Los Angeles · California birth certificate apostille
We turn California and out-of-state birth certificates into documents foreign governments will accept — starting with the right certified copy, the issuing state, and the apostille route.
This page covers birth certificates only. For marriage, death, or divorce records, see the vital records hub.
What this page covers
A birth certificate apostille is what most foreign governments require before they will accept a U.S. birth certificate. We confirm you have a current, certified, long-form copy from the correct state vital-records office, then file it with that state's apostille authority — most often the California Secretary of State. If your destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, we walk you through the consular legalization chain.
Common reasons people need this
Foreign immigration officers, consulates, and visa programs routinely require an apostilled U.S. birth certificate to confirm identity, nationality, and family relationships. Common examples include long-stay visas, residency applications, work permits, and family reunification cases.
Countries that grant citizenship by descent — Italy, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Poland, and others — almost always require an apostilled long-form birth certificate for the applicant and frequently for parents and grandparents in the lineage.
If you plan to marry, register a partnership, adopt, or establish parental rights in another country, the foreign civil registrar will normally require an apostilled birth certificate to confirm identity and eligibility to marry.
International schools and universities — especially in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East — frequently require an apostilled birth certificate as part of the enrollment file for minor children or undergraduate applicants.
How it works
Text or email a clear photo of the birth certificate (front and back), the issuing state, the destination country, and your deadline. We confirm in writing whether your copy will be accepted or if a new long-form certified copy is needed first.
If a new copy is required, we tell you exactly which office to order from (CDPH, county recorder, or out-of-state vital-records office) and which version — long-form, amended, or recent issuance — your destination will accept.
We file with the correct Secretary of State (California or other), monitor processing, and return the apostilled certificate by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. Same-day rush is available for most California birth certificates.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
Birth Certificate apostille FAQ
Contact the vital-records office in the state where you were born. California residents can order through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or their county recorder. Most other states accept online, mail, or in-person requests. We can tell you the fastest option for your case.
Most countries that grant citizenship by descent and most immigration cases require the long-form (also called full, certified, or vault) version that lists both parents. Short-form abstracts are usually rejected for apostille purposes abroad.
California birth certificate apostilles can often be completed in 1–3 business days with in-person filing, and same-day rush is available in most cases. Other states vary, typically 1–6 weeks. Non-Hague destinations requiring consular legalization will add several more weeks.
Yes. Each U.S. state apostilles its own vital records, so a Texas or New York birth certificate must go through that state's Secretary of State. We coordinate ordering and filing directly with the issuing state.
Yes. The apostille is attached directly to the certified birth certificate and returned to you by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. We confirm return method in writing before submission.
The apostille itself is not translated. Whether the underlying birth certificate needs a certified translation depends on the destination country. We can recommend a certified translator after the apostille is complete.
Other vital records