California Apostille: Fees, Addresses and Steps (2026)

By Aaron Houston, PaperworkPath · Last checked 2026-10-25 · Apostille

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Fees

$20 per apostille.
$6 special handling fee per distinct official signature, for in-person requests (CA SOS: Request an Apostille; Apostille FAQs).

What to send

The original document, a cover sheet or request form naming the destination country, and payment.
Vital records: birth or death certificates signed by a county registrar may first need certification by the county clerk before the state can apostille them (same source).

By mail (processed in Sacramento only)

USPS: Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
Courier (FedEx/UPS): 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814

In person

Sacramento: 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor. Cash is accepted.
Los Angeles: 300 S. Spring Street, Room 12513 (temporarily Suite 1215). Cash is not accepted.

Check the CA SOS page for current hours and processing times before you go.

Notarizing a document first?

California notaries can charge up to $15 per signature (CA notary fees). If an out-of-state online notary notarizes it, the apostille must come from that notary's state, not California.

Need a notary first?

If your document first needs notarizing, online options: Notarize · OneNotary · NotaryLive. Check that the state accepts the notarization method you choose before you file.

Confirm with the receiving country whether it needs an apostille or an authentication certificate. Non-Hague countries need authentication instead. See what is an apostille.

Free download: Apostille Checklist (PDF, 1 page). These are the general US steps, with links to official state sources.