San Francisco, CA
Federal Marriage Record Apostille in San Francisco, CA
How San Francisco residents get their Federal Marriage Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, the local details, timing and price.
Quick answer
Most federal marriage record holders in San Francisco actually have a California state record, which goes to the California Secretary of State. Only genuinely federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.
- County
- The City and County of San Francisco
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- State apostille office
- California Secretary of State, Sacramento
- Our nearest office
- San Francisco
Married in California? It’s probably a state record
Marriage certificates issued by a California county clerk or the state vital records office are state documents, apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento — not by the U.S. Department of State. Only consular or federally issued marriage records take the federal route.
Send us a photo before ordering and we’ll tell you which route yours takes.
San Francisco: the local details
San Francisco is in the City and County of San Francisco, within the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. California state documents are apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
About the Federal Marriage Record
How to apostille a federally issued or consular marriage record for spousal visas and foreign registration.
Getting it done from San Francisco
Our San Francisco office handles San Francisco orders by phone and online. It’s a processing office and isn’t open to the public, so documents come to us by mail.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
Official sources: U.S. Department of State — Marriage Abroad · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · California Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Federal Marriage Record in San Francisco — FAQ
Is there an apostille office in San Francisco for a Federal Marriage Record?
State-issued versions go to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento; federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.
Do I need to visit an office in San Francisco?
No. Our San Francisco office isn’t open to the public — San Francisco clients order online or by phone, send documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from San Francisco?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Which federal court covers San Francisco?
San Francisco is in the City and County of San Francisco, within the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Related: All documents in San Francisco · Federal Marriage Record in California · Federal Marriage Record — full guide
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.