You can get a document apostilled in California through the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Section, which handles requests at two walk-in offices (Sacramento and Los Angeles), by mail, and at one-day pop-up shops held in cities around the state throughout the year.1California Secretary of State. Request an Apostille Each apostille costs $20, in-person requests add a $6 special handling fee per signature authenticated, and a walk-in at either permanent office is usually finished in about 30 minutes.2California Secretary of State. Current Processing Dates
Which channel is right for you comes down to how fast you need it and how far you can travel.
The Two Walk-In Offices
Both permanent counters accept walk-ins with no appointment:1California Secretary of State. Request an Apostille
- Sacramento: 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Los Angeles: 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (Ronald Reagan State Building)
Arrive by 4:30 p.m. to guarantee same-day service. Processing after you hand over your paperwork usually takes about 30 minutes. The cost is $20 per apostille plus a $6 special handling fee for each different public official’s signature being authenticated.2California Secretary of State. Current Processing Dates If you need the document in hand soon, this is the fastest route the state offers.
Pop-Up Shops Around the State
If Sacramento and Los Angeles are both a long drive, watch the Secretary of State’s pop-up shop schedule. The office partners with county offices to run one-day apostille events in cities like San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Ana, giving you same-day service closer to home.3California Secretary of State. Apostille Pop-Up Shop
Bring the same materials you would bring to a permanent counter, plus a completed Pop-Up Shop Request Cover Sheet. Fees match the walk-in offices: $20 per apostille plus a $6 special handling fee. Payment can be made by Visa, Mastercard, check, or money order — no cash.
These events draw crowds. Plan for a two-to-three-hour wait. You don’t have to come in person; a friend or relative can submit on your behalf if they have the original documents and payment. Upcoming dates and locations are posted on the Secretary of State’s pop-up shops page.3California Secretary of State. Apostille Pop-Up Shop
Mail Submissions
Mail is the cheapest option and the slowest. Send your package to the Notary Public Section (not the “Apostille Section” that some third-party guides refer to):1California Secretary of State. Request an Apostille
- USPS: Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
- FedEx, UPS, or DHL: Notary Public Section, 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
Your envelope needs to include the original document, a completed Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet (available on the Secretary of State’s website), the $20 fee per document, and a self-addressed envelope for the return. The cover sheet asks you to name the foreign country where the document will be used. Pay by check or money order made out to “Secretary of State.” If you want a tracking number on the return trip, include prepaid postage with tracking; otherwise the office sends it back by regular USPS mail.
Expect the office to work mail in the order received, with the backlog shifting over time. As of early 2026, Sacramento was processing mail requests received about three weeks earlier.2California Secretary of State. Current Processing Dates Add return shipping on top of that. If you have a deadline, give yourself four to five weeks for mail, or go in person.
Fees and Payment at a Glance
The apostille fee is $20 per document, set by California Government Code Section 12195.4California Secretary of State. Forms, Services, and Fees In-person channels add $6 per signature authenticated. A single document with one official signature therefore runs $20 by mail or $26 in person. Accepted payment depends on where you submit:
- By mail: check or money order payable to “Secretary of State.” No cash, no credit cards.
- Sacramento and Los Angeles counters: check or money order. Contact the office to confirm whether credit cards are taken at the counter.
- Pop-up shops: Visa, Mastercard, check, or money order. No cash.3California Secretary of State. Apostille Pop-Up Shop
Prepare the Document Before You Go
Most rejected requests fail at the preparation step, not the counter. A document that arrives unprepared gets sent back, and you lose weeks.
Vital records need a signature the Secretary of State recognizes. If your birth or death certificate was issued by a city or county agency and bears a “Local Registrar” or “Registrar of Vital Records” signature, the Secretary of State may not be able to apostille it directly. You’ll need to either have the county clerk in the issuing county certify the signature, or request a fresh certified copy from the county recorder or the California Department of Public Health.5California Secretary of State. Apostille Frequently Asked Questions Marriage certificates from a county clerk usually skip this step because that signature is already on file with the state.
Private documents, including powers of attorney, affidavits, personal statements, and most school transcripts, must be notarized by a California notary public before you submit them. The notary’s commission has to be current and on file with the Secretary of State. Handle the notarization in advance; the Secretary of State’s office does not notarize documents for you.5California Secretary of State. Apostille Frequently Asked Questions
Every document must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted.1California Secretary of State. Request an Apostille The underlying document can be in any language as long as the notarization itself is in English; the office does not translate.
What California Can’t Apostille
Two situations send you somewhere other than the Secretary of State. First, federal documents, including FBI background checks, certificates of naturalization, IRS letters, and federal court records, go through the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., not California.6U.S. Department of State. Office of Authentications Documents issued by other states can’t be apostilled in California either; each state issues its own.
Second, an apostille only works for countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention. If your document is going to a non-member country, you’ll need a longer authentication-and-legalization chain that still starts with the Secretary of State but ends at the destination country’s embassy or consulate.6U.S. Department of State. Office of Authentications Confirm with the embassy before you start so you follow their current sequence and fees.