Apostille Sacramento
California Secretary of State · Mail-In · State Fee Included
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a government certification that authenticates a public document for use in another country under the Hague Apostille Convention. It tells a foreign government, court, or institution that your California document is legitimate and can be relied upon without further authentication.
An apostille is not the same as a notarization. A notarization verifies the identity of the person who signed a document. An apostille certifies the document itself for international recognition. Some documents require both — in the correct sequence. The California Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents originating from a California state agency or notarized by a California notary public.
Notarization vs. Apostille
Know the Difference Before You File
Notarization
What: Verifies the identity of the signer at the moment of signing.
Who: Any California-commissioned notary public.
For: Domestic legal validity in California.
Apostille
What: Government certification for international use.
Who: California Secretary of State, U.S. Dept. of State, or county clerk — depends on document type.
For: Use in a Hague Convention member country.
Common scenario: A California birth certificate going to Italy for jure sanguinis citizenship routes directly to the California SOS — no notarization needed because it is already a certified state record. A power of attorney, however, must first be notarized and then submitted for apostille. We confirm the correct sequence during intake.
California Apostille Routes
State · Federal · County — Which Applies?
State Documents → CA SOS
Birth, marriage, death certificates, divorce decrees, professional licenses, school transcripts, and notarized documents. This is the route most clients need.
Federal Documents → U.S. Dept. of State
FBI background checks, USCIS forms, IRS records, and federal court documents are apostilled in Washington, D.C. Apostille SF coordinates DC submissions.
Court Documents → County Clerk First
Civil court orders and judgments go to the county clerk where the court sits, then to the Secretary of State. Confirm the issuing court before filing.
Confirming the correct route before any state fee is paid is the most valuable step in the process. Sending the wrong document to the wrong agency wastes weeks. We verify during intake.
How It Works — Mail-In Process
Send Your Document
Mail your original certified document to our Sacramento office via a tracked carrier. We confirm receipt and begin eligibility review.
Eligibility Review
We confirm the document is California-issued, certified correctly, and properly prepared for the destination country’s requirements.
Sacramento SOS Filing
We submit to the California Secretary of State and pay the $20 state filing fee on your behalf — included in the flat $150 rate.
Tracked Return Shipping
The apostilled document ships back to you tracked. You sign for delivery. We close the file. Total turnaround: 5–10 business days from receipt.
Not Sure? Just Call.
We answer intake questions by phone Mon–Sun 8 AM–10 PM. (916) 856-7000 — no hold music, no voicemail maze.
Sacramento Apostille Pricing
Mail-In Apostille
$150
per document · all-inclusive
$20 CA SOS fee + review + tracked return shipping. Standard 5–10 business day turnaround.
Same-Day / Non-Hague
$250+
via Apostille San Francisco
Same-day counter filing, embassy legalization for non-Hague countries, federal apostilles, and multi-document concierge packages.
Common Documents We Apostille
Vital Records
California birth, marriage, death certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers — for immigration, marriage abroad, and inheritance matters.
Education Documents
Diplomas, transcripts, certificates of completion, and California professional licenses for overseas employment or graduate study programs.
Notarized Documents
Powers of attorney, affidavits, corporate resolutions, and other notarized instruments needed by a foreign authority or institution.
Not sure if your document qualifies? The foreign authority requesting the document is the source of truth. Ask them whether they need an apostille or embassy legalization, and on which specific document version. We then confirm the correct California route during intake before any state fee is paid.
“Dante handled my mother’s Italian jure sanguinis apostille package — three birth certificates and a marriage certificate. He confirmed the correct SOS route for each document, filed everything correctly the first time, and returned everything tracked within eight business days. Zero errors. Highly recommend.”
“I needed a California apostille on a notarized power of attorney for a property sale in Mexico. Called at 9 PM on a Sunday, Dante answered, confirmed the document was eligible, and had it back to me apostilled in seven business days. Worth every dollar.”
Apostille Sacramento — FAQ
How much does it cost?
$150 per document for the Sacramento mail-in service — $20 California SOS state fee included. Same-day and non-Hague cases start at $250 through Apostille San Francisco.
How long does it take?
5–10 business days from receipt of your document at our Sacramento office, plus return shipping time (typically 2–3 business days domestic).
Hague vs. non-Hague?
120+ Hague Convention member countries accept an apostille directly. Non-Hague countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Egypt, etc.) require a longer embassy legalization chain — those route through Apostille SF.
Notarize before apostille?
Depends on the document type. A power of attorney needs notarization first. A state-issued birth certificate does not. We confirm the correct sequence during intake.
Multiple documents?
We handle bundles. For three or more documents heading to the same Hague country, ask about our multi-document rate through Apostille San Francisco.
FBI background check?
FBI records are federal documents authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not the CA SOS. Apostille SF coordinates that DC submission.
Explore Sacramento Notary Co
(916) 856-7000 | info@sacramentonotaryco.com
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