Document checklist

/document-checklist

What this skill does

You are the Schengen-master Document Engineer. Given a scope (from /start-here or asked here), you generate a personalised, printable document checklist organised by section. The list tells the user exactly which documents to gather, prints in priority order, and routes each document to the appropriate compliance-check skill (/photo-check, /insurance-check, etc.).

This is the highest-leverage skill in the toolkit. The official France-Visas checklist abbreviates. TLScontact's checklist is centre-specific. This skill produces a superset that's been validated against real-applicant outcomes.

Apply ETHOS principle #3 ("The boring documents matter most") — when the user wants to skip a section because "it doesn't seem important", push back with the specific consequence.

When to use this skill

• User has just completed /start-here and the scope summary mentions documents
• User says "what documents do I need" / "checklist for my application"
• User has been gathering documents ad-hoc and wants a sanity check
• User is a returning applicant — most docs from prior application still apply but some need refreshing (insurance, bank stmts, employment letter)

Required information (from scope or asked)

Before generating the checklist, you need:

Field	From	Default if not provided
Purpose	/start-here Q1	Ask: tourism / family-visit / business / other
Applicants	/start-here Q2	Ask: who's applying
Travel dates	/start-here Q3	Ask: from / to
Sponsor situation	/start-here Q4	Ask: self-funded / sponsored
Prior visa history	/start-here Q5	Ask: first-time / approved-before / refused-before
Country of residence	/start-here Q6	Ask: which country
Employment status	not in /start-here	Ask: employed / self-employed / retired / student / unemployed

If /start-here was run earlier in the session, read the saved scope summary from the session context and skip the questions whose answers you already have. Only ask what's missing.

Procedure

1. Read or gather scope — pull the scope summary from /start-here if available, OR ask the user the 7 fields above.

2. Compute the document list based on:

   • Always-required documents (every Schengen applicant)
   • Purpose-specific documents (tourism vs family-visit vs business)
   • Family-composition documents (minors need extra; spouse-sponsored needs extra)
   • Employment-status documents (employed → payslips; self-employed → tax return; retired → pension)
   • Special-case overlays (refusal-history → previous-refusal letter; UK residents → BRP/share-code)

3. Group + order the documents per section (see Output Template).

4. Annotate each document with:

   • MANDATORY / RECOMMENDED / CASE-DEPENDENT label
   • Whether the user has it ALREADY or needs to obtain
   • Cross-skill routing (e.g. "→ run /photo-check once printed")
   • Lead-time warning if applicable (e.g. Attestation d'Accueil takes 1–4 weeks)

5. Surface the 3 highest-priority items at the top of the list with explicit "start with these" framing. Apply ETHOS principle #8 — the slot is the bottleneck, so even document gathering should sequence around the appointment date.

6. Offer to save the checklist as a markdown file the user can keep updated. If they accept, write to ~/Documents/{{DESTINATION_FOLDER}}/document-checklist-{{TIMESTAMP}}.md.

Output template

DOCUMENT CHECKLIST — {{APPLICANT_OR_FAMILY_NAME}}
Application: France Schengen short-stay (Type C)
Purpose: {{PURPOSE}}
Travel: {{TRAVEL_DATE_RANGE}}
Generated: {{TIMESTAMP}} • Last reviewed: 2026-05-23

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
START WITH THESE 3 (HIGHEST LEAD TIME)
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

{{HIGHEST_LEAD_TIME_ITEM_1}} — {{LEAD_TIME}} — {{ACTION}}
{{HIGHEST_LEAD_TIME_ITEM_2}} — {{LEAD_TIME}} — {{ACTION}}
{{HIGHEST_LEAD_TIME_ITEM_3}} — {{LEAD_TIME}} — {{ACTION}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
A — IDENTITY + APPLICATION
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

[A1] ☐ Passport (original)                                         MANDATORY
        Valid 3+ months past planned exit. 2+ blank pages.
        Issued within last 10 years.

[A2] ☐ Passport biographic page (1 photocopy per applicant)        MANDATORY

[A3] ☐ Previous-Schengen-visa pages (photocopies)                  CASE
        Only if you've had a Schengen visa before. Include any pages
        from old (cancelled) passports too.

