Monitored daily. We track Secretary of State, USCIS, embassy, and Hague Conference rule changes every day — plus updates to our California document packages and DIY apostille guidance — so your filing meets the latest requirements.

Apostille Global Services is a private apostille service. We are not a government agency.

Rules monitored daily

We track Secretary of State, USCIS, embassy, and Hague Conference updates every day.

All 50 states + DC

Hague apostille and non-Hague embassy authentication, routed to the correct authority.

Verified for 2026

Every page fact-checked against current Secretary of State, USCIS, and Hague Conference rules, re-checked quarterly.

Standards we follow

Compliant with the rules that actually get documents accepted

Hague Apostille Convention (1961)

Apostilles issued for member countries; embassy legalization routed for non-member destinations.

State Secretary of State rules

Each filing follows the issuing state's current fee schedule, form requirements, and accepted document formats.

Vital records sourced from the state

CA birth, marriage, and death certificates come from CDPH — never the county recorder — so they're accepted for apostille on the first submission.

Notary-compliant document prep

Notarizable forms are sent blank, per state law — you fill in the facts and sign in front of a notary, then we handle the apostille.

California apostille
California · Document guideVerified for 2026 Regulations · Last checked June 2026

California Certificate of Filing Apostille

Proving to a foreign authority or counterparty that a specific document (formation, amendment, merger, dissolution, etc.) was officially filed in California — supporting cross-border transactions, due diligence, registrations, and legal proceedings abroad. Common destinations: wherever proof of a particular state filing is required.

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.

Issuing authority
California Secretary of State (Sacramento or Los Angeles)
State / federal fee
$20 per document (California Secretary of State) plus any issuing office or notary fee
Processing
1–5 business days at the California Secretary of State once the underlying document is prepared, plus shipping each way

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 and certified copies for corporations, LLCs, and LPs — 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 the certificate): 1. Identify the entity and the specific filing — entity name, SOS file number, and which document/filing date you need certified. 2. Order a CERTIFICATE OF FILING for that document — say “for apostille / international use.” (Add a certified copy of the underlying document if the destination wants the document itself, too.) 3. Pay the fees (below). Confirm the SOS signature and State Seal are present before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I order?

An SOS Certificate of Filing for the specific document/filing you need confirmed. Say “for apostille.”

How is this different from a certified copy?

The certificate confirms a document was filed; the certified copy is the document itself with a certification stamp. Order whichever (or both) the destination wants.

How much is it?

$5 (Gov. Code §12183) per document listed; add $5 + page fees if you also want the certified copy.

Can I just print my filing confirmation?

No — a free confirmation isn’t the certificate. The apostille authenticates the SOS-issued, signed certificate.

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).

Live · California apostille

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