Apostille Notary Services in Daly City, CA 

If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will generally require authentication and embassy or consular legalization rather than an apostille.

1. Document Preparation and Notarization (If Required)
Certain documents, such as Powers of Attorney, affidavits, authorization letters, and business documents, may need to be notarized before they can be authenticated.
Vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates, generally do not require notarization but must be certified copies issued by the appropriate government agency.
2. State Authentication (For State-Issued Documents)
Documents issued by a state agency or notarized within a state are typically authenticated by the Secretary of State in the state where the document originated.
Examples include:

• Birth Certificates

• Marriage Certificates

• Death Certificates

• School Records

• Corporate Documents

• Notarized Affidavits and Powers of Attorney

The Secretary of State verifies the signature and authority of the public official or notary whose signature appears on the document.
3. Federal Authentication (When Required)
Certain documents require authentication by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
Examples include:

• FBI Identity History Summary Checks

• Federal Court Documents

• Federally Issued Records

• Certain State-Authenticated Documents When Required by the Destination Country

The U.S. Department of State verifies the authenticity of the signatures and seals appearing on the document before it can proceed to embassy legalization.
4. Embassy or Consulate Legalization
After all required authentication steps have been completed, the document is submitted to the embassy or consulate of the destination country for legalization.
Embassy or consular legalization is the final certification step that allows the foreign government to recognize the document for official use within its jurisdiction.
Additional requirements may include:

• Certified Translations

• Embassy Application Forms

• Passport Copies

• Proof of Travel, Residency, Employment, or Immigration Status

• Additional Supporting Documentation Requested by the Embassy

Important Note
Authentication and legalization requirements vary by country, document type, and intended use. Some countries require state authentication, federal authentication, and embassy legalization, while others may require a different sequence of certifications.
Because embassy requirements and processing procedures can change without notice, documents should be reviewed carefully before submission to help avoid delays or rejection.