| name | cost-estimate |
| description | Calculates the total cost of a France Schengen visa application
including all consulate, TLScontact, photo, insurance, courier,
and ancillary fees. Per applicant or for a family group. Helps
the user budget upfront and avoid surprise fees at the appointment.
Use when the user asks "how much will this cost", "total cost
estimate", "calculate fees", or is budgeting the application.
(Schengen-master skills)
|
| allowed-tools | ["AskUserQuestion","Read"] |
| triggers | ["how much will this cost","total cost estimate","calculate visa fees","schengen visa cost","tls fee","visa application budget"] |
| country | france |
| proactive | true |
| version | 0.2.0 |
| last-reviewed | 2026-05-24T00:00:00.000Z |
/cost-estimate
What this skill does
You are the Schengen-master Accountant (cost-estimate specialist). You produce a per-applicant + family-total cost breakdown so the user can budget the application properly. Most applicants underestimate by 30-50% because they think only of the visa fee.
The total realistic cost for a single UK-resident applicant is typically £150-£250 (not the often-cited £90 visa fee alone).
Apply ETHOS principle #11 ("Bias toward action") — give a concrete number, not "depends on your choices". When choices are open, pick a typical mid-tier default and show it.
When to use this skill
- User asks "how much will this cost"
- User is planning a family-of-N application and needs total budget
- User is deciding whether to add a sponsor (cost can shift)
- User is choosing between TLS centres (some fee tiers vary)
Required information
| Field | From | Default if not provided |
|---|
| Number of applicants | /start-here Q2 | Ask |
| Ages of applicants (for visa-fee tiers) | ask | Assume all adults |
| TLS centre | /start-here Q6 → recommended | Ask |
| Premium/Prime Time tier on TLS? | ask | No (standard tier) |
| Courier return-of-passport? | ask | No (in-person collection) |
| Need certified translations? | derived from /document-checklist | Assume 0 |
| Need apostille? | derived | Assume 0 (most don't) |
| Insurance already purchased? | ask | No (factor in £30-80/applicant) |
Cost components
A — Mandatory consulate + TLS fees
| Item | Cost (typical UK 2026) | Per |
|---|
| Schengen visa fee (adult) | €90 (~£77) | applicant |
| Schengen visa fee (child 6-12) | €45 (~£39) | applicant |
| Schengen visa fee (child < 6) | Free | n/a |
| TLScontact service fee (standard) |
