California Articles of Incorporation Apostille

Proving the corporation’s legal existence and California registration abroad — opening a foreign bank account, registering a branch/subsidiary or representative office overseas, foreign tenders/bids and government contracts, cross-border M&A and due diligence, registering trademarks/IP abroad, and qualifying to do business in another country. Common destinations: anywhere the company is expanding, banking, or contracting — frequently China, UAE, Mexico, India, the EU, and Latin America.

Your documents stay yours. We handle your documents and personal information only to complete your apostille — never sold, shared, or used for marketing by third parties.

Quick facts

Category: Business / Corporate
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

Issuing office. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. Order channels: - Online: bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov (Certificates of Status and Certified Copies for corporations, LLCs, and LPs can be ordered online — typically the fastest route). - Mail: Secretary of State, Certification and Records, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600. - Drop-off (in person): 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (priority over mail; special handling fee applies). Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the entity exactly — corporate name as filed and the SOS entity (file) number (search free at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov). 2. Order a CERTIFIED copy of the filed Articles of Incorporation — specify “certified copy for apostille / international use.” (If the destination also wants proof the company is active, add a Certificate of Status.) 3. Pay the fees (see below)..

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I order?

A certified copy of the filed Articles of Incorporation from the California Secretary of State (Business Programs / Corporations). Say “certified copy for apostille.”

Can I just print it from the state website?

No — a free filed image isn’t certified. The apostille authenticates the SOS certification, which only a paid certified copy carries.

How much is the certified copy?

$5 certification per document plus copy fees ($1 first page, $0.50 each additional page) — about $6–$7 for a short Articles.

Do I need a Certificate of Status too?

Often yes — many foreign banks/registries want proof the company is currently active. It’s a separate $5 certificate and a separate $20/$26 apostille. Confirm with the receiving party.

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).

Compliant with the rules that actually get documents accepted