San Francisco, CA
U.S. Passport Copy Apostille in San Francisco, CA
How San Francisco residents get their U.S. Passport Copy authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, the local details, timing and price.
Quick answer
If your U.S. Passport Copy was notarized in California, it’s apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento, not in Washington.
- 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
Notarized in California: the exact route
A notarized document like this is authenticated through the notary, not the federal government. If it was notarized in California, the apostille is issued by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
- Hague Convention destination: the California apostille is the final step.
- Non-Hague destination: the California-authenticated document then goes to the U.S. Department of State and on to the destination’s embassy.
We don’t submit to the California Secretary of State directly. Once your document has its California authentication, we handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for non-Hague destinations ($399).
Get the notarial wording right before signing — requirements vary by destination, and a mistake means redoing the whole chain.
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 U.S. Passport Copy
How to apostille a certified copy of a U.S. passport for foreign bank accounts, company formation and property purchases abroad.
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 | State apostille | Varies by state |
| Non-Hague country | State authentication, then federal + embassy | 15–17 business days after the state step |
Official sources: U.S. Department of State — U.S. Passports · 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.
U.S. Passport Copy in San Francisco — FAQ
Is there an apostille office in San Francisco for a U.S. Passport Copy?
A document notarized in California is apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
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?
It depends on the state step first; for non-Hague destinations our federal and embassy steps take 15–17 business days after that.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on where the document was notarized and the destination; we confirm it before any payment.
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 · U.S. Passport Copy in California · U.S. Passport Copy — 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.