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
For pet/animal travel (most cases): 1. Contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as early as possible; they confirm your destination’s import requirements (vaccinations, tests, treatments). 2. The vet issues (completes, signs, dates) the health certificate and submits it to USDA-APHIS for endorsement (usually via VEHCS). 3. USDA-APHIS endorses it; the printed, endorsed certificate travels with the animal. (No CA apostille.) For the apostille route (narrow cases only): 1. A California-licensed veterinarian signs the certificate. 2. The vet 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 data are present and legible, then apostille. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 (Gov. Code §8211(a)/(b)) for the apostille route;.
Frequently asked questions
I’m flying with my pet — apostille or USDA?
Almost always USDA-APHIS endorsement via a USDA-accredited vet — not an apostille. Confirm your destination’s rules with the vet first.
When would I apostille a vet certificate?
Only if a destination specifically asks for an apostilled veterinary document, or for non-travel purposes (breeding/ownership/pedigree).
Who gets notarized (apostille route)?
The veterinarian who signs the certificate.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Acknowledgment for a signed certificate; 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).