San Francisco Apostille Service
Same-Day & Overnight Options Available
California apostille processing for personal, legal, and business documents. Get an instant price estimate below, or call now to talk to us directly.
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International destination checker
Which country is your document headed to?
Check whether your destination needs a standard Hague apostille or full embassy/consulate legalization.
Philippines
Hague memberJoined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2019. A California apostille is accepted directly — no Philippine Embassy legalization required.
What we need from you
Four items get your apostille moving.
This is the exact order the Secretary of State requires — miss one, and processing stalls. We check every piece before it's submitted.
Signed or notarized original
A document signed by a California public official, or an original notarized and/or certified document. Photocopies aren't accepted.
Destination country stated
A cover sheet naming the country where the document will be used, so it's routed and formatted correctly.
Check or money order
Payable to the Secretary of State for the state filing fee — separate from our service fee.
Self-addressed envelope
For your processed document to come back. Want tracking? Provide prepaid postage, or we'll ship FedEx Priority.
Document coverage
What we authenticate
If a foreign agency, school, employer, or registry needs to trust a U.S. document, it likely needs an apostille or legalization first.
Time-sensitive filing? Ask about same-day apostille processing for eligible documents.
Transparent pricing
California apostille — choose your turnaround
Same California Secretary of State apostille, three processing speeds. Pick the one that matches your deadline.
Standard Apostille
- Each additional doc. $100
- Domestic mail included
- State gov. processing fee included
- Notary fee excluded
- Processing: 21–30 business days
3–5 Day Apostille
- Each additional doc. $100
- Domestic mail included
- State gov. processing fee included
- Notary fee excluded
- Processing: 3–5 business days
Same-Day / Overnight Apostille
- Each additional doc. $100
- Domestic mail included
- State gov. processing fee included
- Notary fee excluded
- Processing: same business day or overnight, when eligible
Why work with us
Doing it yourself vs. JoeBABA Notary
Avoid the most common reasons apostille requests get rejected or delayed.
| Step | On your own | With JoeBABA |
|---|---|---|
| Document pre-check | No review — easy to submit the wrong copy type | We check format before it's filed |
| Secretary of State drop-off | Mail it and wait, or stand in line yourself | We handle drop-off and pickup |
| Notarization | Find and schedule a separate notary | Notarized here first, in the same visit |
| Return shipping | Standard mail only, limited tracking | FedEx Priority available worldwide |
| Status updates | Government phone lines, no direct contact | Direct call/text with our office |
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille?+
An apostille (ah-po-steel) is a certification issued by the Secretary of State. Attached to your original document, it confirms the authenticity of an official's signature so the document is accepted in countries that belong to the Hague Convention.
Which of my documents actually need one?+
Most documents heading overseas for legal, academic, or business use — birth and marriage certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, corporate filings — need authentication before a foreign authority will accept them. See the document list above, or call us if you're not sure.
Can you apostille a divorce judgment (Form FL-180)?+
Yes. Form FL-180 is the official "Judgment" document in California family law courts, used to finalize a divorce, legal separation, or nullity of a marriage or domestic partnership. A certified copy from the court can be submitted for a California apostille — commonly needed for remarrying abroad, name changes, or visa and residency applications overseas.
Does my destination country accept apostilles?+
As of late 2023, 126 countries are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries outside the Convention require embassy or consulate legalization instead. Use the country lookup above, or tell us your destination and we'll confirm the correct process.
What do I need to send you?+
- A signed, notarized, or certified original document
- A cover sheet naming the destination country
- Payment for the state filing fee
- A self-addressed return envelope, or prepaid tracked postage
Local San Francisco office
Get in touch
Sat : 9AM–8PM · Sun : By appointment
Send an eligibility question
Tell us about your document and we'll confirm what's needed.
Ready when you are
Let's get your document ready for the world.
Email your document details, or book a time and we'll walk you through exactly what's needed.