Notary Public Application and Apostille Processing Times Update
Summary
The California Secretary of State Notary Public Section has updated processing times for notary applications and apostille requests. Notary public applications with exam dates of February 21, 2026 are currently being processed; reappointment applicants will receive commissions no sooner than 30 days prior to current commission expiration. Apostille mail requests from March 25, 2026 are being processed in Sacramento; in-person submissions are processed within 30 minutes at Sacramento or Los Angeles offices with arrival by 4:30 p.m. A $6.00 special handling fee applies to in-person document submissions.
What changed
The California Secretary of State Notary Section updated its processing timelines for notary public applications and apostille requests. Notary applications are now being processed for exams dated February 21, 2026, with reappointment applicants receiving commissions no earlier than 30 days before expiration pending background check completion. Apostille mail processing is current through March 25, 2026, while in-person apostille submissions are processed within 30 minutes at Sacramento or Los Angeles offices.\n\nNotary applicants and those seeking apostille authentication services should plan accordingly, allowing additional time for mail submissions and noting the 30-day pre-expiration window for reappointment applications. The Los Angeles office is temporarily located on the 1st floor suite 1215 due to elevator outage. In-person applicants should arrive by 4:30 p.m. to guarantee same-day processing.
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
The time it takes to process a document varies depending on the type of request submitted and how the request is submitted.
Notary Public Applications
We are currently processing applications received with an exam date of February 21, 2026.
For applicants seeking reappointment, a commission will be issued no sooner than 30 days prior to expiration of your current commission once your application has been processed and approved. The issuance of a notary public commission may be delayed pending completion of a background check by the California Department of Justice.
Apostilles
IMPORTANT: The Los Angeles Office is temporarily providing services on the 1st floor in suite 1215 due to an elevator outage.
Our Sacramento office is currently processing Apostille requests received: 03/25/2026
In Person
In-person submissions received at our Sacramento or Los Angeles offices are typically processed within 30 minutes after submission. Please arrive by 4:30 p.m. to guarantee service.
Contact Information for Sacramento and Los Angeles offices
Note: There is an additional $6.00 special handling fee for processing a document delivered in person.
For questions about all other processes, contact the Notary Public Section.
Last updated: April 17, 2026
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