Apostille Services & Document Notarization in Sacramento

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an international certification that verifies the authenticity of a document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Over 120 countries recognize apostille-certified documents, including Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China (for some purposes), and many others.

Common situations requiring an apostille include:

• Getting married abroad and needing a certified copy of your birth certificate
• Adopting a child from another country
• Working, studying, or retiring in a foreign country
• Using an American Power of Attorney in another country
• International business transactions
• Immigration and residency applications

Questions about your document? Call or text our team at (916) 222-2251 — we answer apostille questions every day.

How the California Apostille Process Works

Getting a California apostille requires two separate steps:

Step 1 — Notarization (We Handle This)

For private documents (powers of attorney, affidavits, sworn statements confirming a copy of a diploma or transcript, etc.), the document must first be notarized by a California notary public. The notary's signature and seal on the document is what the Secretary of State will authenticate in Step 2.

Note: Some documents — like California birth certificates, death certificates, and court documents — are already signed by a public official and do not require notarization before the apostille. They go directly to Step 2.

Step 2 — California Secretary of State Authentication

After notarization, the document goes to the California Secretary of State's office for the apostille itself. The Secretary of State authenticates the notary's commission and attaches the apostille certificate to the document. All California apostille certification is issued through the Secretary of State, with in-person service available at their Sacramento office.

Sacramento Apostille Processing Times

• By mail: Processing times vary with the Secretary of State's current volume — plan for several weeks rather than a fixed number of days. Check the Secretary of State's website for their current live processing dates before you submit.
• In person at the Sacramento office (1500 11th St): Typically same-day if you arrive by 4:30pm, with a $6 special-handling fee per document (no such fee applies by mail)
• Fee: $20 per document apostille fee either way (as of 2026)

Documents We Notarize for Apostille

• Power of Attorney — For use in another country (e.g., authorizing someone in Mexico to sell your property there)
• Affidavits — Sworn statements for use in foreign legal proceedings
• Sworn statement for a passport or ID copy — California notaries can't certify a copy of a passport or ID directly, but we can notarize your signed true-copy declaration, which some countries accept for visa or residency applications
• Diploma or transcript sworn statement — California notaries can't certify a copy of a diploma directly, but we can notarize your signed statement declaring it a true copy — the standard route for a diploma or transcript apostille (for employment or professional licensing abroad)
• Notarized translations — If a certified translator has translated a document, the translation can be notarized for apostille
• Company documents — Corporate authorizations, board resolutions, and business documents for international use
• Adoption documents — Home study reports, consent forms, and other private adoption documents

Don't see your document listed? If you have a private document that needs notarization as part of the apostille process, call us — we notarize most document types. Not sure whether your document needs notarization first? We're happy to answer that question before you book.

What to Have Ready

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• The unsigned document to be notarized (if it's a private document requiring notarization)
• Know which country will receive the apostille — this affects requirements
• Confirm whether the destination country is a Hague Convention member
• If using a translator, have their certification information available
• Understand the Secretary of State's current processing timeline for your needs

How to Book Your Apostille Appointment

1. Call or text (916) 222-2251 or request a callback using the form on this page.
2. One of our notaries comes to you anywhere in the Sacramento area — same-day appointments are often available, 7 days a week.
3. Submit the notarized document to the California Secretary of State via the cover sheets below (by mail, or in person at 1500 11th St in Sacramento for same-day processing).

Download the CA Secretary of State Apostille Cover Sheets

After we notarize your document, you'll submit it to the CA Secretary of State with one of these official cover sheets. Download and print the one that matches how you're submitting.

The $20 per document fee is paid directly to the CA Secretary of State — not to us. Sacramento walk-in appointments available at 1500 11th St for same-day processing. Need other forms? See our Download Forms page.