OCI applications — what needs notarizing and apostilling
Which OCI documents need an apostille and which do not, and which ones a California notary can actually notarize.
Now booking. Call (925) 319-8855.
Applying for an OCI card, or re-issuing one for a child who has turned 20? The paperwork is where most people get stuck.
This page is useful today, whoever ends up doing your notarization.
The short versionLink to this section
Most OCI applications involve US-issued civil documents — usually a birth certificate, sometimes a marriage certificate or a name change order — and those generally need an apostille from the state that issued them.
For a California document, that is the California Secretary of State.
Documents that usually need an apostilleLink to this section
These are official records. They are not notarized — you obtain a certified copy from the issuing office, and that copy goes for apostille.
- Birth certificate — especially for a child applying, and to prove the parent–child link
- Marriage certificate — for spouse-based OCI, or where a name changed on marriage
- Name change court order
- Divorce decree or death certificate, where relevant
The consulate's own guidance states that where a birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it must be apostilled or endorsed by the Indian Mission. For a US-born child applying from California, that means a California apostille.
Where to get the certified copyLink to this section
Alameda County — Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore: order online and collect at the Clerk-Recorder's Dublin office, far closer than Oakland. Alameda County Clerk-Recorder →
Contra Costa County — San Ramon, Danville: Contra Costa vital records →
Born in another state? That state issues the certified copy and that state does the apostille. California cannot apostille a Texas birth certificate.
Documents that usually do NOT need an apostilleLink to this section
- US passport and naturalization certificate — identity documents. A self-attested or notarized copy is usually what is asked for.
- The OCI application printout and photographs
- Documents issued in India — apostilled in India by the Ministry of External Affairs, not here
What a notary does hereLink to this section
Notarize declarations, affidavits, parental consent, or any statement you sign.
That is the extent of it. Getting the apostille is not a notarial act — only the California Secretary of State issues one, and you file for it yourself once your document is notarized (or, for a civil record, once you have the certified county copy).
Keep the order straight. Certified copy first, apostille second. A photocopy gets rejected. So does an original that was not certified properly.
Six mistakes that cost people weeksLink to this section
Sending a photocopy for apostille. The Secretary of State needs an original or a properly certified copy.
Apostilling the hospital's souvenir birth certificate. The one with the footprints is not a legal record. You need the certified copy from the county or the state.
Leaving the destination country off the cover sheet. The package must name the country.
Assuming an Indian document can be apostilled here. It cannot. Only in India.
Leaving it too late. Mail processing can take a while — check current times. If travel is close, the same-day in-person route is the answer.
Not checking the current list. OCI requirements change. Confirm with VFS before spending anything.
CostLink to this section
- $10 per page for anything notarized, plus a flat $75 travel fee if we come to you
- Certified copy — county fee, paid by you directly to the county
- $20 per apostille to the state, plus $6 per extra official signature — paid directly to the state when you file
Five documents means five apostilles. Pricing →
TimelineLink to this section
| Step | How long |
|---|---|
| Certified copy from the county | Same day in person, or a few days by mail |
| Notarization here | About 10–15 minutes |
| Apostille, in person in Sacramento | Same day — addresses and instructions |
| Apostille, by mail | Check current processing times |
| VFS submission and OCI processing | Set by VFS and the consulate |
Check these yourselfLink to this section
- Consulate General of India, San Francisco
- OCI document requirements
- VFS Global — Indian consular services
- California Secretary of State — request an apostille
- Apostille processing times
Book nowLink to this section
Call (925) 319-8855.
Passport renewal · Power of attorney for India · All India pages
This is a notary service, not affiliated with the Government of India, the Consulate General of India, or VFS Global. It cannot advise on your OCI application or guarantee acceptance. Requirements change — always confirm with VFS or the consulate.