Apostille San Francisco
Taking new files today(415) 439-0289
Apostille for Mexico · from California documents
Mexico.
Mexico.
Hague since 1995.
No consulate step.
Mexico joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1995, so a California Secretary of State apostille is what a Mexican registry, notary, school or court needs on a U.S. document. The consulate in San Francisco does not legalize or apostille U.S. papers. What fails is the certified copy underneath: issuing office, signature on file, wrong authority. We check that before the fee.
At a glance
RouteHague apostille · California Secretary of State
ConsulateLegalization not required; the consulate does not issue apostilles for U.S. documents
DocumentsBirth, marriage, death certificates · school records and diplomas · powers of attorney · corporate documents
TranslationThe apostille itself is not translated. Whether the office receiving it in Mexico wants a Spanish translation, and by whom, is set by that office; we confirm before filing.
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
Before you send anything
What the counter accepts for Mexico.
Each line is a real rejection we screen for in the $45 Document Check.
01Certified copy from the county recorder or CDPH, not a hospital or informational copy.
02Current signing official. The Secretary of State authenticates only signatures it has on file.
03Notarized first if it is a power of attorney, affidavit or copy certification.
04Right authority for the document. County or state-issued records go to the California Secretary of State; federal records (FBI, USPTO, IRS) go to the U.S. Department of State. The Mexican consulate points applicants to the Secretary of State of the issuing state, not to itself.
$6503 documents · one emergency trip · filed together
Family and school sets
Birth certificates, diplomas and powers of attorney, filed together in one Sacramento trip.
Returned tracked, with status updates, to Mexico or wherever you are. Price confirmed before any work begins.
Asked on nearly every Mexico call.
01Does the Mexican consulate in San Francisco need to legalize my document?
No. Mexico has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 August 1995, so a California Secretary of State apostille replaces consular legalization. The consulate’s own guidance says U.S. documents for use in Mexico must carry an apostille, obtained from the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document; it does not issue them.
02Which documents do people usually send to Mexico?
The consulate lists birth certificates, death certificates and school records among the public documents that need an apostille to be valid in Mexico. In practice we also handle marriage certificates, powers of attorney (notarized first), and corporate papers for property and business matters.
03Do I need a Spanish translation?
The apostille is not translated. Translation requirements are set by the office in Mexico that receives the document, and they vary by state and purpose. Tell us where it is going and we confirm before filing. Translation is Quoted per document by page and language before anything starts; delivered certified with a signed certificate of authenticity.
04I am already in Mexico. Can you do the whole thing without me?
Yes. Order the certified copy from the county or the state and have it shipped to our office at 416 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, or mail us what you already hold. We check it, file it, and ship the finished apostille tracked to your address in Mexico. International delivery is quoted per destination before we start, and we can keep you updated by WhatsApp if you prefer.