A California birth certificate apostille is an official certificate issued by the California Secretary of State that authenticates the signature of the public official who signed your birth certificate, making the document valid for use in another country. An apostille does not verify the contents of your birth certificate. It verifies the authority of the official who signed it, so the receiving country can confirm the document is genuine.
CaliforniaBirthCertificate.org, California's dedicated birth certificate resource, can help you order a certified copy before you begin the apostille process.
What Is an Apostille and When Do You Need One for a California Birth Certificate?
An apostille is a form of international document authentication created under the Hague Convention of 1961. Countries that signed the Convention accept an apostille as sufficient proof that a document from another member country is genuine.
You need a birth certificate apostille when you plan to use your California birth certificate outside the United States in a country that belongs to the Hague Convention. Common situations include applying for citizenship in another country, getting married abroad, enrolling in a foreign university, and submitting immigration filings to a country that requires apostilled vital records.
According to the California Secretary of State apostille frequently asked questions page, California issues a single apostille for all Hague Convention countries, regardless of destination. If the country where you plan to use the document is not a Hague Convention member, a different process applies, and you should contact the destination country's embassy or consulate for guidance.
What Do You Need Before Applying for a California Birth Certificate Apostille?
You must start with the correct type of birth certificate. The California Secretary of State can only issue an apostille for documents signed by a California public official, specifically a county recorder, county clerk, their deputies, or the State Registrar at CDPH.
A hospital-issued keepsake birth certificate cannot be apostilled. It is not signed by a California public official, and it will be rejected. You need a certified copy issued by a California county recorder's office or CDPH-VR.
As of January 1, 2026, a certified California birth record costs $31 per copy through CDPH-VR. If you do not yet have a certified copy, review ordering options on the California birth certificate ordering page. You will also need to know the destination country before submitting your apostille request, since the cover sheet must name the country where the document will be used.
How Do You Apply for a California Birth Certificate Apostille?
The California Secretary of State processes all apostille requests. According to the California Secretary of State apostille request page, you can apply by mail or in person.
By mail through the Sacramento office: submit your original certified birth certificate (photocopies are not accepted), a cover sheet stating the country where the document will be used, a check or money order for $20 per apostille payable to "Secretary of State," and a self-addressed return envelope with postage. Mail via U.S. Postal Service to Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001. If shipping via FedEx, UPS, or DHL, send to 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.
In person at Sacramento or Los Angeles: the Sacramento office at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, and the Los Angeles office at 300 South Spring Street process walk-in requests the same day. No appointment is needed. In-person requests require the $20 apostille fee plus a $6 special handling fee for each different public official's signature on the document.
How Much Does a California Birth Certificate Apostille Cost?
| Request Method | Apostille Fee | Special Handling Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| By mail (Sacramento) | $20.00 per apostille | None | $20.00 |
| In person (Sacramento or Los Angeles) | $20.00 per apostille | $6.00 per public official's signature | $26.00 |
For a standard birth certificate with one public official's signature submitted in person, the total fee is $26. Mail requests cost $20 with no special handling fee.
Payment by mail requires a check or money order only, payable to Secretary of State. In person at Sacramento, you can pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard), check, money order, or cash. In person at Los Angeles, only credit card, check, or money order are accepted; cash is not accepted at that office.
How Long Does It Take to Get a California Apostille?
In-person requests at the Sacramento and Los Angeles offices are typically completed the same day, usually within 30 minutes of submission. Mail requests are processed in the order they are received.
Check the California Secretary of State current processing times page before mailing for the current turnaround estimate. If your request is urgent and you cannot appear in person, you can mail your documents overnight with a prepaid return label. Overnight shipping does not move your request ahead in the queue, but it reduces transit time on both ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a California birth certificate apostille?
An apostille is a certificate from the California Secretary of State that authenticates the signature of the public official who signed your birth certificate, allowing the document to be accepted in countries that belong to the Hague Convention.
Do I need an apostille or an authentication for my California birth certificate?
If the destination country belongs to the Hague Convention, you need an apostille. If it does not, you need a different process called authentication and legalization, so confirm the destination country's requirements before submitting your request.
How much does a California birth certificate apostille cost?
By mail, the fee is $20 per apostille. In person, the fee is $20 plus a $6 special handling fee per different public official's signature, for a total of $26 for most birth certificates.
Can I get an apostille on a hospital birth certificate?
No. The California Secretary of State can only apostille documents signed by a California public official, such as a county recorder or the CDPH State Registrar, and hospital-issued keepsake certificates are not eligible.
Where do I send my California birth certificate for an apostille by mail?
Send it to Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001, via U.S. Postal Service, along with your original certified birth certificate, a cover sheet naming the destination country, a check or money order for $20, and a self-addressed return envelope.
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Before You Submit
Start with a valid certified copy from CDPH-VR or your county recorder; a hospital keepsake will be rejected. Once you have the right document, the apostille process is straightforward: submit to the California Secretary of State by mail or in person, pay the fee, and specify the destination country.
Ready to Order?
If you still need to order your certified copy, you can start through our secure order form, and your certificate will be mailed directly to you.
Related Guides
- How to Get a California Birth Certificate
- How to Get a California Birth Certificate for a Passport
- Long Form vs. Short Form Birth Certificate in California
This post was written by the CaliforniaBirthCertificate.org editorial team.