Remote / mail-in
Free 15-minute apostille consultation (phone)
Not sure if you need an apostille? Book a free 15-minute phone consult.
A 15-minute phone call to figure out whether you need an apostille, which documents are required, how long it will take and what it will cost. No obligation to book the full service. Calls are scheduled in 15-minute slots Monday through Friday.
How this service runs
Mail-in apostille, any U.S. state: 1. Book the apostille service online and pay the $150 full fee. 2. We email you a service agreement and the California Secretary of State submission cover sheet (or the equivalent for your issuing state). 3. Mail your original document(s) to our Sacramento office via USPS Priority or tracked carrier. Include a prepaid return envelope (USPS Priority or UPS) addressed to the destination country. 4. We verify the documents, obtain the apostille from the issuing state, and ship them back via your prepaid envelope. Turnaround is typically 5–10 business days for California documents plus transit. California SOS does not charge for the apostille itself; other states charge between $5 and $25 per document. Certified translation, if requested, is billed separately.
What to bring
- Best phone number to reach you (required)
- What would you like to discuss? (required)
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Questions about this service
What is the difference between an apostille and notarization?
A notarization verifies your identity and signature for use in the U.S. An apostille is an international certification from a state or federal authority that makes a U.S. document valid in a country that is part of the Hague Convention. Most apostilled documents also need to be notarized first.
How do I know if my destination country requires an apostille?
If the destination is a Hague Convention country, you need an apostille. If it is not, you typically need a different authentication process through the U.S. Department of State. We can walk through this on the call.
Can I send you my documents now and ask questions later?
Please book the full apostille service instead — sending documents before we have confirmed the apostille is the right path can lead to extra fees if we need to file with a different state or authority.