an apostille, not to a state office.
How do I check that a California apostille is real?
Use the online lookup printed on the certificate, apostille-search.sos.ca.gov, and enter the certificate details shown on the apostille.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm document requirements with the authority in the country that will receive your document.