Apply for a Blue Badge

Who can get a Blue Badge

You can apply for a Blue Badge if you're disabled or have a health condition that affects your ability to make a journey.

Automatic qualification

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) or if you receive:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have a score of 8 points or more under the 'moving around' activity of the mobility component
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 'planning and following a journey' mobility component with the exact descriptor "Cannot undertake a journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant"
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and have the higher rate of the mobility component
• War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• Armed Forces and Reserve Forces compensation scheme, tariffs 1 to 8 which also certifies that you have a permanent and substantial disability which causes an inability to walk or considerable difficulty walking

We will issue your badge for whichever comes first, the end date of your award or a 3-year period. If your award ends within one year you will be contacted for further information. 

Not automatically eligible

You may still be entitled to a badge if you have a:

• physical disability which means you are unable to walk or experience considerable difficulty while walking (excessive pain, breathlessness, walking aids)
• non-visible disability which means you experience considerable psychological distress while walking, are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks or pose a risk of serious harm to yourself or any other person while walking
• severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all, or some types of parking meter

Eligibility will be determined after we assess your application.

Criteria we cannot consider

We will not consider the following criteria as part of our assessment process:

• the need for a wider space to allow vehicle doors to open fully
• difficulties carrying shopping
• the need for urgent access to public toilets, where none of the above qualification criteria are met

The Bladder and Bowel Foundation offers a nationally recognised scheme for people who need immediate access to toileting facilities.

SR1 medical report (terminally ill)

You will qualify for a Blue Badge if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that affects your mobility while undertaking a journey between a vehicle and your destination and you’re in receipt of an SR1. You will need to provide a copy of your SR1.

Children under 3

Children under 3 may qualify for a Blue Badge if the child:

• must be accompanied by bulky medical equipment that can't be carried easily
• needs to stay close to a vehicle for quick access to medical treatment or transport to a hospital

Conditions like severe epilepsy, tracheostomies, or unstable diabetes may qualify. The equipment could include ventilators, feed pumps, or oxygen equipment.

You’ll need to provide medical evidence from a hospital or GP to support the application. The badge will expire the day after the child’s third birthday.

Last updated 31 March 2025