diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/extension_submission.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/extension_submission.yml
index eae85a4340..da7bf12a85 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/extension_submission.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/extension_submission.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Extension Submission
 description: Submit your extension to the Spec Kit catalog
 title: "[Extension]: Add "
-labels: ["enhancement", "needs-triage"]
+labels: ["triage-must-have"]
 body:
   - type: markdown
     attributes:
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ body:
         - Create a GitHub release with a version tag (e.g., v1.0.0)
         - Test installation: `specify extension add <extension-name> --from <your-release-url>`
 
-        **After submitting:** a maintainer applies the `extension-submission` label during issue triage, which starts the automated catalog validation. You don't need to apply any label or ask for one.
+        **After submitting:** GitHub automatically applies the `triage-must-have` intake verdict. A maintainer separately applies the `extension-submission` label during issue triage, which starts the automated catalog validation. You don't need to apply any label or ask for one.
 
   - type: input
     id: extension-id
diff --git a/extensions/EXTENSION-PUBLISHING-GUIDE.md b/extensions/EXTENSION-PUBLISHING-GUIDE.md
index 0cbe93aae6..72562f3ad7 100644
--- a/extensions/EXTENSION-PUBLISHING-GUIDE.md
+++ b/extensions/EXTENSION-PUBLISHING-GUIDE.md
@@ -151,10 +151,11 @@ To submit your extension to the community catalog, file a new issue using the **
 
 ### What Happens After You Submit
 
-1. A maintainer reviews the issue during issue triage and applies the `extension-submission` label, which starts the automated catalog validation. On this public repository, contributors cannot apply that label themselves, so there is nothing to label or re-request — the issue simply waits in triage.
-2. A maintainer verifies that the catalog entry is complete and correctly formatted
-3. Once approved, the maintainer adds your extension to `extensions/catalog.community.json` and the Community Extensions table in the README
-4. Your extension becomes discoverable via `specify extension search`
+1. GitHub applies the `triage-must-have` verdict when the issue is opened through the Extension Submission form. This intake automation is specific to extension submissions and does not change the manual triage rubric for other issues.
+2. A maintainer reviews the issue during issue triage and applies the separate `extension-submission` label, which starts the automated catalog validation. On this public repository, contributors cannot apply that label themselves, so there is nothing to label or re-request — the issue simply waits in triage.
+3. The automated workflow validates the submission and, when validation passes, updates `extensions/catalog.community.json` and `docs/community/extensions.md` in a draft pull request
+4. A maintainer reviews the generated pull request and merges it when approved
+5. Your extension becomes discoverable via `specify extension search`
 
 ### What Maintainers Check
 
diff --git a/tests/test_github_workflows.py b/tests/test_github_workflows.py
index 34a6f04211..ac45915c31 100644
--- a/tests/test_github_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_github_workflows.py
@@ -495,6 +495,26 @@ def test_community_submission_automation_is_wired_to_allowed_files():
         assert label in assignment_text
 
 
+def test_extension_submission_form_applies_only_automatic_intake_verdict():
+    forms_dir = REPO_ROOT / ".github" / "ISSUE_TEMPLATE"
+    extension_form = yaml.safe_load(
+        (forms_dir / "extension_submission.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    )
+
+    assert extension_form["labels"] == ["triage-must-have"]
+    assert "extension-submission" not in extension_form["labels"]
+
+    for form_name in (
+        "agent_request.yml",
+        "bug_report.yml",
+        "bundle_submission.yml",
+        "feature_request.yml",
+        "preset_submission.yml",
+    ):
+        form = yaml.safe_load((forms_dir / form_name).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        assert "triage-must-have" not in form["labels"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("kind", [item[0] for item in COMMUNITY_SUBMISSION_WORKFLOWS])
 def test_community_upgrade_uses_established_runtime_defaults(kind):
     _, compiled_text, source, compiled = _agentic_workflow(f"add-community-{kind}")