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
This is a self-prepared document — there is no issuing office. 1. Draft the affidavit. State your full legal name, identity details, and the specific facts you’re attesting (e.g., “I am the person named in the attached passport”). Attach any referenced ID copy if the destination asks for it. 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 identity. (A statement about someone else’s identity is typically framed as an Affidavit of Relationship or witness statement.) Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day at a mobile notary, bank, or shipping store. Drafting is free..
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn Affidavit of Identity, notarized with a jurat by a California notary. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — an affidavit is sworn. An acknowledgment doesn’t place you under oath.
Do I have to appear in person before the notary?
Yes — and sign in the notary’s presence with valid ID. Jurats can’t be pre-signed.
Can I write the affidavit myself?
Yes. There’s no official form; state the facts clearly. The destination authority may have wording preferences.
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).