Quick facts
- Category: Affidavit / Sworn Statement
- Apostilled by the California Secretary of State (Sacramento or Los Angeles)
- Fee: $20 per document (mail) or $26 (walk-in) at the California Secretary of State
- Free document review before you pay any government fee
- Tracked outbound and return shipping included
What to know
Self-prepared — no issuing office. 1. Draft the affidavit. State your citizenship/nationality and the basis (birth, naturalization), with identity details. Do not attach an altered or photocopied federal naturalization certificate; if federal proof is needed, that’s a separate federal authentication route. 2. Personally appear before a California notary with satisfactory ID. The notary administers an oath and completes a jurat; you sign in the notary’s presence. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who can swear it. You, about your own citizenship. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s jurat — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apostille my Certificate of Naturalization?
Not through California — it’s a federal document handled by the U.S. Department of State, and copying it is restricted. This page is the self-sworn affidavit.
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn Affidavit of Citizenship, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Will a foreign authority accept an affidavit instead of federal proof?
Some do; some require the federal document via the U.S. Department of State. Confirm with the receiving authority.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — it’s sworn.
Common destinations
Countries this document is most often sent to (pulled from this page's own guidance). Every destination has its own rulebook — apostille (Hague) or full legalization (non-Hague).