Digital Accessibility in France: What It Means for Users and Organizations

France treats digital accessibility as a legal obligation backed by its own technical standard, the RGAA. This article looks at what that means in practice: which rules apply, how inaccessible services affect disabled people, what websites must deliver, and how users can enforce their rights.

What are the accessibility laws in France?

France’s digital accessibility rules rest on Article 47 of Law No. 2005-102, which requires online public communication services to be accessible. Public bodies and large companies with over €250 million in French turnover must follow the RGAA. Since June 28, 2025, France’s transposition of the European Accessibility Act has also covered certain private sector products and services. For dates, documents, and penalties, see our France Accessibility Laws fact sheet.

How does digital accessibility impact disabled people in France?

When a website or app is inaccessible, the barrier depends on the person using it. A blind user cannot complete a form if its fields have no labels for a screen reader. A deaf user misses a video’s content if it has no captions. A person with a motor impairment gets stuck if a menu only works with a mouse. As more public services move online, each of these barriers can block access to tax filing, healthcare, or benefits.

Why is accessibility important for public transport in France?

Public transport is now planned, booked, and paid for digitally. Under the European Accessibility Act, passenger transport services must make their websites, apps, e-tickets, and real-time travel information accessible. Self-service ticket machines are also in scope. If a traveler cannot use the booking app or the ticket machine, a step-free station alone does not make the journey accessible.

What are the accessibility requirements for websites in France?

French public websites must meet the RGAA, which builds on WCAG 2.1 Level AA. RGAA 4.1 turns those requirements into 106 testable criteria across 13 themes. Beyond technical conformance, organizations must also publish documents that show their status:

• Accessibility statement (déclaration d’accessibilité): States the conformance level and lists known non-conformities.
• Multi-year accessibility scheme: Sets the organization’s accessibility strategy, typically over three years.
• Annual action plan: Lists the concrete fixes planned for the current year.
• Compliance status on the site: Shows whether the service is fully, partially, or not compliant.

How are the rights of disabled people protected in France?

Users who meet a barrier can first contact the organization through the feedback channel listed in its accessibility statement. If they get no satisfactory answer, they can refer the case to the Défenseur des droits, France’s independent rights authority. Disability organizations such as APF France Handicap also advocate for accessible services and push organizations to fix recurring barriers. This route turns accessibility from a policy promise into something users can actually claim.