Apostille services in San Diego
Documents authenticated for use abroad through the California Secretary of State. $195 for the first document, travel and the notary visit included.
An apostille is a certificate that makes a public document from one country legally recognisable in another, under the 1961 Hague Convention. If a foreign government, university, employer or court has asked you to have a US document “apostilled”, “legalised” or “authenticated”, this is the service you need.
For documents issued or notarized in California, the apostille comes from the California Secretary of State. We handle the whole chain: notarizing or obtaining the underlying document, preparing the request, getting it to the Secretary of State and returning the finished certificate to you.
Documents we apostille most often
Personal records
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, single-status affidavits, adoption paperwork, police clearance and background checks.
Education
Diplomas, degree certificates, transcripts and letters of good standing, usually for work visas, further study or professional registration abroad.
Corporate
Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, powers of attorney, board resolutions, commercial invoices and distribution agreements.
Travel & family
Parental consent letters, custody documents, affidavits of support and documents for dual citizenship applications.
How the process works
- Tell us the destination country. This matters more than anything else. Countries in the Hague Convention get an apostille; countries outside it need consular legalisation instead, which is a longer and different process.
- We check the document. Vital records must be certified copies from the county or state registrar – a photocopy or a hospital souvenir certificate will be rejected. Documents you have signed yourself usually need notarizing first, which we do at the same visit.
- We submit it. The request goes to the California Secretary of State with the correct cover sheet and fees.
- You get it back. We return the apostilled document to you by hand or by post, whichever you prefer.
Timing and price
| Option | Typical turnaround | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard apostille, first document | About 5–7 business days | $195 |
| Each additional document in the same batch | Same batch | $150 |
| Expedited | About 3 business days | $250 per document |
The $195 includes travel and our mobile notary visit, so if the document needs notarizing first that is already covered. Government filing fees and any certified-copy fees are passed through at cost. Turnaround depends on the Secretary of State's current workload and we will tell you honestly what we are seeing that week.
Weekend note: we answer the phone at weekends, but the Secretary of State's office does not open, so an emergency apostille cannot actually be processed until the next business day. Anyone who promises you a Saturday apostille is selling you something that does not exist.
Apostille or authentication?
If the destination country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, a single apostille certificate is enough. If it is not – and a number of countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa are not – the document has to be authenticated by the Secretary of State and then legalised by that country's embassy or consulate. That takes longer and costs more. We will tell you which one applies as soon as you name the country. There is more detail in our guide to apostille versus authentication.
If your document needs translating too
Many consulates want the apostilled document accompanied by a certified translation. Our sister company handles that: see certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a California apostille take?
Our standard service runs about 5–7 business days end to end, and expedited is about 3 business days. The variable is the Secretary of State's processing queue, which moves with their workload. We will give you a realistic estimate for the week you file, not a generic promise.
What does an apostille cost?
$195 for the first document, with travel and the notary visit included if the document needs notarizing. Additional documents in the same batch are $150 each, and expedited handling is $250 per document. Government filing fees are passed through at cost.
Can you apostille a photocopy of my birth certificate?
No. The Secretary of State will only apostille a certified copy issued by the county recorder or the state registrar, bearing the registrar's own signature. If you only have a photocopy or the decorative certificate from the hospital, we can help you order a proper certified copy first.
Which countries accept an apostille?
All members of the Hague Apostille Convention – most of Europe and Latin America, plus many others. Non-member countries require consular legalisation instead. Tell us the destination country when you call and we will confirm which route yours needs before you spend anything.
Do I need to be there?
Only for the notarization part, if the document requires your signature. Once that is done you do not need to be present for the Secretary of State submission – we handle it and bring the finished document back.
Can you apostille a document from another state?
No. An apostille must be issued by the state where the document originated, so a Texas birth certificate needs a Texas apostille. We can only act on California-issued or California-notarized documents. If yours is from elsewhere, call us anyway and we will point you to the right office.
Next step
Request this service
Tell us what you need and we will reply with a time and a firm price. Urgent? Call or text (858) 888-8060.