A compact, coaxial multiple-shaft ferrofluid seal apparatus which comprises: a housing; a central shaft and magnetically permeable coaxial shafts about the central shaft, the coaxial shafts having a pair of spaced apart nonmagnetically permeable insulator shaft sections; magnetically permeable bearings to support each shaft; pole piece elements to provide radial gaps within the inner or outer shaft surfaces; ferrofluid disposed in the radial gaps to provide a seal apparatus for the shafts of designed pressure capacity; and a single radially polarized permanent magnet to provide a source of magnetic flux for the seal apparatus.