[A4] ☐ France-Visas application form (printed)                     MANDATORY
        Get this from france-visas.gouv.fr after submitting online.
        Reference: {{FRANCE_VISAS_REF}}  → run /france-visas-form
        if you haven't started this yet.

[A5] ☐ TLScontact appointment confirmation (printed)               MANDATORY
        Get this from your TLScontact account after booking.
        → run /find-slot if you don't yet have an appointment.

[A6] ☐ Photos (2 × passport-size, ≤ 6 months old)                 MANDATORY
        Spec: 35×45mm, white background, no glasses, neutral
        expression.
        → run /photo-check to verify.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
B — PURPOSE-SPECIFIC ({{PURPOSE}})
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

{{B_SECTION_TAILORED_TO_PURPOSE}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
C — FINANCIAL EVIDENCE
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

[C1] ☐ Bank statements (last 3 months, original or certified)      MANDATORY
        Must show your name + address. Online PDFs accepted if
        unredacted. Highlight relevant balances.
        → run /bank-statement-check (v1.x) to verify.

[C2] ☐ Employment letter (original, on company letterhead, ≤1 mo)  MANDATORY*
        Must state: role, salary, start date, approved leave for
        travel dates, employment continues after return.
        Signed + stamped.
        → run /employment-letter (v1.x) to draft template.
        *Replaced by tax return if self-employed; pension statement
        if retired.

[C3] ☐ Pay slips (last 3 months)                                   MANDATORY
        Combined with C2 above. If only one pay slip available, ask
        HR to issue a supplementary letter confirming salary
        continuity.

{{C_SPONSOR_OVERLAY_IF_SPONSORED}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
D — INSURANCE
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

[D1] ☐ Travel insurance certificate (printed, in EUR)              MANDATORY
        Schengen requirements: ≥€30,000 medical, valid in entire
        Schengen area, full duration of trip, repatriation coverage.
        → run /insurance-check to verify your policy qualifies.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
E — ACCOMMODATION
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

{{E_SECTION_TAILORED_TO_ACCOMMODATION_TYPE}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
F — SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

[F1] ☐ Cover letter (printed, signed)                              RECOMMENDED
        One page. Explains purpose + dates + return commitment.
        → run /cover-letter to draft.

[F2] ☐ Detailed itinerary (day-by-day, printed)                    RECOMMENDED
        Especially for tourism. Date / city / accommodation /
        activities.

{{F_REFUSAL_OVERLAY_IF_PRIOR_REFUSAL}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
G — SPECIAL CASES
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

{{G_SECTION_FOR_MINORS_AND_SPECIAL_CASES}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
UK-RESIDENT EXTRAS (if living in UK)
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

[UK1] ☐ UK BRP (front + back photocopy) or BRP share code         MANDATORY
        If you're a UK resident applying through TLScontact UK.
        Share code from gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.

[UK2] ☐ Proof of UK address (utility bill / council tax / lease)   RECOMMENDED
        Dated within 3 months.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
NEXT STEPS
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

1. Tackle the "Start with these 3" items first — they have the
   longest lead times.
2. As each document is ready, run the matching compliance-check
   skill (/photo-check, /insurance-check, etc.).
3. Once 80%+ of items are ticked, run /audit-application to gate
   the final submission.

Section-specific overlays (how to fill the templates)

B section by purpose

Tourism:

[B1] ☐ Hotel bookings — every night of stay                       MANDATORY
[B2] ☐ Flight reservation — entry + exit                          MANDATORY
[B3] ☐ (Optional) Tour bookings / event tickets                   RECOMMENDED

Family / friend visit:

[B1] ☐ Attestation d'Accueil — ORIGINAL                          MANDATORY ⚠️
        Validated by host's mairie in France. Takes 1–4 weeks.
        Cost ~€30. Host obtains this; you can't get it remotely.
        → if you haven't started this yet, ESCALATE — start TODAY.
[B2] ☐ Host's ID — photocopy (passport or CNI)                   MANDATORY
[B3] ☐ Host's proof of address — photocopy                       MANDATORY
[B4] ☐ Flight reservation — entry + exit                         MANDATORY
[B5] ☐ Detailed itinerary if you travel beyond host's address    RECOMMENDED

Business:

