California Birth Certificate Apostille

A California birth certificate may need an apostille when it will be presented to an overseas government, university, immigration authority, court, or other institution. We help you check your certificate and prepare it for apostille processing.

When Is a Birth Certificate Apostille Needed?

  • Dual citizenship applications
  • Marriage abroad
  • Visa or residency applications
  • Foreign school enrollment
  • Family immigration matters
  • Inheritance and property matters overseas

The receiving authority decides whether an apostille is required. Check with them, or tell us where the document is going.

Do Not Notarize a Photocopy

This is the most common mistake. A California notary cannot certify a copy of a vital record. Taking a photocopy of your birth certificate to a notary will not make it eligible for an apostille, and can lead to rejection.

What you need is an official certified copy issued by the proper California authority. The apostille then authenticates the signature of the official who certified it.

Is My Birth Certificate Eligible?

  • Which county or state office issued the certified copy
  • The type of certified copy you hold
  • The official's signature and seal
  • The age and condition of the certificate
  • The destination country's requirements

If your copy is not suitable, we'll explain what to order before you spend time or money on the wrong document.

Birth Certificate Apostille Process

  1. 1 Send us a clear scan or photo for a preliminary review.
  2. 2 We confirm whether the certificate is ready, or tell you what to order.
  3. 3 The eligible certificate is submitted to the California Secretary of State.
  4. 4 The apostilled certificate is returned securely.

Frequently Asked

Can you apostille a copy of my birth certificate?

Only if it is an official certified copy. Photocopies and notary-made copies are not accepted.

Does the apostille expire?

An apostille itself does not carry an expiration date, but some receiving offices require a recently issued certificate. Ask the receiving office.

Will the foreign office accept it?

The apostille authenticates the signature. The receiving office decides whether the document meets its own rules, including any translation requirement.

Check My Birth Certificate See the full process

Keep Reading

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Need a faster response? Call or text us at +1 (925) 322-3131