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: None — the employer prepares the letter; a California notary public notarizes the signer’s signature. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Prepare the letter on company letterhead with the employee’s name, title, dates, status, and (if needed) salary. The authorized signer (HR or an officer) 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. Who can sign it: An authorized HR representative or officer of the employer. Required forms: None statewide — the company’s own letter plus California notary acknowledgment wording. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): Up to $15 per signature (Gov. Code §8211). Mobile/travel fees unregulated. Usually.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs the letter?
An authorized HR representative or officer of the employer, before a California notary.
Should it include salary?
If the destination needs compensation details, either include them or provide a separate salary certificate (#117).
Is there a government fee?
No — it is a private document; the cost is the notary fee plus the apostille.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Usually an acknowledgment; confirm with the destination.
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).