Blue Badge holders can park for free in several European countries – full list
If you're living with a physical disability or health condition that impacts your ability to walk safely, you might be eligible for a Blue Badge – and it works in certain parts of Europe
Brits travelling overseas can utilise their disabled parking permit in a variety of countries. It might come as a surprise that your Blue Badge is valid for use in certain European regions.
If you live with a physical disability or health condition that affects your mobility, or if you have an invisible illness such as dementia, autism or Parkinson's, you could qualify for a Blue Badge. This badge can aid you in parking nearer to your destinations.
Whether you're behind the wheel or a passenger, a Blue Badge entitles you to park for free in disabled parking bays and may exempt you from other parking restrictions.
However, many of the 2.6 million Blue Badge holders in the UK may not realise numerous countries across the globe have reciprocal parking agreements with the UK.
These agreements are designed to make travel easier for disabled individuals between countries, eliminating the need for extensive paperwork to validate their parking card or permit, reports the Express.
These concessions usually include access to parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, extended parking durations, or exemptions from parking fees. Guidance on GOV.UK clarifies that you can use your UK Blue Badge when travelling in some EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
This guidance also provides a list of countries with links to pages that contain:.
Where you can use your Blue Badge
The official GOV.UK site provides a comprehensive list of countries where the Blue Badge is currently accepted:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cypress
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland.
However, for some European nations, the rules are somewhat ambiguous. These include:
- France - May not recognise non-EU issued parking cards
- Italy - Non-EU parking cards accepted in some regions only
- Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) - UK Blue Badge recognition across Spain decided by local administrations.
The Government's website also cautions that while it's not mandatory to display a local parking notice abroad, it could be beneficial. It further advises that:
- Local parking rules may apply in different parts of a country
- Some countries may have changed their rules since advice was published.
Application Process
To apply for a Blue Badge, you'll need to furnish:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
- A recent head and shoulders digital photo
- Your national insurance number (if you have one)
- Contact details (phone number, email and postal address).
For identity verification, you can submit a copy of your birth or adoption certificate, passport, driving licence, marriage or civil partnership certificate, or divorce or dissolution certificate.
To confirm your address, you can provide a copy of a recent council tax bill, a recent letter from a government department such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), a driving licence, or a recent letter from a school (if you're under 16).
Certain individuals automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. The eligibility criteria for this includes anyone aged three or over and if at least one of the following applies:.
There are also other conditions that make you eligible for a badge, but not automatically. These include:.
A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland. However, it's free in Wales.
Typically, they are valid for up to three years.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .