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San Francisco Apostille Service for Documents Used in China

Mail-in Apostille assistance for San Francisco and Bay Area residents who need eligible U.S. documents prepared for use in China. We identify the correct state or federal route, review, submit, track, and securely return documents.

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Private mail-in document assistance — no Apostille for China walk-in office in San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline representing California Apostille services for documents used in China
All 50 states and eligible federal documentsReview before submissionStatus trackingSecure returnEnglish and Chinese support

California Apostille

China Apostille update

The Apostille Convention took effect for mainland China on November 7, 2023. Eligible U.S. public documents generally use an Apostille from the competent state or federal authority instead of the former Chinese consular-legalization chain. An Apostille authenticates a signature or seal, not the truth of the content or acceptance by a recipient.

  • The issuing office, issuing state, notarizing state, and state-or-federal status determine the authority—not the customer's address.
  • California birth, death, marriage, and court records generally need the proper certified copy; hospital keepsake certificates are not eligible vital records.
  • Check the official name and title printed at the bottom of a California birth or death certificate. A Local Registrar or Health Officer signature may need county-clerk certification, or a new qualifying copy from the County Recorder or California Department of Public Health.
  • Do not add county-clerk certification to every California document. It is required only for signatures that need that authentication step.
  • Private documents generally need a complete California notarial certificate. Another-state and eligible federal records follow their own authorities.
California Secretary of StateCalifornia Apostille FAQsSan Francisco County ClerkMTC Bay AreaU.S. Department of State

Quick document-authority check

Choose the document source for general routing guidance. A case review is still required.

Document services for life, study, family, and business

The issuing office and signature determine eligibility. Every category below remains subject to document review and the receiving organization's requirements.

Declarations and identity evidence

Residence, single-status, no-spouse, same-person, domicile, proof-of-life, property gift, inheritance renunciation, and general declarations.

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Powers of attorney

General, property sale or purchase, bank account, child foster-care, criminal-record application, and custom powers of attorney.

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Vital, identity and court records

California birth and death certificates, San Francisco County marriage records, divorce decrees, court orders, probate, name-change, and eligible identity copies.

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Education and professional records

Diplomas, degrees, transcripts, enrollment letters, school records, notarized education documents, and eligible professional licenses.

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Business, trade and IP records

California formation and status filings, resolutions, bylaws, contracts, banking, technology, port, trade, and eligible intellectual-property documents.

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Federal and FBI documents

FBI identity history summaries, federal court and agency records, naturalization documents under the proper procedure, and other eligible federal records.

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A clear mail-in process

  1. 1

    Identify the issuer

    Confirm the record, issuing office, notarization state, and intended use in China.

  2. 2

    Determine the authority

    California, another U.S. state, and federal documents use different competent authorities.

  3. 3

    Prepare the right document

    Obtain the eligible original, certified copy, or correctly notarized document.

  4. 4

    Complete signature certification

    For vital records, complete county-clerk certification only when that specific official's signature requires it.

  5. 5

    Create an order

    Choose Standard, Expedited, or Express service on the secure main site.

  6. 6

    Wait for case instructions

    Use the mailing address and document checklist shown in your account.

  7. 7

    Mail the documents

    Send documents only to the case-specific address displayed in the customer account.

  8. 8

    Review, submit, track, and return

    We review eligibility, submit, track, and securely return completed documents.

Create an order before mailing originals. Use only the case-specific address shown in your account.

Registrar review

San Francisco Bay Area education documents

Diplomas, transcripts, and registrar letters may need school certification and California notarization before an Apostille. School names identify possible record sources only; Apostille for China is not affiliated with or endorsed by any listed institution.

University of California, San Francisco · University of San Francisco · San Francisco State University · Academy of Art University · Golden Gate University · City College of San Francisco · UC Berkeley · Stanford University · San José State University · Santa Clara University · Mills College at Northeastern University

Transparent service pricing

Return shipping: one flat $25 fee per order.

Processing estimates begin after complete, acceptable documents arrive. Government processing and shipping may change and are not guaranteed. Service fees are separate from government and third-party fees.

Serving San Francisco and the Nine-County Bay Area

San Francisco is one consolidated city and county. Browse its neighborhoods together with all 101 incorporated cities across the nine-county Bay Area.

  • San Francisco
  • Downtown San Francisco
  • Financial District
  • Union Square
  • Chinatown
  • North Beach
  • Russian Hill
  • Nob Hill
  • Telegraph Hill
  • Fisherman's Wharf
  • Marina District
  • Pacific Heights
  • Presidio
  • Richmond District
  • Inner Richmond
  • Outer Richmond
  • Sunset District
  • Inner Sunset
  • Outer Sunset
  • Haight-Ashbury
  • Hayes Valley
  • Western Addition
  • Japantown
  • Civic Center
  • South of Market (SoMa)
  • Mission District
  • Mission Bay
  • Potrero Hill
  • Dogpatch
  • Castro
  • Noe Valley
  • Bernal Heights
  • Glen Park
  • Twin Peaks
  • West Portal
  • Ingleside
  • Excelsior
  • Visitacion Valley
  • Bayview–Hunters Point
  • Portola
  • Oceanview
  • Treasure Island
  • Yerba Buena Island
All San Francisco Bay Area service areas →

  • Atherton
  • Belmont
  • Brisbane
  • Burlingame
  • Colma
  • Daly City
  • East Palo Alto
  • Foster City
  • Half Moon Bay
  • Hillsborough
  • Menlo Park
  • Millbrae
  • Pacifica
  • Portola Valley
  • Redwood City
  • San Bruno
  • San Carlos
  • San Mateo
  • South San Francisco
  • Woodside
All San Francisco Bay Area service areas →

View all Bay Area service areas

San Francisco Apostille questions

Prepare the eligible original, certified copy, or correctly notarized document, create an order, and follow the mailing instructions in your account. Eligible California signatures generally use the California Secretary of State.

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Convention route

Chinese Consulate clarification

For most eligible U.S. public documents used in mainland China, an Apostille replaces the former consular legalization chain after the Convention took effect for China on November 7, 2023. Confirm the receiving institution's current rule. Apostille for China is not affiliated with or authorized by the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco.

Local guidance, one secure application

This San Francisco site provides localized preparation guidance. Accounts, payments, uploads, and applications remain on ApostilleforChina.com.

San Francisco guidance→ApostilleforChina.com→Case instructions

Ready to prepare a document for China?

Create the order first; your account will show the case-specific mailing instructions.

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Confirm the receiving requirements before ordering

Requirements can vary by government office, school, bank, court, or other recipient in China. Confirm the required document version, translation, issue date, and attachments before ordering. Any sample is for reference only and is not an official Apostille.