Blue Badge eligibility: who qualifies

A clear, friendly guide to who can get a Blue Badge, and how decisions are made.

Wondering whether you, or someone you care for, can get a Blue Badge? You are in the right place. The Blue Badge (you may know it as a disabled badge or disabled parking badge) helps people with a disability or health condition park closer to where they need to be.

There are two ways to qualify. Some people get a badge automatically because of a benefit they already receive or a condition they have. Others are assessed on how their condition affects them day to day. Both routes are completely valid, and plenty of people who do not qualify automatically still get a badge after an assessment.

The guides below walk you through each route in plain English, including how hidden and non-visible conditions, children, and mental health are considered. None of it is as complicated as it first looks.

Guides in this section

Who qualifies for a Blue Badge automaticallySome people get a Blue Badge automatically, without an assessment, because of a benefit they receive or a condition they have. Here is the full list, in plain English.Read the guide Discretionary eligibility and how it is assessedIf you do not qualify automatically, you can still get a Blue Badge based on how your condition affects you. Here is how the assessment works.Read the guide Blue Badge for hidden and non-visible disabilitiesSince 2019, people with hidden or non-visible disabilities, such as autism or severe anxiety, can qualify for a Blue Badge. Here is how it works.Read the guide Blue Badge for childrenChildren can have a Blue Badge, including children under three with certain medical needs. Here is who qualifies and how to apply for a child.Read the guide Blue Badge for mental health conditionsMental health conditions can qualify you for a Blue Badge where journeys cause overwhelming distress or risk. Here is how eligibility works.Read the guide

Last updated: 12 June 2026. We review our guides regularly, but rules change, so always confirm with the official source for your nation.

Our sources