Using a Blue Badge in the European Union and European Economic Area
Updated 31 August 2023
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This guidance gives an overview of the conditions of use of a parking card for people with disabilities in each European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) country.
You can use your UK Blue Badge when travelling in some EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Parking concessions vary in each country. Further information is available from:
- Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union
- FIA guide for the disabled traveller: using parking permits, cards and placards in the EU and EEA
- FIA disabled motoring
Where your UK Blue Badge is recognised in Europe
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and is no longer part of the EU Disabled Parking Card scheme.
You can still use your UK Blue Badge when travelling in some EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The UK has informally agreed to continue the mutual recognition of the EU disabled parking card for visitors to the UK. Some EU and EEA countries have committed to reciprocate this gesture, but these agreements are not mandatory.
Recognition of foreign issued parking cards remains at the discretion of the administering authority in the host country.
Always check locally before parking
The UK Blue Badge is recognised in many European countries. Some countries provide notices in the local language which you can print off and display next to your Blue Badge. You do not have to do this, but it may help.
If using the accompanying notice please print the PDF below.
| Country or territory | UK Blue Badge recognised | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | Download and print the Austrian notice. |
| Belgium | Yes | Download and print the Belgian notice. |
| Bulgaria | No information | Check locally before parking. |
| Croatia | Yes | None |
| Cyprus | Yes | Download and print the Greek notice. |
| Czech Republic | Yes | Download and print the Czech notice. |
| Denmark | Yes |
Download and print the Danish notice. You must use a parking disc (clock) if using parking time concessions. |
| Estonia | Yes | None |
| Finland | Yes | Download and print the a Finnish notice. |
| France | May not recognise non-EU issued parking cards | The UK Blue Badge is compliant with the EU parking card model. Download and print the French notice. Check locally before parking. |
| Germany | Yes | Download and print the German notice. |
| Greece | Accepts non-EU parking cards | Download and print the Greek notice. |
| Hungary | Yes | None |
| Iceland | Accepts non-EU parking cards | Download and print the Icelandic notice. |
| Ireland | Yes | None |
| Italy | Non-EU parking cards accepted in some regions only | Check locally before parking. |
| Latvia | Yes | None |
| Liechtenstein | Yes | None |
| Lithuania | Non-EU parking cards accepted in some regions only | Check locally before parking. |
| Luxembourg | Accepts non-EU parking cards | Download and print the French language notice. |
| Malta | Yes | Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Diżabilita’ (email helpdesk@knpd.org). |
| Netherlands | Yes | Download and print the Netherlands notice. |
| Norway | Yes | Download and print the Norwegian notice. |
| Poland | Yes | Download and print the Polish notice. |
| Portugal | Yes | None |
| Romania | Accepts non-EU parking cards | None |
| Slovakia | Yes | None |
| Slovenia | May not recognise non-EU issue parking card | The UK Blue Badge is compliant with the EU parking card model. Download and print the Slovenia notice. Check locally before parking |
| Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) | UK Blue Badge recognition across Spain decided by local administrations | The UK Blue Badge is compliant with the EU parking card model. Download and print the Spanish notice. Check locally before parking. |
| Sweden | Yes | None |
| Switzerland | Yes |
Download and print the Swiss notice. You must use a parking disc (clock) if using parking time concessions. |