Apostille San Francisco
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California Apostille
California Apostille
Checklist
The California apostille pre-filing checklist covers six items: (1) correct document type and certified-copy form, (2) California-source verification, (3) destination Hague membership confirmed, (4) payment of $20 per apostille plus $6 for each different public official’s signature on in-person requests, (5) carrier-correct address for mail filings, (6) destination-country cover sheet and return envelope.
At a glance
State fee$20 per apostille · +$6 per different official’s signature in person
Mail payeeCheck or money order · “Secretary of State”
USPSP.O. Box 942877 · Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
FedEx, UPS, DHL1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor · Sacramento, CA 95814
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
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California Apostille Pre-Filing Checklist
1. Correct Document Type
01I have identified my document type and confirmed it can be apostilled. eligible California documents.
02If vital record: I have a certified copy from CDPH or county recorder, not an informational copy.
03If court record: I have a court-certified copy with clerk signature and seal.
04If notarized: notary commission is current as of the date of notarization, acknowledgment block is complete.
05If transcript: sealed envelope is unopened.
2. California-Source Verification
01Document is California-issued or California-notarized. Out-of-state documents go to the issuing state.
02Document is not federal. FBI, USCIS, IRS, federal court — those route through the U.S. Department of State, not California. See federal authentication routing.
3. Destination Country
01Destination country is a Hague Convention party. If not, the document needs embassy or consulate legalization rather than an apostille.
02Destination consulate’s specific requirement is known — long-form vs short-form, county-clerk certification of judge’s signature (for divorce/court records), translation sequence.
4. Payment
01$20 per apostille plus $6 for each different public-officer signature being authenticated on in-person submissions.
02For mail filings: check or money order payable to “Secretary of State” (not “California Secretary of State”, not “State of California”).
03For Los Angeles counter: Visa, Mastercard, check, or money order. No cash at LA.
04For Sacramento counter: Visa, Mastercard, check, money order, or cash.
5. Address (Mail Filings Only)
01USPS: Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001.
02FedEx, UPS, DHL: Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.
03Carrier matches address — USPS to P.O. Box; private carriers to street address. Wrong pairing returns the package.
6. Package Components (Mail Filings Only)
01Destination-country cover sheet for each apostille requested.
02Self-addressed return envelope — tracked carrier (FedEx, UPS, USPS Priority) preferred for time-sensitive returns.
03Optional cover letter with contact information and destination country.
Checklist complete? Counter file or mail to the Sacramento address. Need a second set of eyes before the document leaves your desk? The $45 Document Check verifies all six items in one business day and credits 100% to your apostille service if you proceed. Non-refundable if the document is declined.
DIY or service
When the Checklist Is Enough — and When It Is Not
DIY Works When…
01You are physically in or near Sacramento or Los Angeles and can drive to the counter.
02The document is a straightforward single California-issued certified copy.
03The destination is a Hague member and you have confirmed the consulate’s specific requirements.
04You do not need same-day urgency or international forwarding.
05You are comfortable with the SOS-published procedure and current backlog.
Apostille San Francisco Is the Better Fit When…
01You are in San Francisco, the Bay Area, or anywhere not within easy reach of the Sacramento or LA counter (Sacramento is ~90 miles from SF; the round trip consumes most of a business day).
02The document type is complex — court records requiring county clerk certification of judge’s signature, FBI federal route, non-Hague legalization chain, or multi-document packages.
03You need same-day in-person filing on your behalf.
04You need international forwarding directly to the destination consulate or foreign attorney.
05You want pre-filing verification before paying the $20 statutory fee — the $45 Document Check puts $20 toward your apostille when you proceed, non-refundable if declined.
Edge cases
Routing Index for Edge Cases
01Federal documents (FBI, USCIS, IRS): federal authentication routing at U.S. Department of State.
02Non-Hague destinations (UAE, Qatar, others): embassy or consulate legalization.
03Multi-document corporate packages: Apostille San Francisco coordinates SOS Business Programs requests + apostille in one filing run.
04Italy jure sanguinis applications: long-form certified copies, translation sequence, consular specifics — see birth certificate apostille.
05POA for foreign real estate: drafted with destination-country counsel, then notarized in California and apostilled — see POA apostille.
$45Document Check · $20 applied toward your apostille
Before you file
Start with the $45 Document Check
Apostille San Francisco verifies your documents are filing-ready before California Secretary of State fees are spent. The $45 Document Check is $20 applied toward your apostille when you proceed; non-refundable if the document is declined.
Apostille issuance is by the California Secretary of State. Apostille San Francisco is a private filing service; not a government agency; no legal advice. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
Questions 01–06
California Apostille Checklist FAQ
01What do I need to bring to the California apostille counter?
The original certified copy (or properly notarized document), a destination-country cover sheet for each apostille requested, payment ($20 per apostille plus $6 for each different public-officer signature — Sacramento takes cash or card or check; Los Angeles takes everything except cash), and a valid photo ID. Walk-in only at both Sacramento and Los Angeles — take a numbered ticket on arrival.
02What do I include in a California apostille mail package?
Four items: (1) the original certified copy or notarized document; (2) a destination-country cover sheet for each apostille requested; (3) payment by check or money order payable to “Secretary of State” — $20 per apostille (the $6 special handling fee applies to in-person requests only); (4) a self-addressed return envelope, tracked carrier preferred. Mail to USPS P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001 (USPS only) or 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (FedEx, UPS, DHL).
03How do I know if my California birth certificate is a certified copy or an informational copy?
Authorized certified copies carry a raised seal or color watermark, are signed by the State Registrar (CDPH) or County Registrar, and do not bear the words “Informational, not a valid document to establish identity.” Informational copies do bear that warning text and are not apostille-eligible. If unsure, order a fresh certified copy from CDPH or the county recorder.
04Can I file an apostille request without a destination-country cover sheet?
Generally no. A cover sheet identifying the destination country is required for both walk-in and mail filings. Without it, the Secretary of State may default to a generic apostille that the destination authority then refuses, or may return the submission for clarification. Include a cover sheet for each apostille requested.
05How long should I expect the entire California apostille process to take?
Walk-in filings at Sacramento or Los Angeles are typically same-day when document eligibility and counter capacity allow. Mail filings follow the Secretary of State’s posted processing window at sos.ca.gov/notary/processing-times plus outbound and return transit time. Same-day outcomes are not guaranteed by the Secretary of State. Document preparation (ordering certified copies, notarization, etc.) is in addition to the SOS step.
06What happens if my apostille request is rejected?
The Secretary of State returns the document to the sender with the reason for rejection — most commonly informational copy submitted, wrong carrier address, expired notary commission, missing cover sheet, wrong payee on the check, or federal document submitted to California. The $20 fee is generally not refunded if the document was returned for ineligibility. The $45 Document Check is the pre-filing review that catches these errors before they cost the state fee.
Related
Related Paths
Run the $45 Document Check Verify before SOS fees · Pricing Service + state fee · California Apostille Guide Full process pillar
Cross-referencesRelated California apostille paths.
Sacramento Secretary of State · Los Angeles Apostille Office · same-day California apostille · California apostille by mail · current processing time · talk to a specialist · eligible California documents · embassy or consulate legalization · federal authentication routing