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: The exporter prepares the CO (often on a Chamber of Commerce form, e.g., via essCert/Swiftdox through a local chamber). For apostille, a California notary public notarizes the exporter’s signature. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Complete the CO with accurate origin, product, and shipment details (attach the manufacturer’s invoice if the chamber requires it). The exporter’s authorized signer signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment, attaches it, and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. If the destination requires it, also obtain chamber-of-commerce certification (separate step/fee) before or after — confirm the order with the receiving authority. Who can sign it: The exporter or the exporter’s.
Frequently asked questions
Does the chamber-of-commerce stamp get apostilled?
No — the CA SOS authenticates a California notary’s signature, not a chamber stamp. Notarize the exporter’s signature for the apostille; chamber certification is a separate layer.
Do I need both chamber certification and an apostille?
Only if the destination requires both. GCC/Gulf countries often require chamber certification (and sometimes consular legalization); many other countries accept the notarized + apostilled CO.
Who signs the CO for notarization?
The exporter or its authorized officer, before a California notary.
Is there a government fee?
No SOS fee beyond the apostille; the chamber bills its own issuance fee.
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).