Serving San Diego, CA by mail
Federal Apostille Services in San Diego, CA
How San Diego residents get federal documents apostilled — and where California state documents go instead.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no apostille counter for federal documents in San Diego — only one office in the country issues them, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that for San Diego clients by mail. California state documents go to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from San Diego are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — there is no local federal apostille office.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- County
- San Diego County
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- State apostille office
- California Secretary of State
- Our nearest office
- Los Angeles
How it works from San Diego
We don’t have an office in San Diego — and you don’t need one. San Diego clients send documents by mail, and our nearest office is Los Angeles, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Order online
Tell us the document and destination. No payment until we confirm route and price.
Mail us the document
Ship it by USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL. We review it against authentication requirements before submission.
We process in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, and handle embassy legalization for non-Hague countries.
You receive it
Returned by tracked courier.
San Diego and California documents
San Diego is in San Diego County, within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Federal court records from there are authenticated federally; California birth, marriage and state-court records, and anything notarized in California, go to the California Secretary of State. See our California guide for the full breakdown.
Official sources: California Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Documents for San Diego residents
Pick your document for the exact route from San Diego:
Where are California state documents apostilled?
California-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in California — are apostilled by the California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the California authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section |
|---|---|
| In person | 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (also Los Angeles: 300 South Spring Street) |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, CA 94277-0001 |
| Phone | (916) 653-6814 |
| Hours | Sacramento Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $20 |
| Processing time (published) | Mail processed in order received; same day in person |
Source: California Secretary of State — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Fees, hours and appointment rules change — confirm with the office before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from San Diego?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost in San Diego?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
San Diego — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in San Diego?
No. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for San Diego clients by mail.
Do you have an office in San Diego?
No — San Diego is served by mail. Our nearest office is Los Angeles, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Where are California state documents apostilled?
By the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
Which federal court covers San Diego?
San Diego is in San Diego County, within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.