Quick facts
- Category: Medical / Health
- 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
Provider/clinic-attested. 1. Obtain the vaccination certificate/record from the provider or clinic, and have them attest it’s true and accurate (a signed statement on letterhead works well). 2. The provider/clinic representative personally appears before a California notary with satisfactory ID; the notary completes an acknowledgment (or jurat if sworn to accuracy). 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who signs. The provider/clinic representative or records custodian. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 (Gov. Code §8211(a)/(b)); provider fees vary. Notarization usually same-day once the signer is available. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s certificate on the provider/clinic signature — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The SOS.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need this?
Many COVID rules have been lifted — confirm the destination/employer still requires proof before paying for an apostille.
Who gets notarized?
The provider/clinic that signs/attests the certificate (or you, via a true-copy affidavit of your own record).
Can I apostille my vaccination card directly?
Better to have the provider attest a clean record/letter; a laminated card can’t be embossed and may be rejected.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Acknowledgment for a signed attestation; jurat if sworn to accuracy.
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).