The Ultimate EAA Compliance Guide
Everything you need to know about the European Accessibility Act requirements, timeline, and how to achieve compliance before the June 28, 2025 deadline.
Avoid fines up to 100,000 euros. Make your website accessible to 135 million EU citizens with disabilities.
EAA 2025 Deadline Approaching
Only -200 days remaining until mandatory compliance
What's in This Guide
1What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA), officially known as Directive (EU) 2019/882, is a landmark piece of EU legislation designed to improve the accessibility of products and services across the European Union.
EU-Wide Standard
Harmonizes accessibility requirements across all 27 EU member states
135 Million People
Protects the rights of people with disabilities in the EU
Legal Requirement
Enforceable by law with significant penalties for non-compliance
Key Fact: WCAG 2.1 AA is the Standard
The EAA adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for digital accessibility. This means websites must meet 50 specific success criteria across four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).
Find Out Your Current Compliance Status
Get an instant accessibility score and see exactly which EAA requirements your website is meeting — and which need attention.
Free EAA Compliance Scan2Who Must Comply with the EAA?
The EAA applies to a wide range of products and services. If your business offers any of the following to EU customers, you must comply by June 28, 2025.
Services Covered by EAA
- ✓E-commerce websites — any online shop selling products or services
- ✓Banking services — consumer banking, payment services, ATMs
- ✓Telecommunications — phone, internet, messaging services
- ✓Transport services — ticketing, booking, travel information
- ✓E-books and readers — digital publications and devices
- ✓Audio-visual media — streaming services, video platforms
Important Considerations
- !Not just EU companies — applies to ANY business selling to EU customers
- !B2B and B2C — both business and consumer services are covered
- !Mobile apps included — not just websites, all digital touchpoints
- !No minimum revenue — applies regardless of company size*
*Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees AND annual turnover under 2M euros) may have limited exemptions for services only.
3Complete EAA Requirements Checklist
PPerceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
OOperable
User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users.
UUnderstandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable.
RRobust
Content must be robust enough to work with current and future assistive technologies.
Download the Complete EAA Compliance PDF
Get our 45-page comprehensive guide including all requirements, implementation examples, country-specific penalties, and step-by-step remediation guides.
4EAA Compliance Timeline
April 2019
EAA Adopted by EU
Directive 2019/882 officially adopted by the European Parliament
June 2022
National Transposition Deadline
EU member states required to transpose the directive into national law
NOW — Take Action
Final Preparation Period
-200 days remaining to achieve compliance. Start auditing and fixing issues immediately.
June 28, 2025
MANDATORY COMPLIANCE DEADLINE
All covered products and services must be accessible. Enforcement begins. Non-compliant businesses face fines and legal action.
June 2030
Extended Transition Ends
Self-service terminals (ATMs, kiosks) must be fully compliant
Do Not Wait Until the Deadline
Accessibility remediation takes time. Most e-commerce sites have 50-200 issues that need fixing. Start now to avoid rushing — or missing the deadline entirely.
Start My Free Compliance Scan5Penalties and Enforcement
The EAA requires each EU member state to define their own penalties, but they must be "effective, proportionate, and dissuasive." Here's what businesses face for non-compliance:
Financial Penalties
- •Fines up to 100,000 euros per violation (Germany)
- •Up to 5% of annual turnover in some jurisdictions
- •Per-violation penalties that can accumulate quickly
- •Criminal liability for willful non-compliance
Other Consequences
- •Market withdrawal — forced removal from EU market
- •Legal action by disability advocacy groups
- •Reputational damage from public enforcement
- •Lost revenue from 135M potential customers
Market Surveillance Authorities
Each EU country has designated authorities to monitor compliance. They can conduct audits, request documentation, and issue penalties. In many countries, consumers can file complaints directly, triggering investigations.
6How to Achieve EAA Compliance
Audit Your Current State
Run a comprehensive accessibility scan to identify all WCAG violations. Automated tools catch about 30-40% of issues, so also conduct manual testing.
Run a free accessibility scanPrioritize Critical Issues
Focus first on issues that completely block access for users with disabilities: missing alt text, keyboard traps, form labels, and color contrast. These represent the highest legal and usability risk.
Implement Fixes Systematically
Work through issues by component type — fix all images, then all forms, then navigation. This is more efficient than page-by-page remediation. Use a tracking system to monitor progress.
Test with Real Users
Conduct testing with users who rely on assistive technologies. Screen reader users, keyboard-only users, and users with cognitive disabilities will find issues automated tools miss.
Publish an Accessibility Statement
The EAA requires a public accessibility statement describing your compliance status, known limitations, and contact information for accessibility feedback. Update this regularly.
Establish Ongoing Monitoring
Accessibility is not a one-time fix. New content, updates, and features can introduce new issues. Set up automated monitoring and regular manual audits to maintain compliance.
Start Your EAA Compliance Journey Today
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EAA 2025 deadline?
The European Accessibility Act compliance deadline is June 28, 2025. After this date, all covered products and services sold to EU customers must meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
Does the EAA apply to non-EU companies?
Yes. The EAA applies to any business that sells products or services to EU customers, regardless of where the company is headquartered. If you have EU customers, you must comply.
What are the EAA compliance requirements?
The EAA requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, which includes 50 success criteria across four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Key requirements include alt text for images, keyboard accessibility, color contrast, and screen reader compatibility.
What are the penalties for EAA non-compliance?
Penalties vary by EU member state but can include fines up to 100,000 euros per violation, market withdrawal, legal action from advocacy groups, and reputational damage. Some countries may impose penalties based on a percentage of annual turnover.