Blue Badge holders received a significant update from the Foreign Office today, with changes to travel advice for 29 countries indicating that UK Blue Badges may now be recognised in certain European nations.
The Blue Badge scheme in the UK provides a parking permit for individuals with severe mobility issues, enabling them to park closer to their destination. The scheme is intended to assist disabled people in accessing goods and services by offering on-street parking benefits, such as unrestricted parking in some zones and the ability to park on yellow lines for a specified duration.
The badge can be utilised whether the holder is driving or travelling as a passenger.
This afternoon’s updates saw the Foreign Office revise its guidance for countries within the Schengen Area, which includes EU members Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, as well as non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
According to the Foreign Office, UK Blue Badge holders may be able to use their badges while travelling in some European countries. They advised: “Before visiting a country, check whether it recognises the UK Blue Badge.”
The guidance highlighted: “Some countries may require you to display a local parking notice as well as your Blue Badge. The pages linked to in the table below provide contact information for the parking authorities in the different countries.”
It cautioned motorists: “Even in countries that recognise the Blue Badge, parking rules can vary in different parts of the country. Rules can also change, and some countries may have changed their rules since the pages linked to this guidance page were published.”
The advice continued: “You should research local parking regulations or get in touch with the relevant local authority for specific information. Local tourist information centres can also provide advice on parking rules for disabled people and may tell you about any specific requirements or restrictions in the area you are visiting.”
Motorists are reminded that when parking they should always:
- look for any signage indicating disabled parking spaces
- make sure that your Blue Badge is displayed correctly and that you comply with any additional requirements, such as displaying a parking disc in countries such as Denmark
- Officials also said they recommend people carry any supporting documentation that may be required, such as a doctor’s note or a translation of the Blue Badge, especially when travelling to countries with stricter parking rules.