California Certificate of Conversion Apostille

Proving a change of entity type and continuity abroad — updating foreign registries, banks, and contracts after converting (e.g., LLC to corporation), cross-border due diligence, and demonstrating the converted entity is the legal continuation of the prior one. Common destinations: wherever the entity’s form/type must be reconciled.

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 (certified copies / certificates available online — typically fastest). - 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 — name as registered and the SOS entity (file) number for the converted entity (search free at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov). 2. Order a CERTIFIED copy of the filed Certificate of Conversion (and the new formation document if needed) — say “certified copy for apostille / international use.” Add a Certificate of Status if proof of active status is wanted. 3. Pay the fees (below). Confirm the SOS.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I order?

A certified copy of the filed Certificate of Conversion from the California Secretary of State. Say “certified copy for apostille.”

How is conversion different from a merger?

Conversion changes the entity’s type while keeping the same entity; a merger combines separate entities (#73).

Do I also need the new formation document?

Often yes — to show the converted entity’s new form (e.g., the new Articles). Confirm with the destination.

Can I just print it from the state website?

No — a free image isn’t certified. The apostille authenticates the SOS certification on a paid certified copy.

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