Why do I need to have a Canadian Death Certificate Apostilled or Authenticated and Legalized to use it in a foreign country?

A Canadian Death Certificate is initially only valid for use in Canada therefore a foreign country will not accept a Canadian Death Certificate. To make the Death Certificate valid for use in a foreign country, it will first need to go through either the process of Apostille or Authentication and then if authenticated it needs Legalization at the Embassy Consulate of the country in which the document will be used. In both cases the authenticity of the foregoing signature is verified, effectively making the document valid for use in that foreign country. Some countries might ask you to get the Death Certificate Apostilled since that is the process most used in that foreign country. Since Canada has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, we now issue Apostille Certificates for use in member countries.