Apostille Services & Document Notarization in Sacramento
Sending documents abroad? We handle the notarization step, the first and most time-sensitive part of the California apostille process. We come to you.
Understanding apostilles
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, and many others.
Common situations requiring an apostille:
- 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.
Documents We Notarize for Apostille
For use in another country (e.g., authorizing someone in Mexico to sell your property there).
Sworn statements for use in foreign legal proceedings.
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.
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.
If a certified translator has translated a document, the translation can be notarized for apostille.
Corporate authorizations, board resolutions, and business documents for international use.
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.
The two-step process
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; the public counter is open weekdays 8am to 5pm, so allow time before closing. Walk-ins also pay a $6 special-handling fee for each different public official's signature being authenticated (no such fee applies by mail)
- Fee: $20 per document apostille fee either way (as of 2026)
Not in a Hague Convention Country?
If the destination country is not a Hague member (e.g., some Middle Eastern or African countries), you may need a certification through the U.S. Department of State and possibly the destination country's consulate. Contact us and we can help direct you.
Booking
How to Book Your Apostille Appointment
- Call or text (916) 222-2251 or request a callback using the form on this page.
- One of our notaries comes to you anywhere in the Sacramento area, same-day appointments are often available, 7 days a week.
- 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).
Before we arrive
What to Have Ready
Before your notary appointment, make sure you have the following:
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
Common mistakes: what NOT to do
- Do not sign documents before the notary arrives
- Do not assume a notary can issue the apostille: only the California Secretary of State can attach the apostille certificate
- Do not wait until the last minute: build in time for both notarization and Secretary of State processing
- Do not send original vital records (birth certificates, etc.) directly to us: these go straight to the Secretary of State
- Do not use an out-of-state notary for California-issued documents: the Secretary of State only authenticates California-commissioned notaries
Free download
Download the CA Secretary of State Apostille Cover Sheet
After we notarize your document, you'll submit it to the CA Secretary of State with the official cover sheet below. The $20 per document fee is paid directly to the Secretary of State, not to us.
Submitting in person instead? Use the Sacramento Drop Box Cover Sheet or the Los Angeles Office Cover Sheet, whichever matches how you're submitting. Sacramento walk-in appointments are available at 1500 11th St for same-day processing. Need other forms? See our Download Forms page.
Apostille questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a notary issue an apostille?
No. A notary public cannot issue an apostille. The apostille is issued by the California Secretary of State. However, for private documents, notarization must happen BEFORE the Secretary of State can attach the apostille, and that's where we come in.
How long does the apostille process take in California?
Mail processing times vary with the Secretary of State's current volume, so we don't quote a fixed number of days, plan for several weeks. Same-day service is available in person at the Secretary of State's Sacramento office (1500 11th St, Sacramento, CA 95814); their public counter is open weekdays 8am to 5pm, so allow time before closing. Walk-ins pay a $6 special-handling fee for each different public official's signature being authenticated, which is not the same as a fee per document. Call them at (916) 653-3595 or check their website to confirm current wait times.
Does a California birth certificate need to be notarized for an apostille?
No. A California-issued certified birth certificate is signed by a county clerk and goes directly to the Secretary of State for the apostille, no notarization required. Only private documents (powers of attorney, affidavits, etc.) need notarization first.
How much does it cost to get an Apostille in California?
Apostille pricing has two parts. Our notary fee is $15 per notarized signature (California state-regulated maximum) for the underlying document, plus a travel fee of $50. The California Secretary of State charges a separate $20 per document apostille fee, which you pay directly when submitting to the state. Call or text (916) 222-2251 for a full cost breakdown. We take cash, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App.
How do I book an apostille appointment in Sacramento?
Call or text (916) 222-2251 or request a callback using the form on this page. One of our notaries comes to you anywhere in the Sacramento area to notarize your document, and same-day appointments are often available. After notarization, you submit the document to the California Secretary of State by mail or in person at 1500 11th St in Sacramento for same-day apostille processing.
Can you notarize a diploma or transcript for an apostille (Sac State, UC Davis, or any school)?
California notaries aren't permitted to certify a copy of a diploma or transcript directly: state law only allows a notary to certify copies of a power of attorney. Instead, you sign a short sworn statement declaring the copy is true and correct, and we notarize your signature on that statement (a jurat). That notarized statement, attached to the copy, is what goes to the Secretary of State for the apostille. Some schools' registrars can also issue an already-certified copy directly, which bypasses this step entirely. Call or text (916) 222-2251 and we'll walk you through exactly what your situation needs.
Related services
Ready when you are
Ready to Start the Apostille Process?
We handle the notarization step, quickly and conveniently, wherever you are in Sacramento. Same-day appointments are often available. Call or text and we'll talk through exactly what you need.
Call or Text(916) 222-2251