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CA Schools · Notarize Then Apostille · Foreign Employment Ready

Apostille Your California Diploma
or Degree

California diplomas and degrees require notarization before the Secretary of State can attach an apostille. We coordinate both steps — notary and SOS filing — so your credential is ready for foreign employers, universities, or immigration.

Call (415) 439-0289Start $45 Document Check →
At a glance
DiplomasNotarized first · then California SOS apostille
TranscriptsRegistrar’s original seal · may qualify without notarization
Notary fee$15/signature (California statutory fee) · billed separately if needed
Turnaround2–4 weeks by mail · after notarization
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
Is this page right for me?

You need this page if…

01You have a diploma, degree, or official transcript from a California school, college, or university
02A foreign employer, university, visa agency, or immigration authority requires the document to be apostilled
03The destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention

If your diploma is from another U.S. state, contact that state’s Secretary of State directly. See California SOS process →

Requirements

What You Need to Submit

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

01

Original Diploma or Official Transcript

For diplomas: the original or a notarized photocopy. For transcripts: an official sealed copy issued directly by the school registrar — not a student download.

02

Notarization (Diplomas Only)

Diplomas are not government documents, so a California notary must notarize your signature on a certification statement before the SOS can apostille it. We can coordinate a mobile notary if needed.

03

Destination Country & Purpose

Some countries require the apostille on the original; others accept notarized copies. Foreign universities often require the transcript version, not the diploma. Let us know the destination and purpose so we verify the right format.

04

Payment

$180 for standard apostille service. If notarization is needed, a separate notary fee applies ($15 per signature, the California statutory fee; on mail-in orders, our +$100 notary package covers it). The $45 Document Check puts $20 toward your apostille.

Note: Diplomas are private documents — not government-issued — so the California SOS cannot apostille a diploma directly. It must first be notarized by a California notary public. Official transcripts with a registrar’s original seal may qualify for direct apostille without notarization. We confirm the correct path during the $45 Document Check.

Our fees

Price & Turnaround

Starting Priceper apostille · mail-in$180
Standard Turnaroundafter notarization2–4 weeks

Notarization: $15/signature statutory fee, or the +$100 notary package on mail-in · $45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille

Timeline begins after notarization step is complete. Rush filing available when SOS allows. Same-day Sacramento: $450.

What you get

What’s Included

01

Notarization Coordination

We assess whether your diploma requires notarization first and can coordinate a California notary if you don’t have one. Notary fee charged separately per California law.

02

SOS Filing

Once properly notarized (or for sealed transcripts, immediately), we courier to the California SOS Apostille Unit in Sacramento and track through processing.

03

Return Shipping

USPS Priority return included. FedEx Overnight and international courier available on request for urgent foreign submission deadlines.

Notarize-first eligibility check — diploma vs. transcript route

Notarization coordination (if needed, separate notary fee applies)

Certified delivery to California SOS Sacramento office

Processing status updates via email or text

Return USPS Priority shipping included

Destination country format verification

Process

How Your Diploma Apostille Gets Filed

01

Document Check

We assess your document type — diploma, degree, or transcript — and confirm the correct route. Diplomas go notary-first; sealed transcripts may qualify directly.

02

Notarization (If Required)

If your diploma needs notarization, we coordinate a California notary. Once signed and notarized, your document is SOS-eligible.

03

SOS Filing

We courier to the California Secretary of State Apostille Unit in Sacramento. By mail, this usually takes 2–4 weeks.

04

Returned to You

The apostilled credential is shipped back to you by USPS Priority, or forwarded internationally if you need direct delivery to a foreign institution.

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

We confirm the diploma or transcript route, coordinate the notary if it needs one, then file in Sacramento.

$45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille. Mail-in at $180, 2–4 weeks after notarization. Same-day Sacramento: $450.

Call (415) 439-0289Document Check

Diploma Apostille — Common Questions

01

Why does my diploma need to be notarized before it gets an apostille?

The California Secretary of State can only apostille signatures that are on file with the state — notaries, county clerks, and certain state officials. A diploma bears a university official’s signature, which is not on the SOS registry. A California notary notarizes your acknowledgment of the diploma, placing a registered signature on the document that the SOS can then apostille.
02

Can I apostille a transcript without notarization?

In many cases, yes. If the transcript is issued directly by the school registrar with the registrar’s original raised or colored seal, it may qualify for direct apostille without notarization. Student-downloaded PDFs do not qualify. Contact us with your specific institution and transcript format for confirmation.
03

My employer wants an apostilled degree for a work visa. How long will it take?

By mail, plan on 2–4 weeks after notarization. If you have a visa appointment deadline, mention it — same-day Sacramento filing ($450) can shorten the SOS leg significantly.
04

Does the apostille go on the diploma itself or on a separate page?

The California SOS attaches the apostille certificate to your document — typically by binding a separate certificate page to the notarized copy or original. The apostille is never written directly on the diploma itself. You’ll receive the diploma with the apostille securely attached.
05

Which countries accept an apostilled California diploma for employment or immigration?

Most Hague Convention member countries accept apostilled academic credentials for employment authorization, work visas, and foreign university enrollment — including Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia, and much of Latin America. Countries not in the Hague Convention (Qatar, some Gulf states) require embassy legalization instead of an apostille. We confirm the correct authentication path for your destination.
06

Can I get both my transcript and diploma apostilled at the same time?

Yes — and it’s often more efficient. If you need both, submit them together. Each document gets its own apostille. We file simultaneously, keeping the timeline the same as a single document. Pricing is per apostille ($180 each).
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