Apostille Information for apostille documents

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). 

Apostilles can only be issued for documents issued in one country party to the Hague Convention and that are to be used in another country which is also a party to the Convention. 

You will need an Apostille if all of the following apply: 

•  the country where the document was issued is party to the Hague Convention; and 
• the country in which the document is to be used is party to the Hague Convention; and  
• the law of the country where the document was issued considers it to be a public document; and 
• the country in which the document is to be used requires an Apostille in order to recognize it as a foreign public document. 

Apostilles are used for documents destined for nations outside the United States.  

The cost of Apostilles and Authentications can vary widely dependent on the destination country.  For this reason, we ask that you call to obtain a quote.  During our conversation, we may ask that you send an image of your document. It is important that we view your document to determine if it is eligible for an apostille or authentication. If your document is also to be notarized, we prefer doing the notarization ourselves to ensure that your document isn't rejected because of notary errors....we DO NOT charge to notarize documents that we Apostille. 

We offer EXPEDITED - SAME DAY APOSTILLES, and also regular service apostille at a significant savings.  Call to determine which would fit your current needs.  805.444.7064

• Just about any document that you would apply your signature to be notarized.  These could include proof of life, power of attorney, etc. 
• In the case of a vital  record, any certified copy from the County Recorder's office. (Birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, certificates of non-marital status, etc)
• *Law change in 2023, vital records from County Public Health Departments are now eligible for Apostilles.  
• Superior Court documents signed by the Superior Court Judge. 
• Powers of Attorney
• School records such as diplomas, transcripts, etc.
• References and Job Certification
• Trademarks
• Corporate documents such as articles, mergers, amendments, etc.
• Distributorship Agreements
• Deeds of Assignment

If the recipient nation is not party to the Hague Convention, then your document will likely require 2 steps.  The first step is a Certificate from the CA Secretary of State or US Department of State dependent on your document. The second step is authentication from the destination country's embassy or consulate. 

An Apostille only certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates: it certifies the authenticity of the signature or seal of the person or authority that signed or sealed the public document and the capacity in which this was done.

Think of it as a chain of confirmation of each entity....the notary confirms you are who you say you are, via your identification.  Then the Secretary of State confirms that the public notary is who they say they are.  

Since the following nations are parties to Hague Convention, they will accept a US Secretary of State Apostille.  If the nation you are sending the document to is not listed, the process will be an Authentication via their Consulate instead of an Apostille.... but we can help you with that too!

• Albania
• Andorra
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Burundi
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• China, People's Republic of
  (Including Hong Kong & Macao Special Administrative Regions)
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jamaica
• Kazakhstan
• Korea, Republic of
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malawi
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Moldova, Republic of
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• North Macedonia, Republic of
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Suriname
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom of Great Britain
  and Northern Ireland
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela

* Last Revised June 5, 2024