US state guide
California birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified California records. Here is how to order the right version, get the apostille and avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.
Order a certified long-form certificate
- OfficeCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Records (CDPH-VR)
- Long formAuthorized certified copy (vs. informational copy); authorized copy requires a notarized sworn statement
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$31
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byCalifornia Secretary of State
- Fee per document$20
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outCertificates signed by a local Health Officer or County Registrar must first be certified by the county clerk, or obtain a copy from the county recorder or CDPH; in-person requests add a $6 special handling fee per official signature.
Prepare it for your country
Greece
Certified long-form records, each with an apostille, then an official Greek translation.
Translate only after the apostille is attached, by a certified translator or the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs translation service.
Greek citizenship guide →Ireland
Original civil (state-issued) certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent.
US documents are in English, so no translation is needed. Check the current Foreign Births Register document guide before ordering apostilles.
Irish citizenship guide →Poland
Certified long-form records with apostilles, translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
Polish authorities require translations by a Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), done after the apostille.
Polish citizenship guide →Fees and procedures come from official California websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in California?
Order a certified copy from California Department of Public Health - Vital Records (CDPH-VR) (online, mail, in person). Note: Authorized certified copy (vs. informational copy); authorized copy requires a notarized sworn statement. Ask for the full version that lists both parents, because short-form or abstract copies are usually rejected for citizenship applications.
How do I get an apostille in California?
Apostilles for California documents are issued by California Secretary of State, currently $20 per document. Certificates signed by a local Health Officer or County Registrar must first be certified by the county clerk, or obtain a copy from the county recorder or CDPH; in-person requests add a $6 special handling fee per official signature. Check the official page for current fees and processing times.
Do I translate before or after the apostille?
After. The apostille certifies the signature on the original document, so the translation must cover the document and the apostille together.
Which countries' citizenship can these California documents be used for?
The same apostilled California records are the starting point for Greek, Irish and Polish citizenship by descent, among others. Each country adds its own translation and registration rules.
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