European Accessibility Act 2025 — Complete Guide to EAA Compliance
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force on June 28, 2025 — marking one of the most significant digital accessibility regulations in history. Any business selling digital products or services to EU customers must now comply with EN 301 549 standards, based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the European Accessibility Act 2025 — from requirements and deadlines to who must comply, penalties, and how to check your website for free.
📌 Quick Overview — European Accessibility Act 2025
- ✅ In Force: June 28, 2025
- ✅ Technical Standard: EN 301 549 (based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA)
- ✅ Applies To: Any business selling to EU customers
- ✅ Penalties: Fines up to €100,000 per violation
- ✅ Extraterritorial: Applies to non-EU businesses too
✅ Test Your Website for EAA Compliance
Use our free EAA compliance checker to scan your website against EN 301 549 standards.
Free EAA Scan →What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive that requires digital products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. It was adopted in 2019 and became enforceable on June 28, 2025.
The EAA applies to a wide range of products and services, including:
- ✅ Websites and mobile applications
- ✅ E-commerce platforms and online stores
- ✅ Banking and financial services
- ✅ Transport and travel booking systems
- ✅ Telecom services and e-books
- ✅ Self-service terminals (ATMs, ticketing machines)
Key Dates — When Was the EAA Enacted?
- 2019: The EAA was adopted by the European Parliament
- June 28, 2025: The EAA became enforceable across all EU member states
- 2025-2026: Active enforcement and penalties applied
EN 301 549 — The Technical Standard Behind EAA
EN 301 549 is the European standard for accessibility requirements for ICT products and services. It is based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA and includes additional requirements for hardware, software, and documentation.
Key requirements under EN 301 549 include:
- ✅ Alt text for images — All meaningful images must have descriptions (WCAG 1.1.1)
- ✅ Color contrast — 4.5:1 ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text (WCAG 1.4.3)
- ✅ Keyboard accessibility — All functionality works with keyboard only (WCAG 2.1.1)
- ✅ Focus indicators — Visible focus on all interactive elements (WCAG 2.4.7)
- ✅ Proper heading hierarchy — H1, H2, H3 structure (WCAG 1.3.1)
- ✅ Form labels — All form fields have visible labels (WCAG 3.3.2)
- ✅ Language declaration — HTML lang attribute set (WCAG 3.1.1)
Who Must Comply with the EAA?
The EAA applies to any business that offers digital products or services to EU customers — regardless of where the company is located. This includes:
- E-commerce websites selling to EU customers
- Banks and financial institutions operating in the EU
- Transport services (airlines, trains, buses) with EU routes
- Telecom providers and e-book platforms
- Self-service terminals (ATMs, ticketing machines)
- US companies with EU customers (extraterritorial effect)
EAA vs ADA — What's the Difference?
Many businesses confuse the EAA with the ADA. Here are the key differences:
- Scope: ADA applies to US businesses; EAA applies to any business selling to EU customers
- Technical Standard: Both reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA (ADA) and EN 301 549 (EAA)
- Enforcement: ADA enforced through lawsuits; EAA enforced by EU member states
- Penalties: ADA up to $75,000; EAA up to €100,000
- Extraterritorial: ADA applies to US businesses only; EAA applies to any business with EU customers
EAA Compliance Checklist — 2026
Use this checklist to ensure your website meets EAA requirements:
Perceivable
- ✅ All images have descriptive alt text (WCAG 1.1.1)
- ✅ Color contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text (WCAG 1.4.3)
- ✅ Text resizes up to 200% without breaking (WCAG 1.4.4)
- ✅ Captions for all video content (WCAG 1.2.2)
Operable
- ✅ All functionality works with keyboard (WCAG 2.1.1)
- ✅ Visible focus indicators (WCAG 2.4.7)
- ✅ Skip navigation link (WCAG 2.4.1)
- ✅ Logical tab order (WCAG 2.4.3)
Understandable
- ✅ All form fields have visible labels (WCAG 3.3.2)
- ✅ Clear error messages (WCAG 3.3.1)
- ✅ Language declaration (WCAG 3.1.1)
- ✅ Consistent navigation (WCAG 3.2.3)
Robust
- ✅ ARIA labels for custom components (WCAG 4.1.2)
- ✅ Screen reader support (WCAG 4.1.2)
- ✅ Valid HTML (WCAG 4.1.1)
Penalties for EAA Non-Compliance
EU member states are responsible for enforcing the EAA. Penalties vary by country but can include:
- Fines up to €100,000 per violation
- Legal action from competitors or customers
- Reputational damage and loss of customer trust
- Ban from operating in certain EU markets
How to Check If Your Website Is EAA Compliant
Step 1: Use a Free EAA Compliance Checker
Visit AccessiTool's free EAA compliance checker and enter your website URL. Get a detailed report in 60 seconds.
Step 2: Review Your Compliance Report
You'll receive a compliance score (0-100%), a list of violations, warnings, and passed checks — plus specific fix recommendations.
Step 3: Fix Critical Issues First
Start with missing alt text, low color contrast, keyboard accessibility, and form labels — these are the most common violations.
Step 4: Retest and Document
After making fixes, run another scan and save your PDF report for legal documentation.
🚀 Test Your Website for EAA Compliance
Free EAA compliance checker — scan your website against EN 301 549 standards.
Start Free EAA Scan →No signup. 60 seconds. EN 301 549 standards.
💬 Comments (0)