Disability cards to help Europeans with disabilities fully enjoy their right to free movement

The EU has made much progress in fostering diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for all its citizens. Two EU-wide cards promise to improve mobility and access to facilities for persons with disabilities across all EU countries. 

Currently, about 101 million people over 16 in the EU have a recognized disability. This equals to around 1 in 4 adults facing significant barriers to fundamental rights such as education, work, healthcare and leisure. About one in two feel discriminated against, almost one in five aged between 20 and 26 are unemployed, and nearly one in three are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. What’s more, 1 in 5 leave school early, which is twice the rate of those without a disability.   

In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 to improve the lives of these individuals, allowing them to participate fully in society. 

The European disability card and the European parking card for people with disabilities are part of the strategy’s action plan to facilitate access to their rights and to the special conditions foreseen for them across the EU. 

The European disability card

All 27 EU Member States provide national disability cards and relevant certificates for their residents. However, many of those are not recognised in other EU countries. The new card will not replace national cards, but it will offer a single document, in both physical and digital formats, that will serve as proof of disability status everywhere within the EU, making cross-border travel easier.

European parking card for people with disabilities

This card will entirely replace the existing one, as well as existing national parking cards, featuring several improvements. Most importantly, a common format that will ensure EU-wide recognition and access to special parking conditions.

Card benefits

The cards will make free movement across the EU easier, ensuring holders enjoy the same preferential conditions as residents of the host country when attending cultural, sporting and leisure events, or using public transport and parking facilities.

Advantages include:

• free entry or reduced prices;
• reduced waiting times/priority access;
• personal assistance;
• allowed entry to service animals;
• visual or audio guides;
• mobility aids;
• reserved parking places/extended parking space;
• special parking fees;
• access to restricted traffic areas.

How are the cards issued and when will they be available?

Both cards will be issued by the competent national authorities in each Member State who are also responsible for determining eligibility criteria. 

The cards are expected to be available by 2028. Upon approval of the two relevant directives adopted by the Council (2024/2841, 2024/2842), member states are now in the process of establishing the legal environment and making the administrative provisions necessary for the issuing and use of the cards. 

Read more about how the EU is supporting persons with disabilities.

Related links:

Union of equality: Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030

EU disability card websites for Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Italy, Malta, Romania

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