Apostille San Francisco is a proud partner of Sacramento Notary Co., trusted for California notarization services since 2017.
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CDPH Issued · Vital Records · Hague Ready

Apostille Your California
Birth Certificate

We handle California-issued birth certificates for use in any of the 125+ Hague Convention countries. Mail us your certified copy and we file directly with the California Secretary of State.

Call (415) 439-0289Start $45 Document Check →
At a glance
DocumentCertified copy · CDPH or county recorder
Not acceptedHospital-issued souvenir copies
Pre-2005May need a county certification step
Turnaround2–4 weeks · standard mail-in
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
Is this page right for me?

You need this page if…

01Your birth certificate was issued in California (CDPH or county registrar)
02You need it accepted by a foreign government, employer, school, or court
03The destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention

If your document was issued in another U.S. state, contact that state’s Secretary of State. See California SOS process →

Requirements

What You Need to Submit

Gather these before submitting. We verify each item during the $45 Document Check.

01

Certified Copy — Not a Photocopy

Must be an official certified copy from CDPH or a county recorder, not a hospital-issued souvenir certificate. The SOS only apostilles documents with an original government seal.

02

Destination Country

Tell us where the apostille will be used. Some countries require specific language notations or specific certificate editions. We verify during the $45 Document Check.

03

Your Full Name & Return Address

Exactly as it should appear on shipping labels. We use USPS Priority or FedEx — your choice. International courier available separately.

04

Payment

$180 for standard mail-in apostille service. $20 of the $45 applied toward your apostille if you complete the Document Check first. No surprise fees.

Note: CDPH certificates issued before 2005 may carry a county registrar signature rather than a state-level signature. If your certificate is pre-2005, flag it during the Document Check — it may require a county recorder certification step before SOS filing.

Our fees

Price & Turnaround

Starting Priceper apostille · mail-in$180
Standard Turnaroundstandard mail-in2–4 weeks

Same-day Sacramento: $450 (notary +$100) · $45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille

California SOS turnaround varies. We file same-day we receive your document. Rush filing available when SOS allows.

What you get

What’s Included

01

Document Review

We verify your certificate format, issuing county, and signature before filing. Pre-2005 certificates checked for county certification requirements.

02

SOS Filing

We courier your document to the California Secretary of State Apostille Unit in Sacramento and track it through processing.

03

Return Shipping

USPS Priority return included. FedEx Overnight available on request. International courier to your destination country available at additional cost.

Certified delivery to California SOS Sacramento office

Processing status updates via email or text

Return USPS Priority shipping included

Pre-flight document check (catches rejections before filing)

Hague destination country verification

Assistance if rejected — refiling at no additional courier charge

Process

How Your Birth Certificate Apostille Gets Filed

01

Submit & Check

Mail us your certified birth certificate copy. We run a $45 Document Check and confirm it’s SOS-eligible within 24 hours.

02

SOS Filing

We courier your document to the California SOS Apostille Unit in Sacramento the same day we confirm eligibility.

03

SOS Processing

The California Secretary of State attaches the apostille certificate. By mail, this usually takes 2–4 weeks.

04

Returned to You

We ship the apostilled document back to you by USPS Priority Mail, or directly to your destination if you need international delivery.

$180Per apostille · mail-in
How we handle it

We check your certified copy, file it with the California Secretary of State, and ship it back.

$45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille. Mail-in at $180, 2–4 weeks. Same-day Sacramento: $450 (notary +$100).

Call (415) 439-0289Document Check

Birth Certificate Apostille — Common Questions

01

Can I use a hospital-issued birth certificate for an apostille?

No. The California Secretary of State only apostilles documents bearing an official government seal and authorized signature. Hospital-issued birth certificates (souvenir copies) are not acceptable. You need a certified copy from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or the county recorder where the birth was registered.
02

What’s the difference between a short-form and long-form birth certificate for apostille?

Both are accepted by the California SOS as long as they are certified copies from CDPH or a county recorder with an original raised or colored seal. Long-form certificates include more parental information and are often required for immigration, dual citizenship, and some European countries. When in doubt, use the long-form.
03

How do I get a certified copy of my California birth certificate?

Order from CDPH, including through VitalChek (CDPH’s posted average is 5 to 7 weeks), or from your county recorder’s office, which is often faster (same day in person in some counties). You can also order through VitalChek.com. The certified copy must be recent — some destination countries require it issued within the last 6–12 months.
04

My birth certificate is from before 2005. Will it work?

Pre-2005 certificates may carry a county recorder signature rather than a CDPH signature. Some can be apostilled directly; others require an additional county certification before the SOS will process them. Flag this during your $45 Document Check — we’ll confirm eligibility before you mail anything.
05

Which countries require an apostilled birth certificate?

Most countries in Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia), Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines), and others request an apostilled birth certificate for immigration, marriage registration, dual citizenship, or school enrollment. We confirm the specific requirements for your destination country during the Document Check.
06

Can you send the apostilled birth certificate directly to another country?

Yes. We offer international courier service from our San Francisco office directly to your destination. Pricing depends on country and carrier. Let us know your destination when you submit — we’ll quote a courier fee alongside the apostille fee.
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