The stack of documents in the photo below just came back from the California Secretary of State. Every one of them was notarized by me first, then sent to the Secretary of State for an apostille. Each red-sealed certificate on top is what lets a foreign government accept a California document. If you have a power of attorney, affidavit, consent letter, or other notarized paper that is headed overseas, this is the process it will go through.
Have a document going overseas?
I notarize it at your home or office and handle the Secretary of State apostille for you, anywhere in LA, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.
What the Apostille Actually Certifies
An apostille does not approve what your document says. It confirms that the public official who signed it, in this case the California notary, was really commissioned and that the signature and seal are genuine. That is why the notarization has to be done right before anything else happens. If the notary certificate is wrong, the Secretary of State will reject the request and you lose time.
California issues one type of apostille no matter which country the document is going to. Apostilles are only for documents that will be used outside the United States, and the Secretary of State does not issue them for documents going to U.S. territories.
Documents People Commonly Notarize for an Apostille
- Powers of attorney for selling property, banking, or handling family matters abroad
- Sworn statements and affidavits, such as single status or identity affidavits
- Travel consent letters for a child traveling with one parent
- Business documents such as corporate resolutions and authorization letters
- Copy certifications and other documents that a foreign agency asks to be notarized
Vital records like birth and death certificates are different. They are apostilled based on the signature of the county or state official who issued the certified copy, not a notary. I wrote a separate guide on California birth certificate apostilles.
Step by Step: Notarized Document to Apostille
1. Get the document notarized by a California notary
The notary must hold a current California commission, and the notarial certificate must be in English. Bring valid government-issued photo ID, and do not sign the document before the appointment. If your document is in another language, the notarial wording still needs to be in English. The Secretary of State does not translate documents.
2. Submit it to the California Secretary of State
Requests can be made by mail to Sacramento or in person at the Sacramento or Los Angeles offices. According to the Secretary of State, the fee is $20 per apostille, and in-person requests carry an additional $6 special handling fee for each different official’s signature. You list the destination country on the request form.
3. The apostille is attached
The Secretary of State attaches the apostille certificate to your document. Do not remove staples or separate the pages afterward, because that can make the apostille invalid.
4. Send it to the foreign country
Once it is apostilled, the document is ready for the country that requested it. Some countries also ask for a certified translation on their end, so confirm that with the agency or person receiving it.
Mistakes That Get Apostille Requests Rejected
- Notarized in another state. A document notarized in Nevada or Arizona must be apostilled by that state, not California.
- Federal documents. FBI background checks and other federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State, not the California Secretary of State. See our guide to federal apostilles for FBI background checks.
- Incomplete notarial certificate. Missing venue, a wrong date, or an unclear seal can lead to a rejection.
- Photocopies of vital records. Birth, marriage, and death certificates must be certified copies issued by the agency.
More examples are in common California apostille mistakes.
How Wet Ink Notary Handles It for You
I come to you, notarize the document correctly, prepare the Secretary of State request, and get your apostilled document back to you. You do not have to drive to Sacramento or wait in line in Los Angeles. Clients from Upland and Rancho Cucamonga to Long Beach and Irvine use this service for documents going to Mexico, the Philippines, Europe, Asia, and beyond. See the full apostille services page for what is included.
Ready to start your apostille?
Tell me what the document is and which country it is going to, and I will send you a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any notary notarize a document for a California apostille?
It must be a notary with a current California commission, and the notarial certificate must be in English. The Secretary of State checks the notary’s commission before issuing the apostille.
How much does a California apostille cost?
The California Secretary of State lists the fee as $20 per apostille. In-person requests add a $6 special handling fee for each different official’s signature. Our service fee for notarizing and handling the request is quoted separately.
Does the Secretary of State need to know which country my document is for?
Yes, you list the country on the request. California issues the same apostille regardless of country, but the destination must be a country outside the United States.
Can you apostille a document I had notarized in another state?
No. A document notarized in another state has to be apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State. If you live in California, we can often notarize a new original here instead.
Last updated October 2026.
Wet Ink Notary LLC is not a law firm and cannot give legal advice. Fees and procedures are set by the agencies named above and can change, so check with them or ask us before you send anything.