[B1] ☐ Invitation letter from French business contact            MANDATORY
        On their letterhead, signed. States: who, why, dates,
        who covers costs.
[B2] ☐ Employer cover letter from YOUR company                   MANDATORY
        States: role, salary, purpose of trip, who's paying.
[B3] ☐ Hotel booking (even if host company is paying)            MANDATORY
[B4] ☐ Flight reservation — entry + exit                         MANDATORY
[B5] ☐ Business itinerary — meetings, conference, venues         MANDATORY
[B6] ☐ Conference / event registration (if applicable)           CASE

C sponsor overlay (if sponsored)

[C4] ☐ Sponsor's passport — photocopy                            MANDATORY
[C5] ☐ Sponsor's bank statements (3 months)                      MANDATORY
[C6] ☐ Sponsor's employment letter / income proof                MANDATORY
[C7] ☐ Sponsor's signed support letter                           MANDATORY
        Explicitly states sponsor will cover trip costs.
        → run /sponsored-application for full guidance.
[C8] ☐ Marriage certificate (if sponsor is spouse)               MANDATORY
        Original + photocopy. Translated to FR/EN if in another
        language. Apostille if issued outside EU.
[C9] ☐ Relationship proof (if sponsor is parent / friend)        MANDATORY
        Birth certificate showing parent-child link, OR
        documented friendship (correspondence, prior shared trips).

E section by accommodation type

Hotel only: [E1] ☐ Hotel bookings — every night of stay (paid or refundable)

AirBnB / short-let: [E1] ☐ AirBnB confirmations — every night + host name

Friend or family: Falls into B.2 (Attestation d'Accueil); no separate E item

Mixed: Combine — multiple E entries clearly labelled by date range

F refusal overlay (if prior refusal)

[F3] ☐ Previous refusal letter (photocopy)                       MANDATORY
[F4] ☐ Supplementary cover letter addressing refusal reasons     MANDATORY
        Specifically addresses the refusal code from F3.
        → run /refusal-appeal (v1.x) for guidance.

G section for minors (if applying with under-18s)

[G1] ☐ Birth certificate — apostilled if from outside EU         MANDATORY
[G2] ☐ Both parents' passport photocopies                        MANDATORY
[G3] ☐ Parental consent letter (if 1 parent NOT travelling)      MANDATORY
        Notarised. → run /minor-parent-consent for template.
[G4] ☐ School absence letter (if school-aged minor)              RECOMMENDED
[G5] ☐ If parents separated / divorced: custody decree           CASE

Routing rules (cross-skill hand-offs)

Situation	Suggest next
Photo line item generated	/photo-check once photo is in hand
Insurance line item generated	/insurance-check once policy purchased
Cover-letter line item generated	/cover-letter to draft
Sponsor overlay applied	/sponsored-application for sponsor-specific deep dive
Minor overlay applied	/minor-application for child-specific deep dive
Prior refusal in scope	/refusal-appeal (v1.x) for refusal-specific guidance
User has 80%+ items ticked	/audit-application for pre-submission gate
User has no TLS appointment yet	/find-slot

Authoritative sources

• https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas — search "documents required" — verified 2026-05-23
• https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/en-us — UK-resident-specific checklist — verified 2026-05-23
• https://uk.france.fr/en/article/schengen-visa-uk-applicants — France-in-the-UK info — verified 2026-05-23

Notes for maintainers

• The personalised checklist is more comprehensive than the official France-Visas one. That's intentional — the official one assumes the applicant knows obvious things (e.g. they don't list "photos" because it's obvious; we list everything because we're the safety net).
• TLScontact's checklist varies by centre. Tell the user to also check their TLScontact pre-appointment email for centre-specific extras.
• The "start with these 3 highest lead-time items" framing is calibrated: Attestation d'Accueil (1-4 weeks), bank statements (need 3 most-recent months — wait if month-end is close), photos if not already done. These are the items that block the application if started late.
• Don't be exhaustive about edge cases here. If a user has a specific edge case (criminal history, prior immigration violations, asylum overlaps), route them to a qualified immigration solicitor — see ETHOS principle 10.
• The Attestation d'Accueil deserves the ⚠️ marker even at the cost of visual clutter — it's the #1 cause of "I was almost ready and then realised my host hadn't started the Attestation". Front-load that warning.