On 1 July 2026, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation (C(2026)4534) setting mandatory QR codes on the physical European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities, along with security specifications for the Parking Card and interoperability rules for both. The regulation supplements Directive (EU) 2024/2841 and aims to facilitate cross-border recognition and verification of the cards across Member States.
The QR codes, whose content and technical specifications are laid down in Annexes I and II, must be affixed to all physical cards and sealed with a qualified electronic seal under Regulation (EU) 910/2014 to guarantee authenticity and validity. For the Parking Card, mandatory security features include printing on polycarbonate with a diffractive optically variable image device and anti-scan patterns that reveal hidden text or patterns upon photocopying or scanning. An exhaustive list of optional features—such as RFID chips, optically variable or colour-shifting ink, and laser-engraved data fields—is provided, but these must not impair recognition of other Member States' valid cards or interoperability.
Interoperability provisions require Member States to notify the Commission of card issuers and technical verification information. Issuers must publish revocation lists containing only unique identifiers (no other personal data) at a specific URI. National applications may read the QR codes for verification; the Commission may provide a common sample source code, but all apps must use the same trust-chain logic. Data protection safeguards are mandated under Regulation (EU) 2016/679, as verification involves processing personal data. The regulation may be updated in light of technological or security developments.
The regulation impacts several stakeholders. For persons with disabilities, it promises smoother cross-border travel and access to services, as the QR codes and security features reduce fraud and simplify verification. National authorities gain a harmonised framework for issuing and verifying cards, but face implementation costs for new printing and verification systems. Card issuers must comply with technical standards and publish revocation lists, adding administrative burden. Businesses and service providers that accept the cards benefit from reliable, interoperable verification, potentially lowering compliance costs. The regulation enters into force on 1 July 2026, with no prior coverage on this file in the last 180 days.