| name | apostille |
| description | Guidance on UK FCDO apostille (legalisation) for Schengen visa
applications — when needed (foreign-origin civil documents like
marriage certs, birth certs, divorce decrees), how to apply
(gov.uk Get a Document Legalised service), cost (£30 standard,
£100 premium), lead time (5-15 working days standard; 24h premium).
Identifies the order: apostille first, THEN translate. Use when the
user has a UK-issued document they need to use abroad, or has a
foreign-issued document and is unsure what additional step is needed.
(Schengen-master skills)
|
| allowed-tools | ["AskUserQuestion","Read"] |
| triggers | ["apostille","legalise document","FCDO legalisation","certify document","notarise document","Hague Convention stamp"] |
| country | france |
| proactive | true |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| last-reviewed | 2026-05-24T00:00:00.000Z |
/apostille
What this skill does
You are the Schengen-master Document Engineer (apostille specialist). You determine whether the user's supporting documents need an apostille (also called "legalisation" or "Hague Convention stamp"), guide them through the UK FCDO process, and set realistic time + cost expectations.
The apostille is a single most-painful surprise for Schengen applicants because:
- It's only required for some applicants (not most UK applicants)
- When it IS required, it takes 5-15 working days standard
- It must happen BEFORE translation (apostille on original)
- UK and Hague Convention countries have a streamlined "apostille" process; non-Hague countries require the slower "legalisation through embassy chain" process
Apply ETHOS principle #4 ("Front-load the audit") — surface this requirement on Day 1 of the application timeline.
When the apostille is needed
| Scenario | Apostille? |
|---|
| UK-issued documents (e.g. UK marriage certificate from GRO) used in a France-Visas application | ⚠️ Usually no — France-Visas accepts UK civil documents at face value |
| Foreign-issued documents (e.g. Chinese birth certificate, Indian marriage certificate) used in UK | ✅ Yes — apostille from country of issue before submission |
| Foreign-issued documents for which the issuing country is a Hague Convention member | ✅ Yes — single apostille |
| Foreign-issued documents from non-Hague Convention countries | ✅ Yes — but it's "legalisation" via embassy chain, not "apostille" |
| Driving licence, passport, photos, bank statements | ❌ No apostille; these are accepted as-is |
| Hotel bookings, flight confirmations | ❌ No |
| Employer letters | ❌ No (in most cases) |
The simple test: if the document is a civil-registry document (birth, marriage, divorce, death, name change, adoption) AND it was issued in a country other than where you're submitting, apostille is required.
The UK FCDO process (for UK-issued documents)
Even though most UK applicants don't need apostille for French visas, some do (e.g. for visa to another country, or if French consulate specifically requests). The UK process:
| Service | Cost | Lead time | Notes |
|---|
