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
Lab-attested. 1. Obtain the result from the issuing lab, and have an authorized lab signatory attest it’s a true and accurate result (signed, on lab letterhead/report). 2. The signatory 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 issuing lab’s authorized representative. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 (Gov. Code §8211(a)/(b)); lab fees vary. Move quickly given validity windows. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s certificate on the lab signatory’s signature — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The SOS verifies the notary, then attaches the apostille. The lab signatory’s signature is the.
Frequently asked questions
Will my result still be valid after the apostille?
Only if it’s within the destination’s window when you arrive — apostille adds time, so move fast or use a walk-in.
Who gets notarized?
The issuing lab’s authorized signatory.
Does the destination even accept a notarized result?
Check first — some require a specific format or an approved lab, not a notarized/apostilled printout.
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).