Expedited Apostille and Authentication Processing

hague convention authentication california

California Secretary of State
Apostille and Authentication Services

authentication certification us state department

U.S. State Department
Apostille and Authentication Services

Foreign embassy consulate

Consulate and Embassy
Authentication Services

California Secretary of State
Apostille and Authentication Services

Our California State-commissioned notaries public work closely and efficiently with the California Secretary of State to provide you fast and convenient apostille and authentication certification of documents produced in California. Our service has earned the respect and trust of clients ranging in size from individual private parties to multinational corporations located in California, the United States, and other countries across the globe.

1-2 Day California Secretary of State
Apostille and Authentication Services

$190

Initial Document

  • $190 1st apostille 1 to 2 business day service
  • $90 Each additional apostille

Schedule
  • Processing quoted in business days
  • Timeline does not include return shipping time
  • Documents returned via trackable FedEx Priority Service
  • We provide free local notarization of documents for clients who choose our 1-2 day expedited apostille and authentication services
  • Please call (510) 629-0390 to verify shipping address before shipping us any documents

U.S. State Department
Apostille and Authentication Services

US State Department Authentication If the document is a federal government-issued document or requires apostille or authentication processing by an embassy in Washington, DC, US State Department authentication is also required.

2-3 Week U.S. State Department
Apostille and Authentication Services

$225 Initial Document

  • $225 first apostille or authentication 2 to 3 week service
  • $90 Each additional apostille or authentication

Schedule
  • U.S. State Department expedited processing is two to three weeks
  • Processing time does not include shipping time
  • Documents might also require California Secretary of State apostille or authentication processing and embassy authentication
  • Documents returned via trackable FedEx Priority Service
  • Please call (510) 629-0390 to verify shipping address before shipping us any documents

Consular Authentication Services

Documents being legalized for use in countries that have not adopted Hague Convention will require additional processing. Documents that require authentication by any consulate in California are subject to additional processing fees and consulate processing fees, which we must pass on to you.

Consular Legalization

$200

Processing time varies with embassy / consulate

  • Plus embassy or consulate fee
  • additional supporting documentation may be required by embassy or consulate

    • Schedule
    • Processing quoted in business days
    • Timeline does not include return shipping time
    • Documents returned via trackable FedEx or Priority USPS service
    • Timeline applies to documents received by 9 am
    • Documents received after 9 am are considered received the next business day
    • We provide free local notarization of documents for clients who choose our 1-2 day expedited apostille and authentication services
    • Please call (510) 629-0390 to verify shipping address before shipping us any documents

    California Secretary of State Apostilles and Authentications

    If your California-originating documents require authentication for legal recognition in a country that has not adopted the Hague Convention apostille process, you will need authentication of the document’s signatures by both the State of California and the destination country’s local consulate or, in certain cases, its embassy in Washington, DC.

    US State Department Authentication

    If the document is authenticated at the embassy in Washington, DC, US State Department authentication is also required.

    We Listen and Care

    Every member of our well-trained staff will listen carefully to understand your unique situation and needs. We know the current forms, procedures, and protocols to get your documents authenticated quickly the first time.

    Consulate and Embassy Legalization

    This legalization process involves both the appropriate ministry of the country where the documents originated and the ministry of the documents’ destination government. In other words, the document must be certified twice before it has any legal effect in the destination country.

    In California, the US Certification is provided by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento. Foreign certification is called authentication, or more commonly “consulate legalization” or “embassy authentication,” depending upon where the authentication is performed.

    Errors Create Delays...or Worse

    Multi-step procedures of Embassy legalization requirements must be followed precisely, otherwise the documents will be rejected, which might require new document generation and other delays.

    We listen carefully to understand your unique situation. We know the current forms, procedures, and protocols to get your documents authenticated quickly the first time.